Close-Up Images - The Grand Review

[Eric Tipton]

Good Afternoon:

In the continuing series of close-up images, this entry is inspired by a Facebook post I saw this past week from Garry Adelman. He posted versions of two images: The Viewing Stand and a Line of Soldiers. Seeing these two images made me wonder what other ones might be in the Library of Congress Archives, so off I went on my search. Here is some of what I found:

Federal Infantry in Motion - As I suspected in my search, since the armies were marching, there are no really good images of the columns themselves, at least based on what I saw. Here is one image I found that shows a line of infantry. Here is the image and the close-up:



The Viewing Stand: Here is an image of the Viewing Stand, I'm sure you have looked at before. I have zoomed in on the politicians and generals and then on the line of guards in front of them. Didn't look for the name of this unit. I'm sure one of you might know:



The Grandstand: This is just such a clear image that it was hard to pass up for this post. You could get lost in there looking at the hats, clothing and facial expressions.



If you know more specifics on some of these, please feel free to add them! Also, I know there are more flooating around of the web. Add those as well!

[Stephen Lunsford]

Re: Close-Up Images - The Grand Review

Is that the Veteran Volunteer Guard under the Viewing Stand? I can see Grant, Stanton, and Andrew Johnson in the viewing stand. But is that Sherman on the far right? These are awesome photographs! It would be awesome to reenact the Grand Review.

[Ambrose Bierce]

Re: Close-Up Images - The Grand Review

Note the cant of the rifles at Right Shoulder Shift. A bit more angled than some other photos and the manuals demonstrate. Let the debate ensue!

[Silas]

Re: Close-Up Images - The Grand Review

The debate about Right Shoulder Shift (RSS) is easy. The weapon isn't straight up and down with the right arm jammed against the side of the body like reenactors tend to perform it. There's a huge lean which is a bit much, but I'd prefer too much lean over none at all. If the weapon doesn't bonk the head of someone in the rear or place a muzzle in someone's face, it's okay.

There are a few other photos from this location which show one line of troops at RSS, the next line at Left Shoulder Shift, and the one behind that at RSS. LSS is mentioned specifically in Ellsworth's manual and is certainly suggested in Remarks on the School of the Battalion from Hardee :

In marching by the front, arms may be shifted to the right shoulder; but not in the march in line of battle until the battalions shall be well instructed.

After arms have been carried for some time on the right shoulder, they may be shifted, in like manner, to the left shoulder.

Source : http://draytons.tripod.com/hardeesob.html#remarks

Finding this in Ellsworth isn't dispositive. Just shows it's possible. The above text also appears in the US 1861 Tactics, but didn't make it into Casey.

[Spring Garden Bluesman]

Re: Close-Up Images - The Grand Review

The guards in front of the reviewing stand are with the Veteran Reserve Corps (Originally Invalid Corps) with their distinctive sky blue jackets.

-Bill Burks

[Steve Acker]

Re: Close-Up Images - The Grand Review

Curious, the amount of soft hats in the marching unit. I wonder if this is an image struck of Meade's army or Sherman's army?

Great to look at.

Steve Acker