Pass in the Raccoon Range, Whiteside No. 2 1864

George N. Barnard captured this albumen print, "Pass in the Raccoon Range, Whiteside No. 2," during the American Civil War. As an official photographer for the Union Army, Barnard's photographs served as both documentation and propaganda. This image transports us to a camp of the 11th Ohio Infantry in 1863. The tents nestled in the landscape evoke a sense of vulnerability. The photograph invites us to reflect on the experiences of the common soldier, often far from home and caught in the crosscurrents of a nation divided. Barnard's choice to focus on the landscape and the camp, rather than dramatic battle scenes, speaks to the everyday realities of war, the long stretches of waiting, and the constant negotiation with the environment. This photograph reveals a moment of stillness amidst the chaos of war, prompting us to consider the human cost of conflict and the ways in which identity and place are reshaped by historical events.