New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1862-07-19
BRADYS PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE WAR.

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On the morning Of July 49, 1861, the inhabitants
Of Cenirevle, Virginia, were startled by the appa-
rtion of an engine not dreamed Of In their philosophy
of war. The Union troops were in possession Of
the town. and instruments Of destruction had become
familiar to all eyes. Enormous Parrot guns i'm
movable by less than twelve horses, open'mouthed
howitzers of shining brass Dah!grens OF every de-
gree and caber had done much to prepare the resi-
dents against surprises, but here suddenly BURT upon
them an invention 20 far beyond the range OF their
experience as to inspire every beholder with awe
and apprehension. If complicated in design 1t was
also compact in form, and ii comprehensive IN pur-
pose it was no less simple in operation, Tor was
drawn by single horse, and accompanied, II we re-
member accurately, by only pair of human ssepts-
three, at the most. modest wagon followed with
what, apparently, were stores of ammunition. The
inhabitants gathered cautiously around,
And still they gazed and still the wonder grew. -
when the chief of the little band announced that be
had succeeeed without difficulty 10 taking Fairfax
Court House, Germantown and other points recently
in Rebel occupation. Hero was continuance 70
make the Winans steam gun pale it's Intellectual fires,
to overturn all theories Of artillery since Greasy.
The villagers withdrew in sadness, and presently
hor;emen were seen to gallop down the Warrsnson
road. When arrested by our guards, they spoke Of
looking after stray sheep but the opinion ruled that
their object was to convey discomfort TO the enemy,
by revealing prematurely the existence Of this new
and wonderful instrument Of carnage.
The penetrating reader will have suspected by this
time tina, the cause of trepdatiou in Centrevle was
no other than Mr.. Brady, with bis portable photo
graphic instrument come to seize upon the first events
Of the war, and fix their image for all time. The
penetrating reader is right. 1t was Mr. Brady, pre-
pared to prove how speedily the arts Of peace can
follow in the track of war; to vindcae Northern en-
terprise in the teeth and eyes of suen Southern gno-
rance, to satisfy q purpose which no other mesns
could fulfill and for the accomplishment Of which the
facile pens of thousand "specisIs would be power
lees. Before the bystanders had well settled the
nature Of bis mission, he vanished down the road 20
Blackburn's Ford, where, the day before, the first
sharp action had occurred. From the nights whence
our cannon had poured their furious defiance, biz
peaceful camera now pointed, lesurely recording tho
details of the scene, and noticing each particular
bush and mound which, even at the moment, shell
tered the prudent foe. The men who had identined
themselves with tho encounter were marshaled and
recorded Wells tho hero of the day, was pictured,
no, in the shining garb with which inexperienced
fancy decorates the soldier but he fought, coat
less and with no sign of rank except the manly force
and will which had held together . handful OF MAJ
sachusetts men against . fourth part of the entire
Rebel host. Many brave fellows, in the Interest Of
art returned for negative at the word OF CON-
mand. For two days these lsbors were aninter-
ruped and the result for that occasion, was Is com.
pltts as could have been desired.
The night before Bull Run, Mr.. Brady made pre-
parations for securing q thorough panorama Of tho
approaching battle. A bosrd.felow 70 pine piazza
was our only couch has the right 10 testify 70 the
care and precision with which his plans were laid,
and TO the devotion with which, during the night he
continually threw himself out as q picket " guard
bis materials from iucursive stragglers. When tho
army moved, long before dawn, Mr.. Brady wac with
it. and when the combat ragged the 6ercest, there was
he too. We are compelled to say however, that on
the field. Mr.. Brady did not exhibit that devotion TO
his purpose which be had promised himself ihe M
,tap; he became surrounded by the bleeding and
manQled forms of Union soldiers, he gave up hs
camera and turned all his energies TO the a'd OF inc
.urgeous-a labor which lie did not forsake until inc
field was abandoned by our side. But though inc
valley and the plains Of Bull Run escaped him there'
the fortune Of the afterward delivered them INTO
bis hands, and they now stand in bis portfolio more
fully represented than any other region.
As in the early part OF the rebellion Mr. Brady
thus endeavored TO perpetuate the scenes Of ito most
stirring interest so, up to the present time, has he
pursued them with ike fidelity and industry. His
collection forms pictorial history Of the war. Ito
ya,ue can be warmly estimated by the thousands
whose hearts are fixed by some association OF PRIDE
or sorrow of hope despair, upon the spots which
vet remain unknown them except through the bar
rem medium of description. Here are the scenes
themselves before them; the feldsof blood aud
strife and death, perhaps the distant graves
of their beloved over which they have incurred from
atr perhsps the goal Of honor and glory for names
which they hold dear. A tragic and heroic interest,"
surrounds each one, and it is deeper feeling than
curiosity that compels attention toward them.
Looking at Mr.. Bradys illustrations, we follow
the phases of the war almost without interruption.
There /. the Long Bridge, over which our troops
marched from Washington in May OF last year, under
brave Col. Wilcox OF Michigan, to seize The
nearest ground then in dispute. There are tho
Aoueduct and Chain Bridges, later used by our 10
vsdiuc columns There are the forts outsids OK
Washington built by the 9Th Regiment and ohcu.
Further along il the Marshall Hou.e, in Alexandra,
where poor Ellsworth, our first sacrifice, was slain
There ore the slave pens, whence the frightened
Rebel cavalry took their virgin flight. Scenes o. IN
terest crowd and multiply from this time. We have
Falls Church, which General Tyler held before his
advance TO Bull Run, and the possession Of which
was afterwa ard long maintained by the Rebels. of
Bull Run aud lie surroundings, as We have said, the
review ia very thorough. Centreyille is placed be-
e. H. .~.o,s,,r from everv poiut OF view. The