This very uncommon and attractive lithograph shows the encampment of the Second Division of the Massachusetts Volunteer Militia on Winter Island just before the Civil War. "Drawn from nature by JNO B. Bachelder assisted by photographs by J.W. Moulton" and lithographed by Endicott & Co. of New York. In the foreground is a Cavalry unit drilling, surrounded by tents and civilians in period dress. To the left is an artist sketching the scene, which is most likely a self-portrait of John Bachelder. Just off the shoreline is the encampment of Winter Island, which is filled with tents and drilling troops with a large American flag flying in the wind. In the background, the harbor is filled with various boats and ships. The full sheet measures 23 x 32".

John Bachelder was a portrait and landscape painter, lithographer, and photographer. During the Civil War he accompanied the Army of the Potomac and made many sketches of military life as well as important battles. He is best known as the historian of the Battle of Gettysburg and was a dominant factor in the preservation of the Gettysburg Battlefield.

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Condition: B+

Beautiful hand color on thick paper. There are two marginal edge tears that are repaired on verso with archival tape and a few brown spots mostly in the blank margins with some light even age toning. The verso has some staining from the wood backing that was used, but it does not show through.