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Lion of the Valley Stonewall Jackson in Winchester, Virginia November 6, 1861 
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No longer was he "Tom Fool" Jackson. That's what some cadets had called Major Thomas J. Jackson a year earlier at the Virginia Military Institute, where he had lectured on artillery principles, astronomy and physics. He was an expert at artillery, and he memorized his other subjects, but his classroom presentation was anything but inspiring. One student called him "the worst teacher God ever made." His demanding discipline resulted in the expulsion of six cadets, and prompted one student to challenge him to a duel. He often appeared lost in his thoughts, and sometimes even forgot to eat. He walked with an awkward gait, laughed in a peculiar and soundless manner, and would abruptly raise his arm and make a pumping motion to stimulate blood circulation. Beneath such eccentric behavior, however, lay one of history's brightest military geniuses. By the time he established his headquarters in Winchester, Virginia in 1861, Jackson's odd habits were overshadowed by his celebrated fame. "Tom Fool" Jackson had become "Stonewall" Jackson - the hero of the Confederate victory at First Manassas. A graduate of West Point and a Mexican War veteran, Jackson had left VMI for Confederate service, demonstrating a command ability that quickly spurred him to the rank of brigadier general and command of a brigade of Virginia troops from the Shenandoah Valley. His rock-hard defense of Henry House Hill at the battle of First Manassas earned him the nickname "Stonewall" Jackson, and made his name heroically famous throughout the South. In November of 1861, he was promoted to major general and placed in command of defending the Shenandoah Valley with headquarters at Winchester. When Jackson led his troops into town on November 6, the residents of Winchester realized they had a hero in their midst - but the flame of fame would soon burn with even greater brilliance. In the spring of 1862, Jackson would unleash his remarkable "Valley Campaign" and demonstrate his exceptional military genius. In an extraordinary display of hard marching, hard fighting and brilliant maneuvering, Jackson and his "foot cavalry" would humiliate the Northern armies that threatened the Shenandoah Valley. His triumph there would make him the lion of the Valley, and produce a year-long partnership with General Robert E. Lee that would make Stonewall Jackson one of history's leading military legends. | |
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Merry Christmas General Lee Moss Neck, Fredericksburg, Virginia December 25, 1862 
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It was a passing moment of cheer amid the harsh realities of war. On Christmas day of 1862, General Robert E. Lee, commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, attended a holiday dinner hosted by his valued "right arm" - General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Lee and some of his officers were invited by Jackson for a Christmas meal at an outbuilding at Moss Neck, where Jackson had established winter headquarters near Fredericksburg, Virginia. Surely it was a rare respite from the severities of warfare. Just three months earlier, Lee's army had been sorely pressed at the battle of Antietam -- and Lee's attempt to take the war to the North had been turned back in the bloodiest day of the war. And less than two weeks earlier at the battle of Fredericksburg - in one of his most decisive victories - Lee had his army overwhelmingly defeat the Army of the Potomac. So shocking were the harsh realities of war at Fredericksburg that Lee had observed: "It is well that war is so terrible; lest we grow too fond of it." Lee left the warm environment of General Jackson's hospitality to return to his headquarters and matters of war. He passed some guests that were arriving for a holiday party at the manor house and was momentarily refreshed by the events of the day and the warm wishes of "Merry Christmas General Lee." | |
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Order Out of Chaos Nathan Bedford Forrest, Nashville, Tenn., February 22, 1862 
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Nashville was in a panic. The Tennessee capital was a key Confederate rail link, supply depot and industrial center for the war’s Western theater. Despite Nashville’s importance, the Southern army defending it was withdrawn when Northern forces advanced on the city in February of 1862. The army’s commander, Brigadier General John B. Floyd, a hapless political officer who had already abandoned nearby Fort Donelson, hastily retreated from Nashville – leaving behind vast stores of desperately needed military equipment and supplies. Left behind too, however, was a bold and decisive Confederate officer and his troops – Colonel Nathan Bedford Forrest and his brigade of cavalry. The retreating commander had left Forrest to tidy up the evacuation and he took his orders seriously. Soon, Forrest restored order out of the chaos. Forrest then commandeered wagons, and put his troops to work saving military supplies, equipment and ammunition – including more than 700 wagonloads of army rations. Not until Northern troops were entering Nashville in full strength on the evening of February 23, did Forrest suspend his disciplined salvage operation and retire from the city. By then, order had been restored, and Nashville’s mayor was able to surrender the capital – which was spared the fiery destruction that awaited other Southern cities. Forrest’s salvage operation had provided the stores necessary for Southern forces to fight again. The same daring and determination would soon make General Nathan Bedford Forrest famous – as the “Wizard of the Saddle.” | |
