A New Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers passing Faneuil Hall, Boston, on their way to War

A New Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers passing Faneuil Hall, Boston, on their way to War is a powerful wood engraving created by Winslow Homer during the pivotal period of 1860-1865. This early print by Homer captures the intense patriotic fervor and mobilization efforts at the start of the American Civil War. As an illustrator often documenting events for illustrated journals, Homer utilized the wood engraving medium—the dominant print technology of the era—to rapidly disseminate vivid images of the conflict to the public across the United States.

The scene is set outside Faneuil Hall, a historic landmark in Boston that served as a crucial site for early American revolutionary discourse. The setting reinforces the high stakes of the volunteers’ mission. Homer masterfully balances the organized ranks of the newly formed Massachusetts regiment against the gathered civilian crowds, providing an immediate, high-contrast snapshot of a Northern city grappling with the national crisis. Details such as the onlookers leaning out of windows and the formal structure of the marching troops convey the mixture of solemnity and excitement surrounding the departure.

This work functions both as a crucial piece of journalistic documentation and as an early foundation for Homer’s later career as a narrative artist. The sharp contrast and intricate line work inherent to wood engraving highlight the dramatic intensity of the moment, showcasing the artist's skill in handling complex compositions destined for mass reproduction. As a key example of historical printmaking and United States cultural history from the mid-19th century, this piece, A New Regiment of Massachusetts Volunteers passing Faneuil Hall, Boston, on their way to War, is preserved within the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.