[Interior of Fort Stedman, in Front of Petersburg, Virginia] 1865

"Interior of Fort Stedman, in Front of Petersburg, Virginia" (1865) by Timothy O'Sullivan is a powerful example of Civil War photography. The image depicts the aftermath of the Battle of Fort Stedman, showcasing the destroyed fort and the surrounding landscape. O'Sullivan's stark black and white composition highlights the desolation and ruin, capturing the physical cost of war. The fort's crumbled structures and scattered debris provide a haunting testament to the ferocity of the battle. This photograph, now housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, serves as a poignant reminder of the human toll of conflict.