Rendezvous with Destiny
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He was first on the field and may have saved the war's greatest battle for the Union. Brigadier General John Buford was 37 years old when he led his First Cavalry Division into Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on June 30, 1863. Known to his troops as 'Old Steadfast,' he was considered one of the best cavalry officers in the Northern army, and he showed why at Gettysburg. As General Robert E. Lee moved his spread-out Army of Northern Virginia across Pennsylvania in late June, the cross roads town of Gettysburg lay on his route of march, and also in the path of General George Meade's pursuing Army of the Potomac. The first to fully reach the field might win the major battle both armies were seeking. Buford's cavalry got there first, and his orders were clear: Hold Gettysburg at all costs until supports arrive. Buford knew the bulk of Lee's army was arriving from the west, so he located strong defensive lines for the Federal army on ridges flanking the town's west side, with an excellent fall-back position on Cemetery Ridge to the rear. Buford did his job - and well. His cavalry was first to engage Lee's army, and held back its advance until the Federal army began arriving in force. When Northern troops were finally driven back on the battle's first day, they dug in on Cemetery Ridge. There, they delivered a decisive defeat to Lee's battle-hardened troops over the next two days, and made Gettysburg the decisive battle of the American Civil War. General Buford's choice of defensive positions on June 30th had enabled the Union to prevail on the war's greatest field of battle. | |
Going Home
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It was his final journey.
General Thomas J. “Stonewall” Jackson – Robert E. Lee’s irreplaceable “right arm” – was seriously wounded at the battle of Chancellorsville on May 2, 1863. Eight days later, he succumbed to a related case of pneumonia. After lying in state at the Virginia Capitol and following an official state funeral in Richmond, Jackson’s body was transported back home to Lexington, Virginia for burial. On May 13, 1863, his funeral cortege arrived by rail in Lynchburg, Virginia. There, it proceeded through the city in a solemn procession, escorted by thousands of mourners. At the Kanawha Canal, the cortege was transferred to the packet boat Marshall. A familiar craft on the canal, the Marshall had the task of taking General Jackson up the James River on the final leg of his journey home to Lexington. For a long and memorable pause, the Marshall waited at its mooring below Lynchburg’s Ninth Street Bridge – with Jackson’s flag-draped casket aboard and surrounded by a group of mourners. Finally, its lines were cast off, and the Marshall headed up the canal for Lexington – as a huge crowd lined the bridge to pay their respects to the fallen leader. Stonewall Jackson was going home | |
Sunrise Service
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Despite a hefty measure of scoundrels, shirkers and skeptics, the ranks of the Civil War soldier were thoroughly leavened with believers. Nineteenth century American society was firmly founded on the Judeo-Christian world-view and a Biblical faith was openly expressed in the ranks – even in official military reports. Flag Officer Andrew H. Foote, whose river-borne naval forces helped open the Southern heartland to Federal advances, was a faithful Christian who conducted worship services for his sailors aboard ship. General Stonewall Jackson personally distributed salvation tracts to his soldiers. General Oliver O. Howard, a Federal corps commander, earnestly discouraged gambling and drunkenness among his troops, and his concern for freed slaves led to the establishment of Howard University. General Robert E. Lee personally insured that Jewish troops in his command were excused for Sabbath worship, and issued orders calling for periods of prayer and fasting in his army. Said Lee: “I am nothing but a poor sinner, trusting in Christ alone for salvation.” “I derive great comfort from the precious promises of Our Lord & Savior,” wrote a Southern infantryman in 1862 – sentiments repeated in countless soldier letters. “May God give me faith to sustain me under every trial….” In a typical letter written the same year, a Northern cavalryman agreed: “I am trying to become a more devoted Christian, a better Man – and the best Soldier I am capable of becoming.” More than a quarter-million copies of a Gospel tract called Parting Words were distributed through the Southern armies, and the U.S. Christian Commission donated more than a half-million Bibles to Northern troops during a single year of the war. In 1862 and 1863, the Southern armies were transformed by a revival akin to the Colonial-era