Art from the Civil War
Antislavery Picnic At Weymouth Landing, Massachusetts- 1845
Susan Torrey Merritt
The Art Institute of Chicago
Susan Torrey Merritt
The Art Institute of Chicago
This art reflects a surprising, yet real portrayal of the
groupings that came to be surrounding slavery. Abolitionists
were not going to go down without a fight, and this piece
of art shows how many people were willing to come support
it.
Slaves were treated like property instead of human beings.
These poor, innocent people were traded in, and were sold
against their will. They were all unfairly treated, unlike the
white masters.
The chaos in this piece of art truly shows just how bad conditions
were after the sales. Families being ripped apart, and white men
bringing their new property home created hostility between the two
groups. Children crying, mothers being pulled away. This is what
consumed the people of the sales.
This art shows the camp life of many African Americans.
They were on the verge of the Civil Rights Movement, too.
The African Americans were finally feeling the affects of the
Emancipation and they were finally learning what it means to
be free.
Letter from a Soldier
Camp Harlan Oct 9th 1861
Dear Wife,
I write again being that I have a little spare time to let you know that I am well, the same as usual. I have wrote several letters to others beside you, but I have received no answers but from you. I wrote you a letter on Monday night and being that I have time I write you another. Things are pretty much the same as when I last wrote. The weather is rather cold for me, being that I have got no shoes to wear and my pants are all raged and thread bare. I look more like a Beggar then a soldier. You can think on the good treatment we have received since we have been at Washington, but still with all the Bad treatment we receive. I do not feel discouraged. I do all I can to be cheerful and to make all around me the same. I have Your William and Tom Mclentick Roth in my tent torn is as bad as me nearly for cloths, but you need not say anything to his folks about it. But take us all together we are a Regiment of Rags. Our camp is situated about 2 miles from Washington and we have a very good view of Washington and all the surrounding country, but as soon as we are equipped, we will be sent over the long Bridge on towards Richmond. When we will have a chance of giving the Rebels such a whipping as they little Dream of, but I guess you will think this is all Blow. But any hour, dear Maggie, this winter will finish up the war when I will come home to you never to leave you anymore. Dear wife, I never say much in my letters about love, but it is not because I don't think of you. For Maggie, you are always uppermost in my thoughts.
Do not forget to write to me for you don't know how it cheers me to receive a letter from you.
I received the press Newspaper on Sunday and a paper from home is a rarity about here. Dear Maggie I will now close my letter with my earnest love for you. Give my respects to Uncle John and Cousin Billey and all inquiring friends advise.
From Your Affectionate
Husband Wm Lancaster
Direct
Wm Lancaster
Care Capt Hartman
Camp Harlan
Washington D.C
Summary
I have learned that life as a soldier was harsh. They had little to no comfort and life was quite lonely. They were treated good at times and bad at others. Their clothes were torn, and never washed. Life as a soldier was a hard life, with friends dying and loved ones not being there. It's hard to imagine even doing that today. Any soldier who has ever fought is brave and deserves everything they fought for.
Dear Wife,
I write again being that I have a little spare time to let you know that I am well, the same as usual. I have wrote several letters to others beside you, but I have received no answers but from you. I wrote you a letter on Monday night and being that I have time I write you another. Things are pretty much the same as when I last wrote. The weather is rather cold for me, being that I have got no shoes to wear and my pants are all raged and thread bare. I look more like a Beggar then a soldier. You can think on the good treatment we have received since we have been at Washington, but still with all the Bad treatment we receive. I do not feel discouraged. I do all I can to be cheerful and to make all around me the same. I have Your William and Tom Mclentick Roth in my tent torn is as bad as me nearly for cloths, but you need not say anything to his folks about it. But take us all together we are a Regiment of Rags. Our camp is situated about 2 miles from Washington and we have a very good view of Washington and all the surrounding country, but as soon as we are equipped, we will be sent over the long Bridge on towards Richmond. When we will have a chance of giving the Rebels such a whipping as they little Dream of, but I guess you will think this is all Blow. But any hour, dear Maggie, this winter will finish up the war when I will come home to you never to leave you anymore. Dear wife, I never say much in my letters about love, but it is not because I don't think of you. For Maggie, you are always uppermost in my thoughts.
Do not forget to write to me for you don't know how it cheers me to receive a letter from you.
I received the press Newspaper on Sunday and a paper from home is a rarity about here. Dear Maggie I will now close my letter with my earnest love for you. Give my respects to Uncle John and Cousin Billey and all inquiring friends advise.
From Your Affectionate
Husband Wm Lancaster
Direct
Wm Lancaster
Care Capt Hartman
Camp Harlan
Washington D.C
Summary
I have learned that life as a soldier was harsh. They had little to no comfort and life was quite lonely. They were treated good at times and bad at others. Their clothes were torn, and never washed. Life as a soldier was a hard life, with friends dying and loved ones not being there. It's hard to imagine even doing that today. Any soldier who has ever fought is brave and deserves everything they fought for.