Bull Run. Bridge near Union Mills (destroyed seven times) 1861 - 1865

This albumen silver print of a destroyed bridge was captured by Timothy O'Sullivan, possibly in 1863, during the American Civil War. O'Sullivan’s photographic process, though groundbreaking, required meticulous preparation and was hardly instantaneous. The image is not just a record, but a carefully constructed narrative of war’s impact on infrastructure. The bridge itself, repeatedly destroyed and rebuilt, speaks to the relentless back-and-forth of conflict and the labor required for both destruction and reconstruction. Consider the social context: photography during the Civil War was not merely documentation; it was a tool of propaganda, shaping public opinion about the war’s devastation. O’Sullivan’s choice to focus on the destroyed bridge emphasizes the tangible costs of the conflict. By looking closely at the material reality of this photograph, we gain insight into the relationship between war, labor, and the shaping of historical narratives.