General Melancthon S. Wade 1861 - 1865

This 19th-century tintype portrait of General Melancthon S. Wade, taken by James Presley Ball, Sr. between 1861 and 1865, is a poignant example of Civil War-era portraiture. Wade, dressed in a Union Army uniform, sits formally, his gaze directed towards the viewer, reflecting the somber realities of the war. The image, housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, is a powerful reminder of the individuals who shaped this pivotal period in American history, capturing their physical presence and the gravity of their service.