Object Details
Artist
Alexander Gardner, 17 Oct 1821 - 10 Dec 1882
Sitter
Allan Pinkerton, 25 Aug 1819 - 1 Jul 1884
Abraham Lincoln, 12 Feb 1809 - 15 Apr 1865
John Alexander McClernand, 30 May 1812 - 20 Sep 1900
Exhibition Label
Part of Gardner’s Antietam series, this photograph introduces Major General John A. McClernand, one of the “political” generals whom Lincoln had to support to shore up his position on the home front but whose military inexperience (or incompetence) hindered the Union army. McClernand was raised in Illinois and, as a Democrat, knew Lincoln when they were both state representatives. A congressman in 1861, he resigned from the House of Representatives when Lincoln, who was looking for allies among Unionist Democrats, appointed him brigadier general of the Illinois volunteers. He served mostly in the West, where he angered both Ulysses S. Grant and William T. Sherman, not least because of his egotism and ceaseless lobbying for an independent command. In October 1862 he was on leave in Washington to argue his case and accompanied the presidential party on its trip to George McClellan’s headquarters in Maryland. After continuing to perform poorly in command, McClernand left the army in 1864.
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution
Date
1862 (printed c. 1890)
Object number
S/NPG.81.17
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Type
Photograph
Medium
Albumen silver print
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 17.3 × 19.7 cm (6 13/16 × 7 3/4")
Mount: 23 × 28.1 cm (9 1/16 × 11 1/16")
Mat: 35.6 × 45.7 cm (14 × 18")
Place
United States\Maryland\Washington\battlefields\Antietam
See more items in
National Portrait Gallery Collection
Location
Currently not on view
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Topic
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Seating\Chair
Costume\Headgear\Hat
Nature & Environment\Plant\Tree
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table
Printed Material\Papers
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Mustache
Architecture\Building\Tent
Costume\Headgear\Hat\Top hat
Personal Attribute\Facial Hair\Beard
Symbols & Motifs\Star
Costume\Dress Accessory\Neckwear\Tie\Bowtie
Exterior\Military Camp
Allan Pinkerton: Male
Allan Pinkerton: Business and Finance\Businessperson
Allan Pinkerton: Law and Crime\Police\Detective
Abraham Lincoln: Male
Abraham Lincoln: Law and Crime\Lawyer
Abraham Lincoln: Military and Intelligence\Soldier
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\President of US
Abraham Lincoln: Social Welfare and Reform\Reformer\Environmentalist
Abraham Lincoln: Business and Finance\Businessperson\Merchant
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Illinois
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\Surveyor
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\State Senator\Illinois
Abraham Lincoln: Politics and Government\Government official\Postmaster
Abraham Lincoln: Business and Finance\Tradesman\Boat builder
John Alexander McClernand: Male
John Alexander McClernand: Politics and Government\Government official\US Congressman\Illinois
John Alexander McClernand: Military and Intelligence\Army\Officer\Major General
Portrait
Link to Original Record
Record ID
npg_S_NPG.81.17