Charge of the First Massachusetts Regiment on a Rebel Rifle Pit near Yorktown

The Charge of the First Massachusetts Regiment on a Rebel Rifle Pit near Yorktown, created by Winslow Homer in 1862, offers a critical eyewitness account of the early days of the American Civil War. This compelling image is classified as a print, specifically utilizing the medium of wood engraving. As a widely published illustrator covering the conflict, Homer harnessed the graphic immediacy of wood engraving, which allowed for rapid reproduction and dissemination across the United States, providing citizens with dramatic, often unromanticized views of battlefield action. The composition focuses on the violent climax of the assault, with Union troops scrambling into the trench, overwhelming the entrenched Confederate position.

Homer’s depiction emphasizes the intensity of the skirmish, utilizing sharp contrast and dense line work to capture the movement and perilous nature of close combat. While many publications sought sensationalism, Homer achieved realism, portraying the soldiers not as heroic archetypes, but as figures engaged in brutal, chaotic work. This foundational piece demonstrates Homer’s ability to transition from journalistic reportage to profound narrative art. Today, this important 19th-century print serves as both a historical document of the conflict and an exemplar of early American visual culture. The work is housed in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.