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Catalog Data

Artist:
Alexander Gardner, 17 Oct 1821 - 10 Dec 1882  Search this
Sitter:
Wesley Merritt, 16 Jun 1834 - 3 Dec 1910  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan, 6 Mar 1831 - 5 Aug 1888  Search this
George Crook, 8 Sep 1828 - 21 Mar 1890  Search this
James William Forsyth, 08 Aug 1834 - 24 Oct 1906  Search this
George Armstrong Custer, 5 Dec 1839 - 25 Jun 1876  Search this
Medium:
Albumen silver print
Dimensions:
Image/Sheet: 45.8 × 40.9 cm (18 1/16 × 16 1/8")
Mount: 56 × 45.8 cm (22 1/16 × 18 1/16")
Mat: 71.1 × 55.9 cm (28 × 22")
Type:
Photograph
Date:
c. 1865
Exhibition Label:
Another in Alexander Gardner’s valedictory series of the major Union commanders in each theater of the war, this photograph groups four of the figures from the 1864 campaign in the Shenandoah Valley under the command of Philip Sheridan (1831–1888). Sheridan is standing to the left; at the table are cavalry officer Wesley Merritt (1834–1910); George Crook (1828–1890), who had an independent force in western Virginia before joining Sheridan’s army; Sheridan’s chief of staff, James W. Forsyth (1835–1906); and perhaps America’s most famous cavalryman, George A. Custer (1839–1876).
This photograph brings together the men who would be major figures in the settlement of the Great Plains and the Indian Wars—none more emblematic than Custer. As such, it provides the bridge between the first half of Gardner’s career during the Civil War and the images of western land and people on which he focused during the rest of his photographic career. One war had ended; another was beginning.
Topic:
Interior  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair  Search this
Costume\Jewelry\Ring  Search this
Printed Material\Document  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table  Search this
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache  Search this
Costume\Dress Accessory\Handkerchief  Search this
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard  Search this
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Carpet  Search this
Symbols & Motifs\Star  Search this
George Armstrong Custer: Male  Search this
George Armstrong Custer: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army  Search this
George Crook: Male  Search this
George Crook: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
George Crook: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan: Male  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Colonel  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Captain  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General  Search this
Philip Henry Sheridan: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General  Search this
Wesley Merritt: Male  Search this
Wesley Merritt: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\General  Search this
Wesley Merritt: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Civil War\Union Army  Search this
James William Forsyth: Male  Search this
James William Forsyth: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Brigadier General  Search this
Portrait  Search this
Credit Line:
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Object number:
NPG.78.16
Restrictions & Rights:
CC0
See more items in:
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location:
Currently not on view
Data Source:
National Portrait Gallery
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm49c0d2f47-89be-4745-928b-c9e5d290da3f
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:npg_NPG.78.16