Item No. 7882579

The empty rebel defenses at Manassas, Virginia, are featured in this large unmounted albumen image by photographer George Barnard, from March-April 1862. A civilian—perhaps Barnard himself—reclines at center near a pipe-smoking soldier. The soldier leans on a large log positioned to resemble a cannon. These “Quaker guns” were meant to fool yankees who were observing the rebel defenses from a distance. At left, three soldiers and a dog occupy another artillery position. Extensive works and fortifications can be seen in the background. The whole area is devoid of trees, showing the devastation of war on the landscape in the conflict’s early months. The image is unmounted and measures about 9 1/8” x 6 5/8”. It has some very slight wrinkling typical of unmounted albumens.