ACWGC Forums

Below are two different pictures of McClellan. Obviously taken at the same sitting.

How common was this? When I think of Stonewall Jackson I am glad we have just the two or three different photos that we do. But looking at a few other generals, especially Union generals, there are many more pictures and sometimes you find images from the same "photoshoot." Sherman is another one who has a collection where he poses in a few different manners but you can tell they were taken on the same day. Daniel Sickles, same thing.

I know we have lost hundreds of old photos due to time and the fragile photo methods of the time period. I just wonder how many more images may have existed.

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Colonel Blake
Confederate CoS - Deputy Commandant of VMI - General Busybody

Once you start finding these sets of photos you can't unsee it. Three shots of Samuel Heintzelman all from the same photographer. Makes me wonder if the photographer is just telling them to stand up, look left, look right...

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Colonel Blake
Confederate CoS - Deputy Commandant of VMI - General Busybody

Anyone know where the "excuse me" let me scratch my belly fashion for these kinds of photographs originated?

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Lt. General Walter A. Dortch
PRESIDENT, ACWGC
Commander, Eastern Theater, USA

Napoleon, I believe.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

Better that way then Al Bundy's favorite position:

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Lieutenant General Christian Hecht
Commander I Corps, Army of the Potomac

Better than Civil War pictures would have been in 2017.... "everyone let's dab!"

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Colonel Blake
Confederate CoS - Deputy Commandant of VMI - General Busybody

Or the 2. WW:

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Lieutenant General Christian Hecht
Commander I Corps, Army of the Potomac

Boom! Found McLaws trying out the multiple pose idea as well. Not quite sure what he is holding in his hand.

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Colonel Blake
Confederate CoS - Deputy Commandant of VMI - General Busybody

Probably his gloves in the first picture. Not sure in the second.

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MG Mike Mihalik
Forrest's Cavalry Corps
AoWest/CSA

Photographers have not changed their style very much since 1861. Anyone who's been subjected to their endless stream of posing "suggestions" like in a wedding shoot knows exactly what I'm talking about.
Hence the multiple "shots" of the same officer in the same uniform with multiple poses and configurations... No hat / hold hat / wear hat / hold sword / no sword / sword exposed / sword in sheath (etc, ad nauseum)

Plus, exposures were SO LONG that it was always feared that some eye blink or twitch of the lips would ruin the photo and the only way to tell was AFTER processing. So, many photos were taken to ensure SOME were OK.

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J.L. Boling
Major General, USA
Army of the Potomac
Commanding

Union Cabinet Secretary