Collection Feature: Civil War Camp Photos
Historically speaking, the expansion of the du Pont business happened at an incredibly significant period in the United States. In 1861, roughly sixty years after E.I. du Pont founded his business, the American Civil War broke out, rending the young nation in two.
Henry du Pont, who was in charge of the company during the war, was firm in his support of the Union, and he quickly mobilized the company to start producing gunpowder for Union forces. In fact, some sources estimate that the DuPont company produced as much as 40% of the gunpowder used by the Union Army.
The Civil War also occurred shortly after another groundbreaking technological innovation: the invention of the camera, as well as its arrival and subsequent spread in America. Although photography had officially been invented a couple of decades prior to its outbreak, the Civil War is still considered to be the first major military conflict to be photographed. The ability to capture the grisly and tragic realities of battle served to bring the war home to the American public in a way that was previously unprecedented.
The Civil War's Legacy Lives on at Eleutherian Mills
Given the important contributions of the DuPont company to the Civil War, it's not surprising that artifacts and memorabilia from that time figure prominently in Hagley's collection. Hagley's digital archives contain a collection of Civil War photos, letters, and other primary sources pertaining to the Civil War.
One particularly special set of pictures can be found hanging in the Smoking Room of the Eleutherian Mills residence. These images depict Camp du Pont and Camp Brandywine, both of which were located along the Brandywine River in close proximity to the du Pont gunpowder mill. These camps were established for the purpose of guarding the powder yards as well as other businesses in the vicinity—after all, the same thing that made the DuPont Company an invaluable resource to the Union forces also made it an attractive target for the Confederate Army.
The Civil War Camp prints are neither the largest nor the most striking pieces of art on display in the Eleutherian Mills house, and they can be easy for visitors to miss on a tour through the residence. However, they serve both as an important symbol of one of the most difficult times in American history, as well as a record of the immense contributions of the du Pont family to the war efforts.
The mission of Hagley Museum and Library is to foster innovation and inspiration through our historical collections. Located on the site of E.I. du Pont's gunpowder works, Hagley's offerings include a library dedicated to the study of American business and technology, a unique patent model collection, and the restored historical mill and workers' community, as well as the home and gardens of the du Pont family. Hagley also hosts a variety of events intended to educate and engage the wider community. Plan your visit today, or consider donating to support our work!