Great Awakening. It produced tens of thousands of new Christians, spurred a wave of campground worship services, and launched countless prayer meetings. In the Confederate Army of Tennessee, an average of 40 soldiers a night professed newfound faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior in a single two-week period. On the Virginia front, a joint baptism organized by Southern soldiers on the Rapidan River attracted a group of Northern troops to the opposite bank. Spontaneously, men from both sides joined in a hymn-singing at water’s edge. From the front lines to the backwaters of the war, soldiers North and South regularly paused from the ways of war to open the Lord’s Day with a sunrise worship service – expressing a common faith amidst an uncommon conflict. Mort Kunstler's Comments: The Southern countryside draped by a mantle of snow is, of course, a spectacular setting for any painting – and numerous snowy Sundays are on record during the war. Add to that the gorgeous tones of a winter sunrise – and a memorable stage is set for the painting. I also learned about the very moving personal elements of 19th century outdoor worship services in America – the different characters and poses that would have been seen at such an event. As I made preliminary sketches of the scene, I was able to include many of these elements – such as the typical praying poses of the “hat over heart” and the “crossed arms.” My annual snow scenes usually take place in the evening, so it was a nice change to paint an early morning sunrise. The focal point of the painting is the Southern chaplain, and I painted his dark figure against the lightest background. This design element, using the biggest contrast, brings the eye of the viewer right to the chaplain – and immediately tells the story I want to convey. Another design element, using tree branches as pointers, brings the eye to the focal point as well. For color accents, I have shown the South’s First National flag and the Southern battle flag – both of which came in use in General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia in the winter of 1861-62. During winter camp, some of the officers were visited by their wives, and this gave me the opportunity to include some women and an infant. What has emerged here in Sunrise Service is a wonderful, meaningful painting. It’s an artwork that truly expresses the heart of that exceptional generation of 19th century Americans – both Southern and Northern – and I think it’s also one of the most attractive pictures that I’ve ever had the opportunity to paint. Thank you, Rod and “Bud.” Without your suggestions and input, Sunrise Service would not have come to be – and I’m so glad to have painted it. | |
The "Mud March"
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| The Army of the Potomac advanced again and again, as General Ambrose E. Burnside attempted to flank the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia. The march was conducted in the midst of a brutally fierce winter storm. Once more the men in blue courageously endured the worst - artillery bogged down in the mud, horses and mules struggling in the mire, wagons overturned and abandoned. Their dedication to God and Country would forever seal the Army of the Potomac's reputation for endurance, determination and fortitude. | |
White House Strategy
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| President Davis - like President Lincoln - allowed his children to run freely through the house with few restrictions - even when important meetings and affairs of state were underway. The President's oldest son, Jefferson Davis, Jr., was a precocious child, and with the White House nursery next door to the President's office, the five-year-old often popped into Davis' office unannounced. That's how White House Strategy was born. | |
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Brief Encounter Middleburg, Virginia, February 1863 
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| The cavalry squadron is depicted in a brief calm moment. The soldiers are checking their weapons and equipment before going out on patrol. One soldier is checking the harness on the team of horses. Others wait patiently to move out. The center of interest is an officer tipping his hat to a young woman. Is he saying goodbye to his wife or a sweetheart? Or is it a chance encounter that holds hope for the future? You can decide. Either way, it's a leave-taking in the midst of war and there may be no return. | |
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Victory Rode the Rails Jackson at Piedmont Station, July 19, 1861 
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It was like a grand holiday. Throughout North and South in the summer of 1861, America's young men gleefully pulled on new uniforms, shouldered "rifle-muskets" and cheerfully left for war. They would whip the Rebels in 90 days, boasted Northern recruits. One Southerner could lick ten Yankees, claimed Southern boys. Never again would Americans go to war with such an unrealistic, romantic notion. Some knew better. Brigadier General Thomas J. Jackson, an unremarkable mathematics instructor from the Virginia Military Institute, was a Mexican War veteran, and he tried hard to prepare his troops - Virginia's First Brigade - for the reality of war.
