Colored Battery, Petersburg, June 1864

Timothy O’Sullivan made this photograph in June of 1864. He was employed by the US government to document the Civil War. This image depicts an African American artillery unit at Petersburg, Virginia. It invites us to consider the role of photography in shaping public opinion during the conflict. O'Sullivan’s image contributes to the visual record of Black soldiers' participation. It’s a record that challenges prevailing racist ideologies. Note how the photograph presents Black soldiers as competent and organized, directly contradicting stereotypes prevalent at the time. This active participation in the war effort became a powerful argument for citizenship and equal rights after the war. As historians, we can research military archives, census records, and period newspapers to understand the full context. We can better understand the politics of representation and the struggle for racial equality during this pivotal moment in US history.