G. H. Suydam Photograph Album

The collection contains commercial photographs of twelve (12) scenes of Baton Rouge and eight (8) photographs of ships of the West Gulf Blockading Squadron (Admiral Farragut's fleet) on the Mississippi River at Baton Rouge. Captain G. H. Suydam of the 162nd New York Volunteers Infantry, U.S.A., secured these during his service with the Federal Army at Baton Rouge in the Spring of 1863. Three (3) of the images have the McPherson and Oliver back stamp.

Most of the photographs have handwritten memoranda on the back (verso) identifying the images on the front (recto). These memoranda have been transcribed directly from the versos as captions for the images. Notes created in house have been used for any images without memoranda.

The collection also includes: a copy of the Natchitoches (La.) Union, January 29, 1863; a copy of The New Orleans Times, April 15, 1864; a copy of the Freemasons' Monthly Magazine, vol. IV, no. 8, June 1, 1845.

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18th NY battery Captain Fort Williams 1863.

18th NY battery Captain Fort Williams 1863.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Artillery--Photographs

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Artillery battery--Photographs

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Fort Williams (La.)--Photographs

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United States. Army--Artillery--Drill and tactics--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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A section of Captain Mack's battery was doing routine artillery training. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 54; image, p. 55.]

Camp, 3rd brigade, Augur Div 19th Army corps. . .

Camp, 3rd brigade, Augur Div 19th Army corps. . .

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Military camps--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Bird's-eye views--Photographs

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Inscription continues: . . . In background camp of 174th NYSV. In center camps of 2nd La & 30th Mass. In foreground battery C. 5th Regimental artillery. The picture . . . was made in the spring of 1863 . . . taken from an upper story of the Heroman Building at the northwest corner of Florida and Church. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 31; image, p. 31.]

Coal Heavers of the Essex--resting.

Coal Heavers of the Essex--resting.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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Waterfronts--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Sailors--United States--Photographs

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The Union fleet off the coaling yard at Baton Rouge in the summer of 1862. Farragut needed the coal he found here to keep his larger vessels operating. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 22; image, p. 23.]

Contraband Camp, formerly used as a Female Seminary.

Contraband Camp, formerly used as a Female Seminary.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Refugee camps--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--African Americans--Photographs

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The former slaves were housed and fed in the camps, and frequently given schooling in 1863. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 66; image, p. 67.]

Crew of Richmond at quarters. Baton Rouge La. 1863.

Crew of Richmond at quarters. Baton Rouge La. 1863.

United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Richmond (Sloop)--Photographs

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Sailors--United States--Photographs

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McPherson & Oliver,

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The Richmond was crippled in Farragut's attempt to pass the guns of Port Hudson on the night of March 14, 1863, and fifteen of her officers and crew were killed or wounded. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 86; image, p. 86.]

Deaf, Dumb, Blind Asylum Baton Rouge La Now used as a General Hospital. U.S.A.

Deaf, Dumb, Blind Asylum Baton Rouge La Now used as a General Hospital. U.S.A.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Architecture, Gothic--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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In 1863, it served as a military hospital crowded with the sick and wounded. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 94; image, p. 95.]

Frontview State Penitentiary In foreground tents of Battery L 1st Artillery.

Frontview State Penitentiary In foreground tents of Battery L 1st Artillery.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Florida Street (Baton Rouge, La.)--Photographs

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Military camps--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Prisons--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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The building covered the entire block between Florida and Laurel, bounded on the west by st. Anthony (now North Seventh.) [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 76; image, p. 77.]

General Augur's Headquarter, Spring 1863. Baton Rouge La.

General Augur's Headquarter, Spring 1863. Baton Rouge La.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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United States. Army--Headquarters--Photographs

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McPherson & Oliver, photographers

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McPherson, William D. (Photographer)

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[East, "Civil War Album," image, p. 58.]

General Dudley's Headquarters, Baton Rouge, La.

General Dudley's Headquarters, Baton Rouge, La.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Church Street (Baton Rouge, La.)--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Dwellings--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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United States. Army--Headquarters--Photographs

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Before 1863, this was the home of Samuel M. Hart, a prominent citizen who had left the city the previous year. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 57; image, p. 59.]

Gun mounted on a mound in Fort William which used to be the cemetery for the officers of the regular army.

Gun mounted on a mound in Fort William which used to be the cemetery for the officers of the regular army.

Armies--Officers--Photographs

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Artillery--Photographs

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Artillery men--Photographs

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Fort Williams (La.)--Photographs

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McPherson & Oliver, photographers

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McPherson, William D. (Photographer)

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United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photogr

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An army gun on the Indian mound in the northeastern part of the ground, not far from the powder magazine and the cemetery. The mound itself had served as a burial ground for officers of the post and their families as far back as the 1830s. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 50; image, p. 51.

