The Army of the Potomac - Our Outlying Picket in the Woods 1862

Winslow Homer made this wood engraving, titled *The Army of the Potomac - Our Outlying Picket in the Woods*, which appeared in *Harper's Weekly* during the Civil War. The image presents Union soldiers at rest in a wooded area, rifles at the ready, suggesting a moment of tense anticipation. Homer was working as an artist-correspondent embedded with the Union Army. His illustrations offered the public intimate glimpses into the lives of soldiers, far from the battlefield's glory. This image avoids grand narratives of war; instead, it focuses on the quiet, human moments of the picket line. The young men, far from home, seem to meld into their environment. There's a somber stillness, which reflects the psychological weight of the conflict. The illustration captures the racial dynamics of the Union Army. By focusing on white soldiers, Homer reflects the racial hierarchies of the time, even as African Americans were increasingly involved in the war effort. Ultimately, the print offers us a poignant reflection on duty, identity, and the human cost of war.