Union and Confederate Soldiers in the Same Photo?: Civil War Richmond Photo Extravaganza

The American Battlefield Trust teams up with the National Park Service to explore one of the most photographed locations of the American Civil War - including the only photo ever taken that showcases active Union and Confederate troops in the same shot. Join Garry Adelman and Mike Gorman outside of Richmond, Virginia at Fort Harrison.
The American Battlefield Trust preserves America’s hallowed battlegrounds and educates the public about what happened there and why it matters. We permanently protect these battlefields for future generations as a lasting and tangible memorial to the brave soldiers who fought in the American Revolution, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.

[@Ronaldl2350]

That one photograph of Union and Confederate together is amazing. Incredible that they had their own unspoken truce there also.

[@pegrathwol]

Well done Garry Adelman and Ranger Mike Gorman! You are correct when you state that those old photos are literal primary sources. What blows my mind is how well preserved that area around Fort Harrison still is. That's a stone's throw away from Richmond by modern standards. I live in Virginia and know exactly where it is. It's inside the 295 Beltway, most of that land is overrun and has been completely gobbled up by subdivisions and strip malls(there's a Food Lion and a Dairy Queen within a mile of where you shot that video). Keep up the good work and keep preserving our invaluable historical legacy of these battlefields!

[@michaeldouglas1243]

These developers need to have some sort of limits installed on there works. They have no compassion whatsoever for history, nor historical content. Where I live in South central PA at Maryland line the developers just recently bought an original 1804 limestone farm house and land and demolished it all for some sort f warehouse going up. All that history and artifacts gone forever. Not to mention that entire area was like stepping back in time and now all those for sale cause they can't live beside or around this mess. Sad so sad

[@jimmyjames9752]

SAVE OUR BATTLEFIELDS AMERICA 🇺🇸

[@thatcivilwargeneral]

Wow, very intresting info right here.

[@wesb2823]

This is awesome!

[@jeffsmith2022]

Well done, gentlemen...

[@gregmcquade641]

Bravo Ranger Mike and Garry! Your passion and energy are infectious. Fort Harrison is one of my favorite battlefields to visit. It is so well preserved. I know Mike well. He is a gem. A treasure not just for Richmond but the nation. Keep up the tremendous work, gents. Cheers!

[@bullhead900]

Great job guys, I am now hooked on learning more about the photography of the battlefields!

[@toddgreve6587]

I used to be on staff at the church near there! You're in Varina! Great location.

[@les3d50]

That was a great resentation and as mentioned unique as well.

[@maegardnermills4292]

I hope descendants have pictures. I love this . Soldiers. 🙏

[@josephsmith742]

From being introduced as a child to the civil war by my uncle. The books he gave me of the War, the library of course, filling notebook after notebook up with drawn battle scenes, to the history channel and it's civil war series. And now to have non stop civil war with the American Battlefield Trust, you Garry, and all the talented story telling Park Rangers and colleagues! Amazing! Thank you so much.

[@arevavaful]

You've both brought the scene to life... thanks 😊

[@terryeustice5399]

Thank you for sharing these photos of history. Thanks Gary and Mike for this unique look at this battle at Fort Harrison.

[@rockyv180]

Wow! Fascinating.

[@johnhudak3829]

The National Park Service is one of the very few things where we get way more than our money’s worth as citizens. They do a magnificent job. The American Battlefield Trust is to be commended as well. Great video and thanks for your efforts. 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@astaboy]

It's one ting to line up a "then and now" Civil War photograph. It's an entirely different thing to line up an entire chain of "then and now" Civil War photographs that chronicles a period of weeks. Well done Mr Gorman. This is Frassanito caliber stuff right there. -says Tim York as he picks his jaw up off the floor.

[@Arnoutish]

"A lot of people voted with their feet" Cool way of putting it

[@1welderswife]

This was terrific! Thank you!

[@carolinadog8634]

This is an incredible presentation by you two. Thank you for your passion in our history.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

That was outstanding.

[@chestophercolumbo4561]

Stunning and amazing pictures!

[@Wilders53]

Fascinating stuff guys!! Thank you and well done!

[@andyhelmboldt4477]

That just so happens to be the neighborhood I grew up in. My dad still lives there. When our house was build 50+ years ago the builders found multiple bullets and swords.

[@carlpitts7566]

Thank you, I enjoyed watching.

[@michaeldouglas1243]

I've heard ranger Mike speak multiple times, and he never disappoints. Great great presentation gentlemen

[@charlierichardson613]

Very nice! Worked there as an interpreter in 1979…

[@peggyscott66]

So cool having Gary Alderman in the back yard of my home town!! Woot! As a child growing up in Chesterfield county, we were spoon fed Civil War everything. Submerged in history from babyhood. I wouldn't change that for nothing.

[@janellekerns6485]

This video is truly captivating, wow!! 👏

[@kevinmathis1278]

Great video gentlemen.

