The Civil War in Black and White
A collection of historic front pages shows how civilians experienced and read about the war
- By Jeanne Maglaty
- Smithsonian.com, January 10, 2012
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(Newseum Archives)
As the war progressed, newsprint grew scarce in the South because of a Union Navy blockade. The Newseum exhibit features two Confederate newspapers that were printed on wallpaper that was still available, using the blank reverse side. The Confederate State, which looks blotchy because the wallpaper pattern shows through from the back, was published in New Iberia, Parish of St. Martin, Louisiana on September 20, 1862. Its motto was a quotation of Davis: “Resistance to Tyrants in Obedience to God.” Stars and Stripes published in Jacksonport, Arkansas, printed its December 1, 1863, issue with a vivid wallpaper border showing alongside the front page.
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Comments (5)
Could "Wide Awake" refer to the Wide Awakes? The Republican paramilitary group whose goal was "to be a body joined together in large numbers to work for the good of the Republican Ticket"? Seems likely, considering this group worked hard to ensure a Republican victory in 1860.
Posted by Sam on March 19,2012 | 10:06 AM
to: Vijai Narayanan, Perhaps this info from newspaper cover #3 will help you: "Although newspapers weren’t yet able to reproduce photographs, says Christoffersen, they could use information documented in photographs to make engravings. The Illustrated News points out that its portrait of Anderson was sketched from a photo taken at the fort."
Wonderful feature story. The Confed news printed on wallpaper was fascinating, See #6. Thank you.
Posted by Edythe Ann Quinn on January 24,2012 | 11:05 AM
Keep all these 'goodies' coming ---daughter Cecily Beard gave me this link -----especially liked the one on Ferdinand Pecora ---the 'bangster' Pecora gangster of yesteryear are the same off shoot of those of 2009 ----OUR GREAT DEPRESSION of our century
Posted by Jane Hessin on January 18,2012 | 02:00 PM
This is really fascinating, but I'm also curious as to how the photos and illustrations were printed in the papers as early as the 1860s. Any thoughts?
Posted by Vijai Narayanan on January 15,2012 | 01:42 PM
I love studying the Civil War & how it was fought love reading about the outcome of new laws, scrimmages & the layout of the times.
Posted by Denny Fogle on January 11,2012 | 09:22 AM