The Photographic History of the Civil War in Ten Volumes: Armies and Leaders

Photographic History of the Civil War #10

by Francis Trevelyan Miller, Robert Sampson Lanier

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Genres: History

364 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1911

About the author

Francis Trevelyan Miller (1877–1959) was an American writer and film-maker. He is known for his books about exploration, travel and photography. Notable works from him including several books about the American Civil War, such as The Photographic History of the Civil War, in Ten Volumes (New York: The Review of Reviews Co., 1912). Another of his significant works is "History of WWII: Armed Services Memorial Edition." He has also made several feature films and wrote the screenplay for the 1919 film Deliverance about Helen Keller. In 1955 his photograph of children at a Chicago funfair was selected by Edward Steichen for MoMA's world-touring The Family of Man exhibition.

Reviews

[carl theaker]

Volume 10 of 10: Armies and leaders

Photography was barely considered a hobby at the time of the election of Abraham Lincoln, but the battle between the North and South certainly erased any notion of that as this wonderful 10 volume collection reflects. And never more than in this volume 10 which has hundreds, if not thousands of photos of various officers and leaders from both sides.

The famous subjects, Grant, Lee, Stonewall, Davis have their own detailed coverage, however about every general and some lower officers are also included, there is no shortage of generals in the large Union Army ! For this reason the book is shorter on stories and long on portrait photographs. Not as compelling as other volumes, but can be used as a great reference.

There are eight contributing authors, two officers from the Union and four from the Confederacy, and two history professors (published in 1911, there were veterans still alive).


The format of the 1911 publication is a delight in itself, the edges of the pages adorned with illustrations, the fonts of the titles and text, all a treasure in itself. The adornments may army-land based: wheeled artillery, caissons, etc, however there are also naval themes when relevant, oars, anchors, buoys, ship’s wheel, really cool. Are books still printed like this?

When my father passed away he wanted me to have this 10 volume collection. Now, I’ve read and enjoyed them all, thanks Dad.

[William Guerrant]

While it has some limited value today as a reference book, what keeps this book (and books like it) interesting is its historiographical significance. The "Battles and Leaders" books were very popular and played a huge role in the reconciliation movement. This book came out somewhat later but is in the same spirit--written not as a Northern history of the war or a Southern history of the war, but rather as an American history, emphasizing the heroism and common valor and values on both sides, while glossing over or ignoring the things that would continue to be divisive.