But even Jackson's troops went to war as if heading for a holiday picnic. As they boarded a train at Virginia's Piedmont Station - among the first troops moved to battle by rail - they encountered a boisterous celebration. Flags were flying, troops were waving and young women were passing out treats. A holiday atmosphere masked a grim reality: Many of these youngsters, like their counterparts in the North, would soon be dead or wounded in the war's first major battle at First Manassas. There, too, near the banks of an obscure creek called Bull Run, the unknown VMI officer, Thomas J. Jackson, would rally the shaken Southerners, help turn the day for the Confederacy - and emerge forever famous as General "Stonewall" Jackson. |
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Lee Takes Command Pres. Davis and Gen. Lee, May 31, 1862 Available Only as a Framed Print!
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They were words that changed the course of the war: “General Lee, I shall assign you to command of this army.” They were spoken by Jefferson Davis, the president of the Confederate States of America, on an evening ride following the Battle of Seven Pines. A mighty Northern army commanded by General George B. McClellan had pressed Richmond’s defenders back to the outskirts of the beleaguered Confederate capital. Then, at Seven Pines, the Confederate army commander, General Joseph E. Johnston, was seriously wounded. Who would now take command of the Southern forces defending Richmond? If the capital fell, the newborn Southern nation would surely collapse. Riding back toward Richmond through the darkness on Nine Mile Road, President Davis turned to his chief military advisor, 55 year-old General Robert E. Lee, and made him the army’s commander. Although he had opposed secession, Lee was committed to defending his homeland from invasion, and he obediently accepted command. Within a month, he had driven McClellan’s army from the field, and had reformed his command into what would become the heralded Army of Northern Virginia. By war’s end, he had established a reputation of competence and character that was revered in the South and respected in the North – and had launched the legacy that would make Robert E. Lee the most admired military leader of the American Civil War. | ||
On They Came With Flags Flying 
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In The Hands of Providence Chamberlain at Fredericksburg, Va., Dec. 13, 1862 
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The Official Gods and Generals Collection Finally, it was their turn. For hours, Lieutenant Colonel Joshua L. Chamberlain and the troops of the 20th Maine had awaited the command to enter combat at the Battle of Fredericksburg. The men from Maine watched with fascination and horror as wave after wave of their fellow soldiers courageously charged across a deadly, open field of fire – and were dashed to pieces by Southern artillery and infantry fire. Now their time had come – and their full initiation to combat would occur at one of the bloodiest battles of America’s bloodiest war. “I held my breath and set my teeth together,” one of the regiment’s officers would later recall, “determined not to show fear if I could….” Faces fixed toward the enemy, they moved forward. Confederate artillery raked the regiment with deadly gusts – yet on they went. They charged “over fences and through hedges,” Chamberlain would recall, “over bodies of dead men and living ones, past four lines that were lying on the ground.” Like those who went before it, however, the 20th Maine was doomed to fail. After suffering an awful shredding, the regiment was forced back. Even so, on the plains of death at Fredericksburg, the men from Maine – and Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain – forged a reputation for coolness and courage that would follow them to other famous fields of fire and glory. | |
Mort Künstler
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Shenendoah Autumn Gens. Stuart and Jackson Millwood, Virginia, Nov. 4, 1862 The Official Gods and Generals Collection Image size: 17" x 28" Giclée Prints on Canvas Shipping $ 19 | |
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By late 1862, General Thomas J. Jackson and General J.E.B. Stuart were giants in gray — revered in the South and reluctantly respected in the North. Only General Robert E. Lee was held in higher esteem. “Stonewall” Jackson and “Jeb” Stuart had bequeathed heart and hope to the embattled people of the South, while repeatedly frustrating Northern strategies for conquering the Southern homeland. Stuart had literally ridden circles around the enemy, while providing invaluable intelligence as the “eyes” of General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia. Jackson had turned the tide at First Manassas where he emerged from obscurity to become the mighty “Stonewall” and then had thoroughly humiliated his foes in the Shenandoah Valley and at Second Manassas.
