Two large 19th c. photographic images showing the Battle of Stones River, i.e., the Second Battle of Murfreesboro, in Tennessee.

“They had left ther shelter of cedars and proceeded some distance into the open space when the Infantry and Artillery opened upon them with deadly effect.”

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These large and oblong 19th-century albumen photographs are possibly based on prints originally made by the Cincinnati lithographers Middleton, Strobridge & Co. between 1863 and 1870. The pair depict pivotal scenes from the “battle at Stones River [that] claimed 23,000 casualties —it was the second bloodiest battle fought west of the Appalachians during the Civil War. ” (NPS)

The first image, captioned The Battle of Stone River or Murfreesboro’. Representing Gen. Palmer’s Division [etc.] is taken from the original sketch by A.E. Mathews of the 31st Regiment, Ohio Volunteer Infantry. The second image, captioned The Battle of Stone River or Murfreesboro’. Position of Col. Starkweather and Col. Scribner’s Brigades on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of January, 1863 [etc.] may also have been accomplished by Matthews. The first image has a descriptive label on the back, featuring text in typefaces from the 1860s to 1870s, providing extensive information about the battle. In contrast, the second image has a shorter caption with typefaces suggesting it’s from the 1880s to 1890s.

We don’t know who issued these photographs. Both have grommets, but one image has them on the left edge (image recto), and the other on the right edge (image recto). This placement doesn’t seem logical if they were meant to be bound together or with similar photographs.

Price: $350.00