30+ Rare and Fascinating Photos from the American Civil War

The photograph captures four prominent figures, with General John Sedgwick seated, distinguished by his absence of attention to the camera. A cornerstone of the Union’s military strategy, Sedgwick’s tactical genius was unparalleled. His demise came at the hands of a sharpshooter, a significant blow to the Union effort.

General Sedgwick, known for underestimating the danger on the battlefield, famously scoffed at the accuracy of enemy rifles, claiming, ‘they couldn’t hit an elephant at that distance,’ moments before a fatal shot struck him below his left eye. His death marked a profound loss that General Ulysses Grant equated to losing a whole division.