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Men Standing On Railroad Track in Northern Virginia, ca. 1862

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This photograph of a group of eight African-Americans constructing a railroad in northern Virginia for the United States Military Railway Department was taken by Andrew J. Russell in either 1862 or 1863. Most of the men can be seen holding tools required for laying railroad track.
Courtesy of Library of Congress, Russell, Andrew J., "[Military railroad operations in northern Virginia: men standing on railroad track]," ca. 1862

Description

This photograph shows a group of eight African Americans constructing a railroad in northern Virginia for the United States Military Railway Department. The photo was taken by Andrew J. Russell in either 1862 or 1863. Most of the men can be seen holding tools required for laying railroad track.

Source-Dependent Questions

  • How did the Union army employ this group of African Americans?
  • Why would completion of their job have been crucial to the overall war effort of the Union?

Citation Information 

Russell, Andrew J., "[Military railroad operations in northern Virginia: men standing on railroad track]," ca. 1862. Courtesy of Library of Congress