Ironclad. Essex, Farragut's fleet. Mississippi River La.

Ironclad. Essex, Farragut's fleet. Mississippi River La.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Armored vessels--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Essex (Ironclad)--Photographs

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United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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Originally a St Louis ferry boat, the largest on the Mississippi river, the Essex passed the Vicksburg batteries and reached Baton Rouge in July, 1862. It supported General Williams and his men when confederate forces attacked from the east on the morning of August 5, 1862. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 38; image, p. 39.]

Methodist Church Baton Rouge La, 1863 Where the concerts were held I wrote about.

Methodist Church Baton Rouge La, 1863 Where the concerts were held I wrote about.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Church Street (Baton Rouge, La.)--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Methodist church buildings--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Bird's-eye views--Photographs

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The church with the steeple is the Methodist Church. The building next to it is the Washington Fire Company, originally the City Hall. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 33; image, p. 32.]

Mortar boat of Farragut's fleet. Baton Rouge La, 1863

Mortar boat of Farragut's fleet. Baton Rouge La, 1863

United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Waterfronts--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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One of the mortar schooners which bombarded the forts guarding the approach to New Orleans and which were then brought upriver to hurl their great 13-inch shells into the confederate positions at Port Hudson. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 83; image, p. 82.]

Provost Marshal's office. Baton Rouge La.

Provost Marshal's office. Baton Rouge La.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Florida Street (Baton Rouge, La.)--Photographs

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Pike's Row (Baton Rouge, La.)--Photographs

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In 1863 the Provost Marshal's office was in Pike's Row, which extended east on Florida street along its north side from the corner of Third. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 57; image, p. 56.]

State House, Baton Rouge, La. [r] Burned Dec 30th 1862 [v]

State House, Baton Rouge, La. [r] Burned Dec 30th 1862 [v]

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Architecture, Gothic--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Louisiana--Capital and capitol--Photographs

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The State Capital building was used both to quarter soldiers and to hold confederate prisoners. Fire broke out in the building in the night and by daylight the landmark was a gutted ruin. It was rebuilt in the early 1880s. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 44; image, p. 45.]

Steamer Richmond off Baton Rouge La. 1863.

Steamer Richmond off Baton Rouge La. 1863.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Richmond (Sloop)--Photographs

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Waterfronts--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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The USS Richmond, a Wooden Steam Sloop of War launched 1860. Tonnage 2604; length 225'; draft 17'4 Â½"; armament one 80-pounder Dahlgren rifle, twenty 9" Dahlgren smoothbores, one 30-pounder Parrott rifle. "The Richmond was one of the largest and most beautiful ships in Farragut's fleet. The Richmond reached Baton Rouge on the afternoon of May 9, 1862, in company with her sister ships." [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 79; image, p. 78.]

Steamship Mississippi Farragut's fleet Mississippi River La. . . .

Steamship Mississippi Farragut's fleet Mississippi River La. . . .

United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Mississippi (Frigate)--Photographs

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Inscription continues: . . .Burned by her own after grounding in front of the rebel batteries at Port Hudson, during the attack by the fleet, on the night of the 14th March 1863. To their mortification & chagrin after reaching the shore, she floated off & blew up five miles below the batteries. The Mississippi survived the passage of the forts below New Orleans but was lost in March 1863 in Farragut's attempt to pass the confederate guns at Port Hudson. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 22; image, p. 22.]

United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Genese (Gunboat)--Photographs

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This is one of Farragut's smaller gunboats, probably the U.S.S. Genesee. [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 80; image, p. 80.]

Waterfront of Baton Rouge La. Steamer Empire Parrish Headquarters General Banks March 9th 1863.

Waterfront of Baton Rouge La. Steamer Empire Parrish Headquarters General Banks March 9th 1863.

United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Waterfronts--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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United States. Army--Headquarters--Photographs

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[East, "Civil War Album," image, p. 54.]

Wharfboat Natchez. Baton Rouge La.

Wharfboat Natchez. Baton Rouge La.

United States. Navy. Gulf Coast Blockading Squadron--Photographs

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United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Photographs

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Baton Rouge (La.)--Photographs

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Waterfronts--Louisiana--Baton Rouge--Photographs

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Natchez (Wharfboat)--Photographs

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The wharfboat Natchez (on left) tied up with one of Porter's mortar schooners (on right). [East, "Civil War Album," text, p. 70; image, p. 70.]

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