U.S. Gunboat "Commodore Perry" on Pamunkey River 1861 - 1865

"U.S. Gunboat 'Commodore Perry' on Pamunkey River," captured by Timothy O'Sullivan during the American Civil War (1861-1865), portrays the Union gunboat "Commodore Perry" docked at a river landing. The photograph, now in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, provides a glimpse into the logistical challenges of naval warfare during the conflict. The stark black and white image emphasizes the wooden vessel and its weaponry, capturing the grim reality of the era. The "Commodore Perry" was a crucial component of the Union Navy's efforts to gain control of waterways in the Confederate South.