Army of the Potomac – Sleeping on Their Arms (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VIII)

Army of the Potomac – Sleeping on Their Arms (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VIII) by Winslow Homer, created in 1864, is a powerful wood engraving capturing a quiet, sobering moment during the American Civil War. Published in the influential periodical Harper's Weekly, this print was distributed widely, bringing realistic depictions of the conflict directly to the American public during the height of the fighting.

Homer, who served as an artist-correspondent during the conflict, chose to focus not on the heat of battle, but on the pervasive fatigue endured by the Union soldiers. The composition features exhausted men, members of the titular Army of the Potomac, resting in a hasty encampment. The title references the military command to sleep "on their arms," meaning they are ready for immediate action. Their postures emphasize this constant state of readiness; the soldiers are shown sleeping beside their firearms, reflecting the immediate dangers surrounding them and the psychological toll of relentless campaigning.

As a highly reproducible wood engraving, this work solidified Homer’s reputation for capturing the harsh reality faced by the men on the front lines, helping shape public perception of the soldiers’ daily experience. This significant piece of graphic documentation is classified as a print and resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its wide publication and historical importance during the American Civil War, high-quality prints and reproductions of this work are often available through public domain sources, ensuring the continued study of this crucial aspect of mid-19th-century American history.