Brady's Civil War: A Collection of Memorable Civil War Images Photographed by Mathew Brady and His Assistants

by Webb B. Garrison

What Edward S. Curtis did for the American West, Mathew Brady did for the Civil War, and a half century earlier. His more traditional photographic pursuits had already made him famous by 1850; in his lifetime he captured nineteen U.S. presidents on film. But when the Civil War began, Brady changed direction, left his studio, and joined the rough-and-ready camps of soldiers, recording the entire event with the help of several assistants. He went bankrupt in the process and died alone and destitute in 1896. But, thanks to Brady, we have thousands of images of mid-nineteenth-century camp life, military drills, and moments just before and after battles.   Brady’s Civil War presents a select collection of several hundred of these images, highlighting their immense creativity and informative value for military enthusiasts as well as readers interested in the art of photography. The text, by Webb Garrison, is in the form of incisive and explanatory captions, describing how the camera was taken to the battlefield to create the world’s first comprehensive photodocumentation of war. This edition has been re-edited and has a new introduction by historian Alan Axelrod.

Genres: History, Civil War, Photography, Nonfiction, American Civil War, War, American History

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2000

About the author

Webb Garrison, formerly associate dean of Emory University and president of McKendree College, wrote more than 55 books. Before his death in 2000, Garrison lived in Lake Junaluska, North Carolina.

Reviews

[False · Rating 4 out of 5]

More of my covering Civil War ground and revisiting Brady's photographs. I did learn more from this book from an engineering angle, in particular the construction and protection of bridges. Any true follower of Brady should think of contacting the Library of Congress to get a print made that they favor. I wish the author had supplied that information, but easily enough found with Google.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of the Civil War photographs of Matthew Brady. A visual protrayal of the war. Brady did an excellent job of documenting the Civil War.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

If the Vietnam War was the first war to be televised, than the Civil War was the first one to be photographed. And Matthew Brady and his assistants were the ones who brought the realities of 19th century warfare home to United States citizens. "Brady's Civil War: A Collection of Memorable Civil War Images" merely scratches the surface of the vast collection of photographs taken by Brady and his assistants. This book contains many ones that I know well and a few that I consider personal favorites, as well as photos of people who's names have been lost to the ravages of time, along side those of more famous people. All in all, an excellent reference book filled with arresting images that startle and move viewers across the years.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Considering the Civil War is the first war ever photographed, it is an amazing collection of primarily posed scenes. Webb Garrison provides commentary on the photos helping identify the general timeframe the picture would have been taken. There are not any extremely graphic photos and the few post-battleground pictures are stage as noted by Garrison.

[Samantha Larson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the same way that Field of Lost Shoes pushed me to dive deeper into the Civil War, Brady's Civil War has been a revelation. Webb B. Garrison’s collection of images taken by the legendary photographer Matthew Brady and his assistants brings an emotional depth and historical weight to the reality of the war that words alone could never fully capture.

Matthew Brady was a pioneer of wartime photography, and his work is nothing short of haunting. This book brings together some of the most iconic and gut-wrenching images from the Civil War—photos that show not just the battlefield, but the faces of soldiers, the wreckage, and the toll that conflict took on the country. It was these images that allowed the people of the time to grasp the true horrors of war, and, in many ways, they continue to speak to us today.

Much like The Civil War: A Visual History, this book allowed me to connect with the past on a deeply personal level. The faces in the photographs—soldiers who were once just names in a history book—became real to me. The level of detail in Brady's work, and the way it’s thoughtfully presented in this collection, made me feel like I was peering through a window into history. It reminded me of the emotional journey I experienced after watching Field of Lost Shoes—those same young soldiers, those same raw emotions, captured in time.

Webb B. Garrison’s commentary is insightful and informative, guiding readers through the significance of each image while offering context that helps you understand not only the war but the impact it had on those who lived through it. The book doesn’t just tell a story—it allows you to witness it.

If you’re like me, and you’ve been moved by the personal stories and raw emotion of the Civil War, Brady's Civil War is a powerful tool for further exploration. These photographs have a haunting beauty that will stay with you long after you’ve closed the book. It’s a 5-star collection for anyone who wants to truly understand the human cost of this historic conflict.

[Dave Churchill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great assortment of photos and captions.

[Erwin · Rating 3 out of 5]

A rather good collection of photographs done by the Brady group during the American Civil War.

[Colleen · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent collection of American civil war photos taken by Mathew Brady and his assistants. I found the themed chapters particularly useful.

[Molly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not many battle field photos. Lots of company and equipment photos