Civil War Simplot Alexander (1 results)

An original pencil sketch depicting a crucial moment in the Second Battle of Corinth, which took place on October 3-4, 1862, probably by war correspondent Alexander Simplot. This drawing was engraved for Harper's Weekly, where its caption puts it in context as depicting the battle's key moment. A single three-cannon Union battery led by Lieut. Henry Robinet had been inflicting heavy casualties on the attacking Confederates. Here the Confederates have stormed the battery and are attempting to take it in hand-to-hand combat. The Federals recaptured the battery later that day, leading to a Union victory and a Confederate retreat. The engraving from Harper's is included, which attributes the sketch to Alexander Simplot, though the drawing itself is unsigned. Simplot, a native of Iowa, was a schoolteacher and artist turned war correspondent. Early in 1862, Simplot began traveling with the army of U.S. Grant which, in October, was stationed in Tennessee near the Mississippi border. Pencil drawing, 13½ x 21 inches. Small tears at right and left edges, lower right corner torn away. Small red ink stain on lower edge. Central vertical fold. Light soiling and wear. About very good.