[CIVIL WAR]. [BRADY, Mathew (1822-1896), photographer, attrib.]. Large format photograph of Fort Stevens overlooking the Potomac River, including Union gunners in action. Ca 1864.

14 x 9 1/2 in. (sight) albumen photograph, matted and framed, 25 1/2 x 21 1/2 in. (rich tonality, light even toning, unexamined outside frame). Lacking a studio imprint but attributed to Mathew Brady. (See GARRISON, Webb. Brady's Civil War. Salamander Books, 2008, p. 168-169).

A view capturing the American flag flying over Fort Stevens, one of the many bastions that formed an extensive belt around the Capitol in the Washington Defenses. The M1829 32-lb. guns visible in the distance are on seacoast or barbette carriages, and the gunners are probably members of a company of the 3rd Massachusetts Heavy Artillery Regiment.

Fort Stevens was attacked on 11-12 July 1864 during Jubal Early's attack on Washington. The attack was repulsed with at least 100 Confederate wounded left behind plus an unknown number of dead soldiers (at least 17). President Lincoln, who opted to stay in the Capitol during Early's invasion, is known to have observed the Confederate attack from Fort Stevens.

Provenance: Andrew Burgess Collection (consignor notes). Andrew Burgess (1837-1908) joined Mathew Brady as an apprentice in 1855 and partnered with him in 1863. During his time with Brady, Burgess documented the Southern United States near the end of the Civil War and ventured to Mexico City to record war between Benito Juarez and Emperor Maximilian.