PARTIAL LIST OF THE SEVEN THOUSAND NEGATIVES TAKEN UNDER THE
PROTECTION OF THE SECRET SERVICE BY MATHEW B. BRADY AND
ALEXANDER GARDNER ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF THE CIVIL WAR IN THE
UNITED STATES DURING THE YEARS 1861--1862--1863--1864--1865--AND
NOW SAFELY STORED IN THE PRIVATE VAULT OF THE OWNER AT HARTFORD,
CONNECTICUT
THE Eaton Collection of Original Photographs of the Civil War, the full
history of which is given in the introductory to this Volume, is now for
the first time unveiled to the public. In presenting the reproductions
in this book the owner of this remarkable collection has protected them
fully by copyright and warns the public against infringers. Mr. Eaton is
the sole owner of these original negatives, which are valued at
$150,000, and henceforth, any other reproduction must be with his
written authority or it is an infringement. That the public may become
fully acquainted with the negatives in this official collection, experts
are now at work drawing two prints from each negative, protecting them
under copyright, and identifying, arranging and preparing them for a
complete catalogue. In several instances the label which the
photographer placed on the negatives when he made the photograph, over
forty years ago, has been lost. These are being carefully identified by
veterans of the Civil War who offer affidavits to having been on the
scene. At present there are still many views that are labeled "unknown."
It is nearing a half century since the sun painted these real scenes of
that great War, and some negatives have undergone chemical changes which
make it difficult to secure "prints" from them. There can be no
substitution, as the scenes represented on the old glass plates have
passed away forever. The great value of these pictures is apparent.
Several negatives are entirely past printing and all of them require
retouching by old-time photographers who understand the process. Even to
the thinning ranks of heroes of the Civil War the scenes of 1861-1865
are but a fading memory; cherished, it is true, and often called up from
among the dim pictures of the past, but after all, only the vision of a
dream. Artists have painted and sketched and engraved, with more or less
fidelity to fact and detail, those "scenes of trial and danger." Their
pictures can be but imaginary conceptions of the artist. Fortunately,
our Government authorized courageous photographers to skillfully secure
with their cameras the reflection, as in a mirror, of the thrilling
scenes of the conflict. These views vividly renew the memories of the
war days. The camp, the march, the battlefields, the forts and trenches,
the wounded, the prisoners, the dead, the hurriedly-made graves, and
many other of those once familiar scenes are photographically portrayed
and perpetuated.
As a record of a crisis in the history of the world, these negatives are
worth their weight in gold. Their value is such that they cannot be
handled, except with great care, or removed for exhibition purposes.
They are in a vault in Hartford, Connecticut, where the owner is very
willing to allow the public, especially the Veterans of the Civil War,
to examine them. It is desired to have the old negatives become of as
much service to the public-at-large as possible and for this purpose is
compiled this partial catalogue from the collection. Whenever the
condition of the negative permits, Mr. Eaton is willing to allow the
privilege of printing a proof. This is especially granted to Old
Soldiers or Grand Army Posts who desire certain original photographs of
scenes in which they participated. The service of this collection,
inasmuch as it pertains to commendable purposes, is here extended to the
American People who are no longer "Federal" and "Confederate."
THIS is a partial list of the negatives in the Eaton Collection of
Original Negatives taken on the Battlefields during the Civil War of the
United States, under the protection of the Secret Service. They include
all phases of army life. The cameras followed, not only the Eastern Army
and the Army of the West, but accompanied the Naval Fleets and were
present in many demonstrations. Veterans of the Civil War are cordially
invited to visit Hartford and inspect these negatives. Proofs will be
taken from any negative here registered, for Grand Army Veterans or
Posts, providing sufficient reasons are given with the request, which
should be sent direct to the owner of the collection, Mr. Edward B.
Eaton, Hartford, Connecticut.