A daring attempt by Lee to capitalize on the Southern victories had been thwarted weeks earlier on the bloody fields of Antietam. Now, the Army of Northern Virginia was regrouping and preparing to repel another Northern assault — which they knew would surely come soon. In early November, Jackson and his troops were encamped east of Winchester, Virginia, and the General established temporary headquarters on the grounds of Carter Hall Plantation. It was there on November 4, 1862, that Jackson received a visit from General Stuart, who was fresh from battle and a hard night’s ride. Jackson promptly ordered his headquarters cooks to feed the weary warriors. “Nothing was better calculated to restore our good spirits than the summons to the General’s large breakfast-table,” recalled Major Heros von Borcke. Within hours, Stuart and his staff were back in the saddle and bidding goodbye to their host. They left Carter Hall much better for their time spent as General Jackson’s guests. “The good cheer had the happiest effect on Stuart, who enlivened our repast with abundant anecdote and the recital of many a joke,” recalled von Borcke. The laughter and cheer would prove fleeting — ahead lay hard days, heavy fighting and tragic ends for both Jackson and Stuart. Within months, mighty “Stonewall” would be dead, followed in 1864 by the dashing General Stuart. For the moment, however, Jackson and Stuart — like General Lee — were giants of heroic stature in the South this Shenandoah autumn. | ||
Mort Künstler
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Morgan's Ohio Raid Montgomery, Ohio, July 14, 1863 Mort Künstler is the Official Artist for the Ohio Bicentennial Commission. Image size: 16 3/4" x 29" Giclée Prints on Canvas Shipping $ 19 | |
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It was one of the boldest cavalry operations of the Civil War. In July of 1863, General John Hunt Morgan led 2,500 Confederate cavalrymen on a daring, three-week raid through Indiana and Ohio. Morgan and his men eluded pursuing Federal cavalry, diverted Federal troops and resources and delayed important Northern military operations. In the beleaguered South, news of Morgan’s Raid boosted morale. Morgan and his cavalrymen were relentlessly pursued by determined Federal cavalry commanded by Generals Edward H. Hobson and Henry M. Judah. They met staunch resistance by Midwestern civilians throughout the length of their raid. In Montgomery, Ohio – a village near Cincinnatti – Morgan’s Raiders received a chilly reception from defiant townspeople. With Northern forces closing in, Morgan’s harried troops pushed on across Ohio. Five days after Morgan’s men entered Montgomery, Hobson’s and Judah’s Federal troops overtook the Rebel raiders at Buffington Island, Ohio and captured approximately 700 Southern soldiers. Morgan and his men raced northward, but were finally cornered in northeastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania border. There, on July 26, 1863, Morgan was forced to surrender his command near West Point, Ohio - barely 70 miles from Lake Erie. Although Morgan would daringly escape from imprisonment and return to Confederate command, he would be mortally wounded on another raid. In the South, his exploits would become part of the legacy of the Lost Cause. In Ohio, generations to come would recall the days when the citizens of the Buckeye State defied the Rebel Raiders in the alarming time of Morgan’s Ohio Raid. | ||
Mort Künstler |
Valor in Gray Image size: 14 3/4" x 23" Giclee prints on canvas Each print is signed and numbered by the artist and accompanied by a Certificate of Authenticity. Shipping $ 19 |
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They faced the most powerful army in America. Advancing in battle lines up the hill toward them was the mighty Army of the Potomac - more than 115,000 strong - composed of courageous, well-trained combat troops under the command of General Ambrose E. Burnside. For half a year, General Robert E. Lee’s Army of Northern Virginia had been persistently hammered by this great army, led by one Northern commander after another. Back in autumn at Antietam, the men in gray had escaped destruction by this same blue-uniformed host. Now they faced them again on the field of battle at Fredericksburg. This time, however, they had a formidable advantage. They held an almost