Group at Secret Service Department, Headquarters, Army of the Potomac, Antietam, October 1862 1862

Alexander Gardner’s 1862 photograph, *Group at Secret Service Department, Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Antietam*, is a powerful documentation of the American Civil War. The image depicts a group of soldiers, likely members of the Secret Service, gathered outside a tent at the Antietam battlefield. This photo, part of Gardner’s *Incidents of the War* series, provides a glimpse into the daily lives of soldiers and the grim reality of the war. The composition is candid and unposed, emphasizing the realism of the situation and offering valuable historical insight into the war.