The American Civil War was the first closely recorded war in history. Despite technical limitations, intrepid photographers captured many aspects of the conflict, including officers and their men, in camp, on the battlefield, and in the studio.
Photographs quickly became an easy way to preserve a moment during tumultuous times. During the Civil War, cartes-de-visite (French for "visiting card" or photographs, usually an albumen print] captured images of fathers and sons gone to war, children and wives left behind, and heroes living and dead.
Soldiers took advantage of any opportunity to have their "likeness" made for the folks back home. Photographs were made in studios in towns or cities as troops marched through. Itinerant photographers came to the camps in search of business. Thousands of photographs were sent by mail in both directions.
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If a soldier didn't have a photograph of a loved one available, he could buy a copy of his favorite pinup.
"Photographs rich, rare and racy. A very beautiful picture of the handsomest woman in the world. A peculiar rich colored photograph in oil taken from life beautiful to behold. This is really a magnificent picture, a perfect gem. She is a bewitching beauty. Price 50 cents. Sent free by mail in a sealed circular envelope."
This advertisement appeared in the Chattanooga Daily, September 1st, 1864.
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