impregnable line of defense, which was anchored in a sunken road behind a stone wall on Marye’s Heights. The Northern troops advancing on them now in a mighty mass had to assault uphill over a long and open plain. Defending the Sunken Road were troops from Georgia, North Carolina, and Kershaw’s Brigade of South Carolinians, commanded by Brigadier General Joseph B. Kershaw. Descended from a prominent Southern family, Kershaw had been orphaned as a boy and had worked his way through life with remarkable success as a self-educated lawyer, a local militia officer, a Mexican War veteran, and a Confederate officer distinguished by a rapid rise in rank to brigadier general. Despite the numerical superiority of the men in blue at Fredericksburg, Kershaw held his brigade steady and poured forth a terrible fire from behind the stone wall. Kershaw demonstrated "great coolness and skill," observed a fellow officer, and helped transform the gigantic Federal assault into one of the North’s worst defeats. While Southern forces in the road and along the ridges behind it would lose a thousand men, the assaulting Northern forces would lose almost eight thousand. Finally, after making one courageous charge after another, the men in blue would give it up. The Battle of Fredericksburg would be heralded as one of Robert E. Lee’s greatest victories - due in great measure to the valiant defense made by these sons of the South. It would long be celebrated in the Southern homeland as a triumph of valor in gray. | ||
Mort Künstler
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Changing of the Pickets Image Size: 17 3/4" x 29 1/2" Overall : 23 3/4" x 34 1/2" 1,150 Limited Edition prints S/N $ 200 100 Artist Proofs $ 350 Shipping $ 19 |
Mort Künstler
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Letter From Home Image Size: 19" x 15 1/4" Overall Size: 25" x 20 1/4" 1,150 Limited Edition prints S/N $ 200 100 Artist Proofs S/N $ 350 Shipping $ 19 |
Mort Künstler
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The Winds of Winter Stonewall Jackson's Romney Campaign, January, 1862 Image Size: 17 3/4" x 26 3/4" Overall Size: 23 3/4" x 31 3/4" 2000 Limited Edition prints S/N $ 200 500 Virginia Tech Edition S/N 250 Internet Edition S/N 100 Artist Proofs S/N $ 350
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It was nothing like their early dreams of war. Federal forces had invaded the Shenandoah Valley, and an army of Southern soldiers had been dispatched to protect their homeland. Their objective was the Shenandoah Valley hamlet of Romney, where the Northern army was encamped - but the Valley weather, not the Yankees, proved to be the fiercest enemy. Less than a year earlier, these sons of the South had rushed to arms, filled with romantic notions of gallantry and glory. Now they faced the reality of life in the field. Deep snow and bitterly cold temperatures had transformed their march into a grueling ordeal. Reported a Confederate officer: "The road was almost an uninterrupted sheet of ice, rendering it almost impossible for man or beast to travel, while by moonlight the beards of the men, matted with ice, glistened like crystals…" Recalled another: "If a man had told me 12 months ago that men could stand such hardships, I would have called him a fool." Despite the almost unbearable conditions, they persevered - led by a relentless warrior: General Thomas J. "Stonewall" Jackson. Determined to do his duty and rid the Shenandoah Valley of invaders, Jackson drove his troops forward day and night through the snow, wind and ice. Soon, as if awed by Jackson's sheer willpower as much as the savage weather, Federal forces retreated without doing battle. Left behind was a horde of supplies and weapons to be confiscated by the jubilant Confederates. Months ahead, in the spring and summer to come, awaited greater glory: Jackson's brilliant, victorious Valley Campaign. It too would be won by the same determination and endurance that had enabled Stonewall Jackson and his "foot cavalry" to win the winter war. |
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Mort Künstler |
The Guns of Autumn Lee in Charleston, December 15, 1861
