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Archives for : military history

Preserving History, Shaping the Present at a National Military Park

At Military Images, we know that every historical photograph is more than just an image—it’s a window into the past, offering valuable insights for today’s Americans. That’s why we were honored to receive a recent request from the National Park Service to include one of our published photographs in a Cultural Landscape Report for Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park’s Point Park.

The image, a rare carte de visite of a Confederate military encampment atop Lookout Mountain, was originally featured in our Autumn 2018 issue as part of a “Linns of Lookout.” Its inclusion in this report underscores the continued relevance of Civil War photography.

The owner of the image, Dr. Anthony Hodges, a lifelong collector and dedicated steward of Chickamauga and Chattanooga history, has spent more than 40 years serving the National Military Park. His passion for historical preservation is a reminder that these images are not just relics of the past—they are essential to understanding our national story.

This request is just one example of how Military Images contributes to our ongoing mission to showcase, interpret, and preserve historic photography. We are delighted to play a role in ensuring that the stories of the Civil War—and the landscapes that shaped them—remain visible and meaningful for future generations.

New Column: “Of Arms and Men” by Phil Spaugy

I am thrilled to welcome Phil Spaugy as a Senior Editor and columnist. His inaugural column, “Of Arms and Men: At the intersection of photography and ordnance technology,” debuts in this issue. I’ve known Phil for some years now, and he’s the trusted source I’ve turned to time and again to identify long and side arms in photographs. His knowledge, enthusiasm, and collaborative spirit are infectious. A longtime member of the North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA), Phil has served in numerous offices, including National Commander and the Board of Directors. He has also been active with the N-SSA’s Union Guards, 19th Indiana Infantry. Phil studies arms and accouterments of federal infantry soldiers with an emphasis on his home state of Ohio, firearms of the U.S Arsenal at Harpers Ferry, and the Iron Brigade.

Phil’s inaugural column, “The Invincible Buckeyes of the 4th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry,” explores a sixth-plate tintype in the Paul Reeder Collection of an unidentified trooper. Phil details the weapons in the portrait and, thanks to a newspaper clipping tucked into the case, connects the image to Huntsville, Ala., where this image may have been taken.

Please join me in welcoming Phil and “Of Arms and Men” to MI.