Image is Everything…?

Face of a Nation

Antietam, Md. President Lincoln with Gen. George B. McClellan and group of officers, 3 October 1862

 1 negative : glass, wet collodion.

Title from Milhollen and Mugridge.

Additional information from Katz, D. Mark. Witness to an era: the life and photographs of Alexander Gardner, 1991.

Forms part of Civil War glass negative collection (Library of Congress).

Published in: Viewpoints; a selection from the pictorial collections of the Library of Congress ... Washington : Library of Congress ..., 1975, no. 75.

Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-DIG-cwpb-04352 (digital file from original neg.) 

Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_and_generals_at_Antietam.jpg

WAR

On September 17, 1862, conceivably the single most bloodiest day in American history unfolded between the Union and the Confederacy with the Battle of Antietam.  Well over 100,000 soldiers participated, inflicting close to 23,000 casualties from both sides.  It was here that, “[The] soldiers were not impelled by fearless bravery or driven by iron discipline…few men ever experience the former and Civil War soldiers scarcely knew the latter” (McPherson 540).  Though the Union officially won this battle, public opinion spiraled into disparity over the continuation for the War and mothers became more reluctant to send their sons off to imminent doom.  Nevertheless, it was this Union victory that compelled Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.  

Morale amongst the troops was also waning, which concerned President Lincoln.  Against his advisor’s wishes, Lincoln made frequent visits to his General staff and accompanied soldiers in order to consult and inspire the men.  Photographers like Alexander Gardner were usually on hand to capture pivotal moments like this for the newspapers in order to show—in my opinion—the public that he (Lincoln) is in fact, the Commander-in-Chief, and he is committed to the Union’s cause and shows empathy for the men who fight.  By posing near the front lines, Lincoln conveys a message to the nation’s public that he can get his hands dirty and that he is on top of the War situation.  However, by today’s standards of photographic posturing, Lincoln and his staff leave charisma aside; posing stoically, Lincoln and General McClellan appear to be in a face-off with on-looking staff waiting for tension to break.        

THE PHOTO

It may be difficult for a layperson to view this photograph objectively.  Rousing questions such as, “Who is this gauntly looking man in the stove-top hat?” “Why are all these men so stiff?” “Can somebody please smile?” can be justifiably asked.  However, with the arguable exception of George Washington, no other President of the United States is more iconic than Lincoln, and the public needs to see their President in troubled times.  Alexander Gardner, a Scottish immigrant, was recommended for the position as chief army photographer under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Topographical Engineers, later as staff photographer under General George B. McClellan, General of the Union (Potomac) Army (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Gardner_(photographer). 

Retrieved from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Alexander_Gardner_photographer.jpg

 Gardner took this photo of Lincoln and general staff shortly after the Battle of Antietam, which may convey a depiction of celebration.  And here we see two leaders that, to the public’s eye, orchestrated and administered the battle that drove General Lee back to Virginia.  

Historically, both Lincoln and McClellan were at odds about how the War was to be conducted.  Lincoln needed a no-nonsense, aggressive general that utilized the almost inexhaustible supply of troops while McClellan was overly cautious, never fully committing his superior resources.  In Gardner’s photograph, Lincoln stands tall and gauntly ominous, overlooking McClellan and the entire military staff; while McClellan looking slightly sheepish with head cocked and body shifted to one side, almost depicts a child receiving a reprimand from a parent.  On the other hand, Lincoln looks tired, and rightly so; but here we can see Lincoln leaning ever so slightly, supported by a chair, while McClellan looking contempt yet more youthful.  Finally, we can surmise the reason for the lack of display of pearly whites—is it due to bad oral hygiene?  Most likely.  In addition to rudimentary dentistry, most men chewed tobacco constantly, staining their teeth grossly.  

This photograph may have consequential significance for the 1864 Presidential election—Lincoln was vying for reelection against his main opponent, McClellan.  At the time, many "war-weary rebel soldiers hoped fervently for McClellan and peace…he was the Democrat's only hope" (McPherson 804).  And here, a picture is worth a thousand words.  How did the public view a photograph of their President that stood a foot taller than his counterpart?  This reminds me of the significant impact television played on the Presidential debates between Nixon and Kennedy.  Through the means of televised visual media, the viewing public saw a young, handsome, tanned candidate up against an older, sweaty, not-quite-attractive opponent.  Could the rivalry between Lincoln and McClellan in photographs foreshadowed the importance of public perception?  I believe so.

 

Antietam, Md. Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen John A. McClernand. 1862 October 3.
Gardner, Alexander, 1821-1882, photographer.
forms part of Civil War glass negative collection (Library of Congress).
Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PinkLinkMc_alternate.jpg

In this photograph, taken at the same time, Lincoln appears to be slightly smiling; his two companions, however, appear to be looking at their president with scorn.  An interpretation of Lincoln’s smile presents a humbled yet arduous leader amidst the drudgery of war; Lincoln can convey optimism despite the feelings of his colleagues.  Could Lincoln’s constituents and public view this positively?   

 

Abraham Lincoln and George B. McClellan in the general's tent at Antietam, Maryland, October 3, 1862.
Photograph by, Alexander Gardner.
Retrieved from Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_and_McClellan_1862-10-03.jpg

Works Cited

McPherson, James M. Battle Cry of Freedom: The Civil War Era.

         Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, 1988.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Gardner_(photographer).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_and_generals_at Antietam.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Lincoln_and_McClellan_1862-10-03.jpg

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:PinkLinkMc_alternate.jpg