Center for Civil War Photography

The Dutch Gap "Action Sequence"

The first combat photograph by a Union photographer may have been captured during the construction of the Dutch Gap Canal in Virginia in 1864, which was done under periodic Confederate bombardment. In the top view, an officer looks out over the scene. Another officer stands on an earthen dam above unseen workers digging out the canal. In the bottom view, there is a sudden commotion. Smoke has filled the gap. A number of workers are now visible toward the left side of the earthen dam. One can see the blurred figures of some men who appear to be moving away from the smoke. An 1869 caption says, "The mist arising against the bank is caused by a rebel shell, which exploded just as this view was being photographed." The officer in the foreground does not appear particularly concerned, although he does move his head. So the image seems to lack the sense of danger that would accompany a falling shell, it is a fact, however, that the Dutch Gap canal was frequently shelled.

Scroll down to the back of the view.

Both of these views are yellow-mount Anthony war views. Views on yellow mounts were issued primarily from 1864 through 1866 and perhaps as late as 1867 or 1868. The caption on the bottom view was later modified. On orange-mount Anthony views, the obviously incorrect phrase "while this position was being taken" has been changed to "just as this view was being photographed."

Scroll down to read a first-hand account of a photographer working under fire while at Dutch Gap.

This fanciful drawing shows a Civil War photographer, with camera and tripod over his shoulder, advancing past an exploding shell at Dutch Gap. Interestingly, the photographer is depicted close to the same spot where the Dutch Gap action sequence was photographed. This drawing appeared with a reminiscence by Civil War photographer A. J. Russell that was published in Anthony's Photographic Bulletin in 1882. It is one of the few written stories about Civil War photographers in the field. The narrative, in which Russell recalls a meeting with photographer T.C. Roche, appears below.

The A.J. Russell Narrative

I cannot but relate a little incident among the thousands that transpired. It was at City Point, just before the move on Petersburg. Mr. Roche (now with Anthony & Co.) entered my headquarters, and said, "Cap., I am in for repairs and want to get things ready for the grand move, for the army is sure to move tonight or tomorrow night. The negatives on hand I wish to send North with some letters, prepare my glass and chemicals; in fact, get everything ready for the grand move, for this is the final one, and the Rebellion is broken, or we go home and commence over again.

This prophecy proved to be correct, for in this great final move Lee was captured and the confederacy collapsed. I sat up with Mr. Roche until the 'wee sma' hours;" he had everything in A No. 1 order for the morrow. We sat smoking and talking of adventures, etc., etc., and among others of Dutch Gap Canal, and of the pictures taken there under difficulties a few days before, of which a friend of mine had been an eye-witness. The enemy were bombarding the works from Howlett's Point, throwing immense shells every few minutes, tearing up the ground and raising a small earthquake every time one of them exploded. He had taken a number of views and had but one more to make to finish up the most interesting points, and this one was to be from the most exposed position. He was within a few rods of the place when down come with the roar of a whirlwind a ten-inch shell, which exploded, throwing the dirt in all directions; but nothing daunted, and shaking the dust from his head and camera he quickly moved to t he spot, and placing it over the pit made by the explosion, exposed his plate as coolly as if there was no danger, and as if working in a country barn-yard. The work finished he quickly folded his tripod and returned to cover. I asked him if he was scared. "Scared?" he said. "Two shots never fell in the same place."

At this moment the heavy boom of cannons were heard in the direction of Petersburg. Roche jumped to his feet, and rushing to the door, said, "Cap., the ball has opened; I must be off," calling to his assistant. In the next quarter of an hour two horses were harnessed, everything snugly packed, and shaking my hand with a "we will meet tomorrow at the front," said "good bye," and the wagon rattled off into the darkness of midnight towards that doomed city above which was such another display of pyrotechnics as few photos have ever witnessed-shells flying in all directions, leaving their trails of fire and fading away only to be replaced by others. This was not all. The whole world seemed alive; every road was teeming and the call to arms seemed to find a response from every foot of the ground; the rumbling of artillery, the clatter of cavalry, the tramp of infantry, the shrieking of locomotives, calling men to their posts, plainly told that the time had come-that the destiny of a nation hung in the balance.

In the morning Petersburg was ours. I found Mr. Roche on the ramparts with scores of negatives taken where the fight had been the thickest and where the harvest of death had indeed been gathered-pictures that will in truth teach coming generations that war is a terrible reality.

A few minutes later I saw his van flying towards the war-stricken city, and in the wake of a fleeing enemy. Many were the records he preserved that day that will last while history endures, to relate the eventful story of a victory sorely won.

- A.J. Russell