Though the Civil War is usually remembered in black and white, seeing it in color brings the period to life in a whole new way. From soldiers’ uniforms and weapons to the weathered and defeated faces of men-turned-prisoners, the impact of America’s Civil War feels more immediate and real in vivid tones. These colorized images strip away the distance of time by offering a visceral glimpse into the hardship and resilience of those who lived through one of America’s most defining periods yet.
1. 162-Year-Old Restored Portrait of a Civil War Soldier From 1858
2. The 69th New York Infantry at Fort Corcoran, Washington D.C., 1861
3. Restored Portrait of an African-American Civil War Soldier and His Family, