Lot 159

Antique Civil War Overland Campaign: North Anna River, Va. Federal Troops Occupying Line of Breastworks on the North Bank Photograph on Board by Timothy H. O'Sullivan

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Lot 159
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Antique Civil War Overland Campaign: North Anna River, Va. Federal Troops Occupying Line of Breastworks on the North Bank Photograph on Board by Timothy H. O'Sullivan
Antique Civil War Overland Campaign: North Anna River, Va. Federal Troops Occupying Line of Breastworks on the North Bank Photograph on Board by Timothy H. O'Sullivan
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Antique Civil War Overland Campaign: North Anna River, Va. Federal Troops Occupying Line of Breastworks on the North Bank Photograph on Board by Timothy H. O'Sullivan

Current Bid: $25

(1 Bid)
by One Source Auctions
July 27, 2026 5:00 PM EDT
Live Auction
177 S. Main St.
Canandaigua, NY, US 14424

This historic photograph, titled "[North Anna River, Va. Federal troops occupying line of breastworks on the north bank]," was captured by acclaimed Civil War photographer Timothy H. O'Sullivan on May 25, 1864. Taken during General Ulysses S. Grant’s grueling Overland Campaign (specifically the Battle of North Anna), the image serves as a vital visual record of Union soldiers entrenched in trench warfare. O'Sullivan, operating as a field photographer for Alexander Gardner's Washington, D.C.-based firm, produced this iconic documentation using the painstaking wet-plate collodion glass negative process. The photograph documents a moment during the Battle of North Anna (May 23–26, 1864), a tactical engagement where Confederate General Robert E. Lee successfully formed an "inverted V" defensive line that outmaneuvered Grant, though Lee was ultimately unable to spring his trap. The Scene: The image features Union Second Corps troops occupying hastily constructed breastworks (fortifications made of earth, logs, and brush) on the northern bluffs of the river. In the background of this specific series, the American flag can be seen catching the wind, and the far slopes reveal the tents of the Union encampment. The Broader Collection: This photo belongs to a famous multi-part series of wet-plates O'Sullivan shot over those two days at the North Anna River. Other images in this exact sequence include Union engineers building military roads, the smoldering ruins of the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad bridge, and a rare, candid moment of off-duty Union soldiers bathing in the river to escape the intense Virginia heat. Please ask specific questions on details, condition, and shipping prior to bidding, ALL ITEMS ARE SOLD AS IS, and the bidder will be responsible for payment. We box and ship what we can to keep costs low, and use USPS and UPS. Large items, extremely fragile, and high value items will be packed by UPS. Quotes available on request

  • Dimensions: 7" x 8.25" and 11" x 14"
  • Condition: Very Good Condition

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Bid Increments
From: To: Increments:
$0 $49 $5
$50 $99 $5
$100 $199 $10
$200 $499 $25
$500 $999 $50
$1,000 $2,999 $100
$3,000 $9,999 $250
$10,000 + $500