1864 Hill Lithograph View of 1863 - 64 Union Winter Quarters at Stony Mountain, VA

This is a rare c. 1864 George Hill lithograph view of the 1863 - 64 winter quarters of the 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 2nd Corps at Stony Mountain, Virginia. The view captures an image of American Civil War camp life, with the soldiers' living quarters acting as the image's focal point.

A Closer Look

The viewer immediately notices the rows of log cabins stretching to the middle ground. The density of the forest in the middle ground and to the right and the tree stumps in the foreground suggest that the encampment was cut out of the forest. Stables appear on the extreme right while drilling soldiers are illustrated on the extreme left. A soldier appears in the foreground with his back to the artist and seems to be sketching the scene. (Perhaps this is Hill himself.) Fields and forests stretch out into the background, with the horizon filled by tree-covered mountains.

The 14th Connecticut Infantry Regiment

The 14th Connecticut Infantry Regiment was the most battle-tested regiment from Connecticut. The 14th Connecticut was mustered into Federal service on August 23, 1862, and left for Washington, D.C., on August 25. The Regiment fought at Antietam, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, Totopotomoy, Cold Harbor, Petersburg, and High Bridge and Farmville, and were present at Appomattox Court House for Lee's surrender. They were mustered out of service on May 21, 1865.

Publication History and Census

This view was drawn by George W. Hill and published by an unknown publisher. This piece does not appear in OCLC, and we know of only one cataloged example, which is part of the collection at the Memorial Hall Museum in Deerfield, Michigan.