The Advance Guard of the Grand Army of the United States Crossing the Long Bridge over the Potomac, at 2 a.m. on May 24, 1861

The Advance Guard of the Grand Army of the United States Crossing the Long Bridge over the Potomac, at 2 a.m. on May 24, 1861, created by Winslow Homer in 1861, is an important example of American Civil War illustration and early photojournalistic documentation. This detailed wood engraving, a crucial medium for mass media reproduction in the United States during the mid-nineteenth century, captures the intense immediacy of the conflict's opening days. Produced for publication shortly after the event, the print depicts the historic nighttime movement of Union troops crossing the Long Bridge from Washington, D.C., into Virginia, immediately following the state's ratification of secession.

Working as a special correspondent and illustrator, Homer translated the suspense and gravity of the moment onto the plate. The composition focuses on the dark, uncertain atmosphere of the pre-dawn hours, where the long lines of marching soldiers suggest the immense scale of the military action required to secure the capital and establish the Federal foothold south of the Potomac River. Unlike the idealized battle scenes that often followed, this early image possesses a stark clarity characteristic of journalistic reporting. Homer’s experience creating such prints informed his later artistic career, offering him unparalleled access to military life. Many visual records of the conflict, particularly popular prints intended for mass distribution, have since entered the public domain, ensuring widespread access to these historical artifacts. This powerful impression of the The Advance Guard resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.