Charge of the First Massachusetts Regiment on a Rebel Rifle Pit Near Yorktown (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VI)

Charge of the First Massachusetts Regiment on a Rebel Rifle Pit Near Yorktown (from "Harper's Weekly," Vol. VI) is a dynamic wood engraving created by Winslow Homer in 1862. This powerful image, produced early in the American Civil War, was intended for immediate consumption by the public, appearing in the influential illustrated weekly, Harper's Weekly. Homer served the magazine as a special artist-correspondent, translating frontline reports and sketches into reproducible prints, establishing himself as a vital visual chronicler of the conflict. The medium of wood engraving was essential for rapidly disseminating news imagery across the nation during this critical period.

Homer focuses the composition on the intense action of a cavalry assault. The scene captures Union soldiers, specifically men of the First Massachusetts Regiment, charging fiercely toward a fortified Confederate position. The dynamic portrayal includes numerous horses mid-stride, emphasizing the momentum, speed, and inherent chaos of battle. The reportorial style highlights the urgency and drama demanded by mass-market publications, capturing the specific moment of engagement near Yorktown, Virginia.

As a key example of Civil War era reportage prints, this work demonstrates Homer’s ability to condense complex military maneuvers into compelling visual narratives. This historical print solidified the artist’s reputation, laying the groundwork for his distinguished career in American art. Today, the work is held in the comprehensive collection of American prints at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Because of its wide circulation in the periodical, Charge of the First Massachusetts Regiment is recognized as an important historical piece frequently found in public domain collections.