A picture of farm workers in a field. 'Team of 10 men, 6 horses, and colt. 1/2 mile out of Troy, Gilmer County.; No. 27 D(15); July 9, Wed. 11:05 am, clear'
During the first summer of the Civil War, Union troops established a strong defensive position on the summit of Cheat Mountain. The Confederate government sent Robert E. Lee to push them off. His attack failed. Cheat Mountain in Randolph County, is now part of West Virginia. Gen. no. 48, neg. by D, No. 27. Date 1884, July 16. Wednesday, 11 A.M. Cloudy.
Piedmont Battlefield from Union Side Looking South, Augusta County, Va.
Date:
1884/07/22
Description:
Civil War Battle of Piedmont was fought in June 5, 1864. Union forces under David Hunter won the day. General "Grumble" Jones, commanding the Rebel troops, was killed. Gen. no. 69, neg. by D, No. 42. Date 1884, July 22. Tuesday, 12:40 P.M.
'A small stream emptying in the South Fork of the Shenandoah is crossed by the Luray Valley RR a branch of the B and O on a trestle which is 100 ft. high. The length I have not obtained. The best idea of the height is obtained by trying to follow down from the track to timber on the further side, and noticing the narrowness of the structure. My camera was standing about 20 feet above the lowest ground crossed. A watchmen is obliged to cross the trestle after the passage of every train day and night to see that no sparks have fallen from the engine. There is no plank for him to walk on...76.D(47); July 25, 1884, Friday 4:45 pm, raining.'
Fisher Hill Battlefield Looking Up Valley of Tumbling Run, Westerly
Date:
1884/07/28
Description:
'88.D.(54); July 28, 1884, Monday 5.30 pm; Misty and very dark; The right of the picture is ground occupied by Sheridan. The left by Confed. army. The R.R. embankment can be detected running left to right just in front of the houses. The Mts. in the distance are those along which the flank movement of Gen. Crook was made, by which about 4 p.m. he came upon the left rear of the Confed. over beyond the R.R. On the left in mid-distance is the field occupied by Gordon which No's 85, 86 were taken.'
Battlefield of Fisher Hill from Wharton's Position (Confederate) Commanding Pike
Date:
1884/07/28
Description:
'89.D.(55); July 28, 1884 Monday 5:35 pm; Dark, misting; On extreme right is mill(?) at edge of Strasburg. The field of corn is on the flat land of the river a little way to the right. The valley pike was commanded for a mile by the Confed. battery of Wharton stationed right where the camera stands. Sheridan's army turned off the pike onto the higher land west; (left in the view). The valley of Tumbling Run is hidden by the trees of the foreground, likewise the stone house by the bridge.'
'Looking in almost the opposite direction of No 80. On the extreme left about 30 feet beyond the bridge stands the old flour mill. The door, like that of all the mills we saw is out in two in the middle so that the upper half can be opened while the lower is shut. Leaning on a stand the extortionate miller himself and his brother just at their left is where Walter placed his camera for No 78 pointing it toward the little building on the left (a sort of shop). On the right is the sawmill. Picture taken just as we were ready to harness. 81.D(50); July 28, Mon. 8 am'
83 D (51). July 28, 1884, Monday 2:30 p.m. cloudy. About 2 miles south up the valley from Strasburg, Va. The pike here climbs an embankment and then goes over the bridge and turns a right angle up the valley of Tumbling Run. We turned off to the lower (East) side and eat our dinner under the big trees on the right. A ghost of the carriage can be made out. This view would have made a fine picture if the Neg had not fogged in the development.
Gen. no. 92, neg. by B, No. 57. Plate maker I.C., kind R.P. Lens maker Morrison, focal length 8 in. C, Stop 5 U.S. No. 121. Exposure time of 7.5. Date 1884, July 29.5.45 P.M. Weather, sun breaking through storm clouds. Place, about 2 miles down the valley from Strasburg. View, Looking back towards Strasburg and the battle field of Fisher's Hill, the region of which lies to the left of sharp peak. 'Interesting to me personally as the place where I broke the ground glass of my camera trying to get it over the tall rail fence, one slick which projects into the picture on the left.'
'The entire house is only a few yards from the great bridge and is on the right of the pike as one comes from Strasburg, up the valley. The road on the left becomes Tumbling Run and then crosses the opposite bank.; 90.D(56); July 29, 1884, Tuesday 2:15 pm'
Cedar Creek Battlefield View West from General Crook's Camp
Date:
1884/07/30
Description:
'(60)D. 97; July 30, 1884, Wednesday 11 a.m. clear; On extreme left is Mr. Stickley's farm in whose barn we spent the night. Strasburg lies a little too far to the left to come into sight. No 93 was taken from that stretch of pike a few roads from the house. When we came to the end of that straight portion we fastened the team and climbed that little rise which is crowned with a fringe of trees (it stands right over our head) and from that took No's 95 and 96. This view looks up the rather open valley of Cedar Creek, whose left on NE bank was occupied by the Union army. The fighting was mainly at the extreme right of this view and along down the pike for several miles. The mts. in the distance mark the western part of the Shenandoah Valley.'
'96.59 D I.C.; July 30, 1884, Wed.; Battlefield of Cedar Creek. Same shot as No. 95. Looking East. The top of the covered bridge over Cedar Creek is in the middle of the view. A glimpse of the stream at the right. From the field near the top of the ridge and to the right of the woods were taken views No. 97 and 98. That whole ridge to the right of the woods was covered by the tents of Crooks camp. The farm and hay stocks on the left are the same as appear in No. 97 and 98. Our troops after the surprise were driven towards the left through those woods to and across the pike which after crossing the stream keeps on down the main valley nearly parallel with the portion visible.'
Cedar Creek Battlefield, View of Slope Occupied by Crooks Camp
Date:
1884/07/30
Description:
'93 D(58); July 30, 1884, Wednesday 8:45 am. About a mile down the valley from Cupp's Hill; Looking about East...Shows the series of low hills occupied by the camps of Crook's army corp which is on the other or Eastern side of Cedar Creek, up behind which the Confederate columns marched in their surprise of the Union.'
Cedar Creek Battlefield Belle Grove House Viewed from Pike
Date:
1884/07/30
Description:
'Sheridan's headquarters, occupied in his absence by Gen. Emery and other officers in command. It is off to the West of the pike and in rear of formation of the 19th corps. The distant hill of No. 97 on the left. Our troops were driven across the field from the left towards the right; nearly parallel with the pike. 99.D.(61); July 30, 1884, Wednesday 12:15 clear'
'End of Sheridan's famous ride to battlefield of Cedar Creek looking North. The ridge on the left where the whole fenced cemetery stand was held for a while by our troops and then they were forced back parallel with the pike beyond Middletown, a few houses of which are seen on the right. At the first of them, on the right of the pike. Walter drew water from a well out in the field for the team. (62)D.101; July 30, 1884, Wednesday 12:45 pm'
'113.D.67; July 31, 1884, Thursday 5:00 pm; Winchester is in the distance on the left. The house is known as the Dinkler house. Its present occupant was with us while we were taking this view. A piece of our road from Winchester is visible on the left and on the slope just in front of it is the sandy knoll from which No. 110 was taken the line of the road across the view is marked by the bushes.'
