The War for the Union, 1862—A Cavalry Charge Possibly 1862

Winslow Homer made this wood engraving, entitled “The War for the Union, 1862—A Cavalry Charge,” for *Harper’s Weekly*. The image presents a scene of chaotic battle during the American Civil War. Homer worked as an artist-reporter, and his illustrations for *Harper’s Weekly* offered a crucial visual record of the conflict. During the Civil War, illustrated newspapers like *Harper’s Weekly* served as a primary source of visual information for the public, shaping popular perceptions of the war. Homer’s work often depicted scenes of army life, battles, and portraits of soldiers, aiming to convey the reality of the conflict to a wide audience. Notice how the visual language of this work draws upon a long tradition of battle scene imagery, while also seeking to represent the specific realities of the American Civil War. The image also serves as a cultural artifact that reflects the social and political context of the time. It perpetuates the rhetoric of national unity, but a historian might ask, who is included in this ‘union’? By examining period publications, archival sources, and the artist’s own writings, we can better understand the complex social and institutional dynamics that shaped both its creation and reception.