Bull Run, Virginia - 1861

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"The Battle of Bull Run, 2 PM, July 21, 1861," issued August 10, 1861, New York, by Harper & Brothers.  A wonderful, fascinating, original double-page engraving of the Battle of Bull Run, published in 1861, the year in which the Civil War began. From an issue of Harper's Weekly.  Depicts the 1st Battle of Bull Run, the famous early conflict between the Union troops, led by General McDowell, and Confederate troops, led by General Jonston, in the Shenandoah Valley. This active and detailed wood block engraving depicts the battle at 2:00 pm, when the victory still seemed to be in favor of McDowell and his troops, who had dominated the day since they began their attack at dawn. After 3:00 pm, however, the arrival of Confederate Reinforcements, led by General Jackson, turned what had at first appeared a Southern defeat into a Southern victory, and earned the General the moniker "Stonewall" Jackson. This wood block engraving seems to depict the Union Troops, advancing with their flag, and therefore surely depicts the famous battle just prior to General Jackson's stand. Quite detailed.

Also features a full-page map on the reverse entitled "Map of the Seat of the War in Virginia," (which is also highly desirable in its own right) and two additional wood block engravings (also on the reverse) of the Yacht "Henrietta" and Sandy Hook headquarters of Colonel Stone on the Upper Potomac.

Sheet measures c. 21 1/4" W x 16 1/8" H.  Image measures c. 20 7/8" W x 14 1/2" H. In VG+ to near excellent antiquarian condition, very nice and clean, original fold line as issued.  One of the great images of the Civil War.

Harper's Weekly was one of the major sources of news for many American households in the 19th century. A weekly publication, during the Civil War it employed dozens of artists in the field who returned with artwork and news on the major events of the preceding week, which were quickly translated by wood engravers into images for the newspaper. The result is a remarkable visual archive of topical events, including important battles, leaders, social events, city views, nautical views, maps, etc. These are "original wood block engravings" which many art institutions & museums recognize as artwork and collect - perhaps the best known examples are wood engravings by Winslow Homer and Thomas Nast.  But there were many other very talented engravers who are still largely overlooked or under appreciated.

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