in Civil Wars, Colorization

American Civil War In Color: Striking Colorized Photos That Bring American Civil War Alive As Never Seen Before

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The American Civil War was one of the greatest conflicts in American history. It began on April 12, 1861, with the Battle of Fort Sumter in Charleston, South Carolina, and lasted for five years. Before and during the Civil War, the North and South differed greatly on economic issues. The war was about slavery, but primarily about its economic consequences. Here below is a collection of spectacular original and colorized photos of the civil war. It features portraits of famous leaders and ordinary soldiers and vignettes of American life during the conflict: scenes from urban and plantation life, destroyed cities, and contested battlefields.

#1 John L. Burns, the “old hero of Gettysburg,” with gun and crutches in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1863.

John L. Burns, the “old hero of Gettysburg,” with gun and crutches in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1863.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

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#2 Rooster fighting at Gen. Orlando B. Willcox’s headquarters in Petersburg, Va., 1864.

Rooster fighting at Gen. Orlando B. Willcox’s headquarters in Petersburg, Va., 1864.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: David Knox—Library of Congress

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#3 Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand; at the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, Sept.-Oct., 1862.

Allan Pinkerton, President Lincoln, and Maj. Gen. John A. McClernand; at the main eastern theater of the war, Battle of Antietam, Sept.-Oct., 1862.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

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#4 Washington, District of Columbia. Tent life of the 31st Penn. Inf. at Queen’s farm, vicinity of Fort Slocum in Washington, DC, 1861.

Washington, District of Columbia. Tent life of the 31st Penn. Inf. at Queen’s farm, vicinity of Fort Slocum in Washington, DC, 1861.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#5 Allan Pinkerton (“E. J. Allen”) of the Secret Service on horseback in Antietam, Md., Oct. 1862.

Allan Pinkerton (“E. J. Allen”) of the Secret Service on horseback in Antietam, Md., Oct. 1862.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

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#6 Camp of Captain [John J.] Hoff., in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1865.

Camp of Captain [John J.] Hoff., in Gettysburg, Penn., July, 1865.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: William Morris Smith—Library of Congress

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#7 African American legislator Robert Smalls of South Carolina.

African American legislator Robert Smalls of South Carolina.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#8 Portrait of Rear Adm. David D. Porter, officer of the Federal Navy, 1860.

Portrait of Rear Adm. David D. Porter, officer of the Federal Navy, 1860.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

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#9 Portrait of Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, officer of the Federal Army, 1865.

Portrait of Maj. Gen. George A. Custer, officer of the Federal Army, 1865.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

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#10 Portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, 1863.

Portrait of President Abraham Lincoln, 1863.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

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#11 President Lincoln on the battlefield.

President Lincoln on the battlefield.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#12 President Lincoln and Gen. George B. McClellan in the general’s tent, Antietam, Md., Sept. – Oct. 1862.

President Lincoln and Gen. George B. McClellan in the general’s tent, Antietam, Md., Sept. – Oct. 1862.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

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#13 Capt. Custer of the 5th Cavalry is seen with Lt. Washington, a prisoner and former classmate.

Capt. Custer of the 5th Cavalry is seen with Lt. Washington, a prisoner and former classmate.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#14 Officer’s mess, Company E, 93rd New York Volunteers, in Bealeton, Va., Aug., 1863.

Officer’s mess, Company E, 93rd New York Volunteers, in Bealeton, Va., Aug., 1863.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O’Sullivan—Library of Congress

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#15 Three Confederate prisoners in Gettysburg, Penn., June-July, 1863.

Three Confederate prisoners in Gettysburg, Penn., June-July, 1863.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#16 Remembering the dead at Sudley Church near Bull Run, Va. March 1862.

Remembering the dead at Sudley Church near Bull Run, Va. March 1862.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: George N. Barnard—Library of Congress

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#17 Powder boy by gun of U.S.S. New Hampshire off the coast of Charleston, S.C., 1860.

Powder boy by gun of U.S.S. New Hampshire off the coast of Charleston, S.C., 1860.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#18 Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters, 1863-1865.

Unidentified African American soldier in Union uniform with wife and two daughters, 1863-1865.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#19 Lewis Payne, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865.

Lewis Payne, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

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#20 David E. Herold, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865.

David E. Herold, a conspirator in the assassination of President Lincoln, in the Washington Navy Yard, April-July 1865.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Alexander Gardner—Library of Congress

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#21 Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#22 Portrait of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, officer of the Federal Army, 1860-1865.

Portrait of Maj. Gen. Ambrose E. Burnside, officer of the Federal Army, 1860-1865.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

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#23 The staff of Gen. Fitz-John Porter, Lieutenant William G. Jones and George A. Custer reclining at Falmouth, Va., 1863.

The staff of Gen. Fitz-John Porter, Lieutenant William G. Jones and George A. Custer reclining at Falmouth, Va., 1863.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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#24 Abraham Lincoln in a reflective pose, in Washington, DC, May 16, 1861.

Abraham Lincoln in a reflective pose, in Washington, DC, May 16, 1861.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

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#25 Mary Todd Lincoln

Mary Todd Lincoln

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Mathew Brady—Library of Congress

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#26 Soldiers bathing near the ruins of a railroad bridge, North Anna River, Va, May, 1864.

Soldiers bathing near the ruins of a railroad bridge, North Anna River, Va, May, 1864.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O’Sullivan—Library of Congress

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#27 Alfred R. Waud, artist of Harper’s Weekly, sketching on battlefield in Gettysburg, Penn., July 1863.

Alfred R. Waud, artist of Harper’s Weekly, sketching on battlefield in Gettysburg, Penn., July 1863.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Timothy H. O’Sullivan—Library of Congress

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#28 Surgeons of the 3rd Division before hospital tent in Petersburg, Va., Aug. 1864.

Surgeons of the 3rd Division before hospital tent in Petersburg, Va., Aug. 1864.

Photo colorization by Sanna Dullaway for TIME; Original image: Library of Congress

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Written by Aung Budhh

Husband + Father + librarian + Poet + Traveler + Proud Buddhist. I love you with the breath, the smiles and the tears of all my life.

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