Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1885-04-17
BRADY, THE ARTIST.
THE RENOWNED PHOTOGRAPHER OF
THE LATE, WAR.
rbe Valuable Professional Work Which
He Performed in the Field-An Ac-
count of His Photographing
Grant and Lee.
Washington Cor. Baltimore Herald.

engtn anu DTedutn OF tne lanu AS Brauy
he Photographer " His figure and face
are inclined to the distingue type, an
iron gray mustache and goatee giving a
Partisan air to the ali gular features, anu
shining silk hat, with a mourning,band.
ending effect as a badge of responsibility.
Mr.. Brady is vocabulary photographer.
He has a big, well-rounded head, full of
brains that haze been polished by study
and contact with the most renowned men
Of the world. lie has made pictures VI
nearly every American who has enjoyed
fame during the last As years. aid with
many OF them he has sustained marked
degree of social intimacy.
"Brady" was struggling young artist
in New York in 1S4O when Morse arrived
in that city with the first dagueri eotype
from the old country. Morse had made
the acquaintance Of Dagucrre in Paris
and with that masterful genius for inven.
ton for which he ne er had a peer he had
come back to America to construct ma
chine that eXcelled the work of the
original inventor Brady was Morses
first pupil. lie learned quickly and at
once went into the daguerreotype bust
ness. BY degrees his gallery became ia
nous the world ove9, and TO visit New
York without being photographed by
BRADY" was for long time considered
in bad form SubseJ uently Irady
established a branch concern in Washing.
ton, and was thus thrown into frequent
association with the great statesmen of
America as well as the European diplo.
mats who were stationed at the national
capital from time to time.
During the late war his services as
photographer were constantly in demand
at the front. He took to the field as early
as the first battle of Bull Run. Under in
structions from Gen. Mcclellan he visited
various strategic points and made photo
graphs of them for the benefit of the com.
manding officers. lie was actively at
work in Virginia during great part of
the war-on the Rapidan, James river,
then Rappahannock In the Shenandoah
valley and along all the historic battle
lines in virginia The plans of battles
were always photographed by him, the
commanders of divisions and brigades
being furnished with copies thus simplify
ing the work so that every subordinate Of
ticer could see at glance what was TO be
done. 1t is said that more than one bat
lie was won by Union generals through
the aid of these Photographic maps
Bradys account of his photographing
Grant and Lee was most interesting part
of his "reminiscences as related in the
course of an interview. Said he: Dur
ing the war maintained studios here and
in New York. Grant had become famous
in the west, but no pictures of him had
appeared, except those with a SLOUGH hat,
thus hiding half, and the most inter esting
half of the face. | had had some cores
pondcnce with him about sending an
artist to take him and his staff when he
was ordered to Washington to take COM
mand in virginia or some reason no
arrangement had been made for
receiving Grant on his arrival here
On inquiring around l found
this out, and, knowing when
he would arrive, went TO the depot
with Hanscom and Whitley AS the
out on the platform, and Hanscom said
that was Grant. But it was Cen Raw
Inns, who accompanied Grant here | got
into the car and met Grant coming out I'M
attended | introduced myself as Brady
the photographer, with whom he had
been in correspondence. lie shook hands
cordially, and said that he remembered
my name. | asked him where he was 90
going to stop. lie said he did not know.
| suggested the Arlington, and. taking a
carriage, myself and friends preceded
Grant and Rawlins and engaged rooms
for them at that hotel
Il had a talk with Gen. Grant that aft.
ernoon, and he promised to come to my
studio the next day. He was to be there
at 2 o'clock, but did not APP ear at that
hour At A:30 carriage rolled up CON
tanning Grant and Stanton. BY that time
the day had far advanced and the light
was bad. l generally kept half my SKY
light covered with canvas. To give more
light i sent up man to pull oil the can
vas AS the man reached the skylight he
fell on it, crushing several panes, which
came laundering down into the room be
low. Huge fragments an inch and
q, half thick rained around Grants
head and missed him by a hairs
breadth. Any one of the pieces would
have killed him if it had struck him or
top of the head. Stanton turned as pale
as death and trembled Grant sat i'm
movable. The only movement l noticed
was the dilating of his nostrils Stanton
said: My God Brady, say nothing
about this, and don't let it get into the
papers, People would think it was I
course, | said nothing about it. took
dozen negatives of Grant and he wa!
much pleased Since then have taker
many photographs of him. but of lat
years he has disgust for photographers
and will sit for none of them.
Il had memorable meeting with Lee
! arrived in Richmond the same day tina
Lee got there alter his surrender
called on him with letter of introduction
from Robert Ould commissioner for ex
change of prisoners. Gen Lee reluc
family consented to be photographed.
placed my camera in the back yard of tn
house where ee was staying. His in
valid wife sat at a rear window, and h
walked out in full uniform OF all tn
men ever saw he was the most magnifi
cent in personal appearance. His hea'
and face were perfect in that shapeliness
the eye piercing but calm, the shoulder
broad and the body sufficiently taperin
to look Physically he was the bes
model | ever saw.
three of the finest.looking men | eve
photographed were Gems Worth Hooke
and Lee, but Lee excelled them all o.
that day his face was inexpressibly sad
1t was the last time he ever had on hi
Confederate uniform. A year aitefwar
visited him at Lexington, where he wa
president of the Washington university
~ IL