[Dutch Gap Canal, James River, Virginia] 1864

Andrew Joseph Russell captured this albumen print of the Dutch Gap Canal in Virginia during the American Civil War. The photograph depicts a large canal cut through a narrow strip of land, a strategic project undertaken by Union forces to bypass a Confederate battery on the James River. Russell’s image offers a visual testament to the engineering endeavors and military strategies employed during the war. It highlights the transformation of the landscape as a result of military conflict. But it also shows the landscape of enslaved labor. The Dutch Gap Canal was completed by enslaved African Americans forced into service by the Union army. Understanding photographs like this requires historical investigation, and this image invites us to consider the complex social conditions of the war. Military records, personal accounts, and other historical documents can help us interpret it as a commentary on the war's impact on both the physical environment and the lives of those who were forced to participate in its battles.