This is one of the most famous images of the American Civil War. It was taken on October 3, 1862, by Alexander Gardner and depicts President Lincoln towering over George McClellan, the general's staff, and some Fifth Corps officers including Fitz Porter and Andrew Humphreys. Gardner caught this photo op, in fact, at Fifth Corps headquarters in front of the Jacob Grove house just west of Sharpsburg (along modern Maryland Highway 34).
Yet despite this photograph's fame and its widespread use, it never really had a good title. Most refer to it simply as Lincoln with his Generals, or Lincoln meeting with his Generals. In the Library of Congress' online photograph database it has an even less imaginative title: "Antietam, Md. President Lincoln with Gen. George B. McClellan and group of officers."
I think it's time we give this photograph a proper title.
Here's what I am thinking:
"An Unwelcome Visitor to the Mutual Admiration Society."
What do you think? Send in your suggestions.
21 comments:
"Lincoln and his cronies shun the greatest cavalry general of all time George Custer"
It is very evident Lincoln new something about Autie? Poor guy is left out of the main group..What a mean thing to do.
Stu
Tired of always being the tallest one in the picture, Lincoln brings a chair for McClellan to stand on.
The Beginning of the End for the Reluctant Little Mac.
Abe To Little Mac: Use It or Lose It.
"Mac says "cheese!"
"Listen, Buddy Ebsen, I'll fight this war my way, now you and your chair CLEAR OFF!"
Mannie
"In the aftermath of Antietam, Lincoln plays musical chairs with his generals."
"I hearby call this 83rd annual meeting of the Bearded Guy Society to order."
General, you see the word "advance" it come from the Greek word...
Well, Mr. President, we pretty much bungled this campaign, lost a lot of good men in a stiff fight, and let Lee get away... but I have some good news! I did save a lot of money on my insurance....
Does this hat make me look tall?
John C. Nicholas
"THAT sir, is an impeccable hat!"
Mannie
Mac to Lincoln: "Oh these guys standing behind me? Since I switched to this new cell phone plan, I'm backed by the nation's most reliable wireless network. The coverage is phenomenal! No more dead zones. And I've added all my Corps commanders to my circle of friends! My minutes roll over to my family plan also!"
Lincoln to Mac: "Good! So we don't need that additional cell tower here at Sharpsburg, then?"
Question: How many generals does it take to fight Robert E. Lee?
Answer: One to fight him, and a dozen to say, "I can do be better than that."
John C. Nicholas
Lincoln: I thought we were supposed to come in our street clothes.
Thought box over Little Mac's head: "My Gawd, we've been standing here for twenty (bleepin') minutes; is HE gonna sit his (bleep) down, or should I?!?"
Members of the hard rock hair band "The Potomac Valley Rollers" pose after their arduous "Rock the Old Dominion" tour of '62. Standing in front to the right, with top hat is their manager Abe "the Axeman" Lincoln.
Mac to Lincoln:
" 'Slows' heh, heh, good one Mr. President"
(under his breath "bite me")
Wow, you Antietam battlefield guides really get into it, but I'm only hiring one of you.
or
Sir, have you seen our film, "Lincoln's Antietam Visit"?
or
Mr. Lincoln: This my first visit. What is there to do here?
or
If we're all going to the Red Byrd we're going to need a couple of tables.
John C. Nicholas
Little Mac: "A chair?!? Oh, that's REAL clever!!!"
Honest Abe: "Well, I figured that since you tend to keep your (bleep) parked twenty-four/seven, doin' nuthin', you ought to be comfortable while you're at it..."
Photographer to assembled group: "Ok, everyone smile! Remember this photo is for footer banner on Brian Downey's blog, so let's make this one good!"
I just noticed something about this photo: McClellan is sorta slouching.
If you look at other photos, such as the one of him with his generals during the fall/winter 1861 "sitzkrieg", he always has a very erect posture. But here, he's the only one (other than Custer, who's out of the main group) who's not standing up straight.
I wonder if he did this entirely intentionally---or perhaps subconciously---to better convey his contempt for Lincoln...
...or maybe he just figured that standing up straight would get tiring while waiting for the photo to set, so he chose a more comfortable pose?
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