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Throughout their new nation, Southerners prepared for serious warfare. Gone now were hopes for a quick and bloodless victory: More than 3500 Americans had been killed or wounded at First Manassas. Gone too were hopes of Southern invincibility: Federal forces had occupied Port Royal on the South Carolina coast and were threatening other coastal points. Northern invasion seemed imminent on several fronts - and Southerners now hurriedly strengthened the Confederacy's defenses. In most places this autumn, the guns were silent as both Southern and Northern forces hastily mustered the resources for the firestorm to come. In the autumn of 1861, General Robert E. Lee was dispatched to South Carolina to command the Department of South Carolina, Georgia and Florida. A gifted military engineer, he developed a defensive strategy, organized the region's resources, and directed placement of troops and artillery. Lee's wisdom was especially welcome in Charleston - which state and local leaders knew was a major Federal target. His efforts would prove to be crucially important to the Southern coast: In most places Lee's line of defense would endure for most of the war. Elsewhere on the borders of the Confederacy, Lee's precautions were duplicated. Earthworks were erected. Artillery was put into position. Troops were deployed. Supplies and ammunition were storehoused. Even during its formation, the newborn nation was forced to defend itself. Soon, Lee would be recalled to Virginia, where gore and glory awaited him as commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. Throughout the South, meanwhile, the fledgling nation's defenses would be put to the test. The guns of autumn would be silent no more. |
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Mort Künstler
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Forming the Line Alexander and Longstreet at Gettysburg July 3, 1863
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Colonel Edward Porter understood the awesome task that lay before him. A tall, lanky 28 year old officer, Alexander
was in charge of the Confederate I Corp artillery. Officially, Alexander was just a battalion commander, but General
James Longstreet had moved him to field command of his artillery. This was the third day of battle at Gettysburg.
Following a season of victories, General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia had taken the war to the North,
marching in to Pennsylvania and dealing the Federal Army of the Potomac a staggering defeat on Gettysburg's first day.
On day two, however, the man in blue - who defended strong positions on Cemetery Ridge - had turned back
Confederate assaults on both flanks of the Federal line. Now Lee planned to pour everything into a mighty strike against
the enemy's center. To precede the Southern infantry assault, he had directed Longstreet to unleash a massive artillery
barrage against the Federal Line. To execute the unprecedented bombardment, Longstreet turned to Alexander. Artillery crews from more than 150 guns would follow Alexander's lead - opening fire at the sound of two signal guns. After a sustained pounding of the Federal position on Cemetery Ridge, the guns would cease fire and the heart of Lee's army would go forth to break the Federal line and defeat the enemy. At approximately one o'clock, Alexander would launch the barrage. It would be the greatest field artillery bombardment of the war. "The ground fairly shook beneath the feet of the assembled armies from the terrible conclusion," a Confederate would report. "The skies were clouded with smoke, the air was filled with shrieking shot and shell until it seemed as though hell itself had broken loose. It would not be enough. Despite Alexander's best efforts and the massive amount of Southern shot and steel hurled at the Cemetery Ridge, the Federal line would hold and Pickett's Charge would fail. Lee's greatest assault would become his greatest failure, and the course of the war would be thereafter set against the South. However, as Alexander and Longstreet watched the Confederate guns wheel into position, the fate of the South still remained cloaked by the future. The mighty bombardment and the great assault still lay ahead - and the quest for Southern independence still seemed within the grasp of Lee's legions. |
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Mort Künstler |
Iron Horses, Men of Steel Winchester, Virginia June, 1861
Image Size: 17 3/4" x 25 1/4" |
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