[@cyndiebill6631]

YES!!! We need more videos of then an now! It put the whole Civil War in a new light when you can see what it was like form 1861-1865. Thank you again Gary for the amazing photography. I just love it.👍😁

[@steveclayton7556]

One of my ancestors was captured there the other was at fort Gilmer that day. I grew up near the fort used to go there all the time.

[@Shawnroberts1980]

Great video. Thank you! Love these videos comparing old photos to current. So cool.

[@blukeblue1235]

Amazing! Never saw these pictures before. Thanks you guys!

[@MickeyJWind]

excellent video. love the photo videos... the 7th USCT might be one of the most travelled units in the war. from FL to SC to FL again to VA to TX to MD. amazing when you consider they were not even mustered in until late 1863

[@edwil111]

What a great video. So much stuff is in here.... thanks! Note: I've been here once, its near the Richmond airport, so if you ever fly in or out there you can use time nearby to at least walk around and see the still intact earthwork mounds.

[@gbipit1]

What’s interesting to me is that Park Service is all about preserving yet trees have grown up all around thus not preserved they need to cut the trees back just like the pictures for the true look like it was

[@lonnieclemens8028]

Thank you for your enthusiasm,

[@timferryA1]

Excellent stuff! Love it.

[@midnitemike]

I truely enjoyed this. I would of loved to be there and ask questions. The earthworks around Richmond are incredible

[@tiltingatwindmills3243]

Lived in RVA my whole life and never knew Ft. Harrison existed until just now. Although civil war history never really grabbed my interest

[@teddyhaynes9876]

Never grabbed mine and I’m 37 , but I became obsessed with anything civil war about a year ago , just a fascinating time in our short history , i often imagine growing up in them times and think how tough it would’ve been , thank goodness I didn’t tho lol , we have it easy today forsure. All then poor souls lost over greed

[@johnjacobs1625]

Nice job guys! JJ

[@derekrupert2013]

Never been to? I’ve been there prolly 4 times lol

[@Mad_ox8]

So I found that same photo of the 158th NY at fort Harrison on Wikipedia, if you blow up the background you can also see clear as day, 2 confederates on top of the new fort being built. Please correct me if I’m wrong but it looks even more clear than the confederates you identified in the background of the 7th US colored photo.

[@thefpvlife7785]

The Civil War never gets boring. You guys make History fun even tho it was an ugly history.

[@provost5752]

Wow how cool. I bet during down time soldiers traded tobacco, coffee and probably sit and shared stories with each other. Some probably struck up good friendships.

[@beister21]

Wow

[@bjohnson515]

Where can we see these photos on the internet? The hand held is interesting, but a better glimpse is warranted, the real photo in better lighting.

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

Most of them are available online via the Library of Congress: www.loc.gov/collections/civil-war-glass-negatives/?q=fort+harrison

[@christopherlane4799]

Charleston series?

[@willoutlaw4971]

United States Colored Troops ( U.S.C.T) pictured here. Thank you for the acknowledgement. 200,000 African Americans who fought for the abolition of African American slavery and for the USA.

[@150pilot]

Is that picture available online anywhere? If so, can a link be posted? Thank you!

[@AmericanBattlefieldTrust]

You can check out images of Fort Harrison on the Library of Congress website: www.loc.gov/collections/civil-war-glass-negatives/?q=fort+harrison

[@M80Ball]

The USCT’s on the picket line with that “eagle upon their breast” with confederates in view gave me a chill.

[@coreyanderson54]

South should have one we wouldn't have strayed from the Bible or be suffering from liberalism

[@teddyhaynes9876]

Don’t bring the BIBLE into this , GOD isn’t about being cruel and evil to someone over there skin tone , and before you bring up slavery in the BIBLE, that was a result of GODS people rebellion against GOD, the BIBLE is about GODS love and GODS forgiveness and GRACE aka JESUS . love your neighbor not enslave them

[@bf9414]

the confederates had to have known they were facing black troops

[@jpgrygus]

in WW2 the civil war would've been only about 80 years before.......conceptualise that.

[@ronniedurie7752]

Just another fine job Garry! And much thanks to your friend Mike for a journey and bringing to life the History and the Lives of those brothers in arms. My Gr-Gr-Grandpa was at 7 pines Fair Oaks battle with The 7th New Jersey and got wounded there and survived to fight another day! Thanks so much!!!

[@grindle1857]

plantation owners' rights to preserve slavery......now that's a cause Reply

[@ericscottstevens]

It was not unusual for Confederate pickets, salute Union officers touring the lines. Vice versa. Or pickets from opposing sides slipping away from their posts at night and gambling with their opponents, sometimes for months on end exchanging whatever trinkets, coins, souvenirs they had or winning back what they had lost in prior poker games. It was even speculated that allowable cheating was encouraged after awhile as it was more entertaining to the boredom they encountered on guard duty during the day. Yes guard duty is very boring.

[@Rfvansaun]

I live in Mechanicsville, Va. and I love going to all the Civil War battlefields in and around the Richmond area! By far, I have to say Petersburg is my favorite battlefield so far. I still have a lot of battlefields to visit not just in the Richmond area, but in the whole state of Virginia.

[@tfajsh]

Amazing