(MILITARY--CIVIL WAR.) KNOX, DAVID; GARDNER, ALEXANDER. A Fancy Group in Front of Petersburg. Albumen photograph, 7 x 9 inches, on the original photographer's mount together with the original printed description; some light discoloration to mount and description; slight stain in lower left corner, not affecting the image. (WGC) Washington, 1864
a scarce photograph of a scene from a portfolio of images of the civil war. The photograph, thus the negative was taken by David Knox; the developing and positive image was made by Alexander Gardner, the official photographer to General George McClellan. The large caption sheet states: 'The monotony of camp life was relieved by every variety of amusement that was known, or could be devised. During the periods of inactivity, baseball, cricket, gymnastics, foot races &c were indulged in to a great extent . . . Cock fighting, however was quite unusual, and seldom permitted, except when some of the Contrabands incited their captured Shanghais (roosters), or more ignoble fowls to combat.'
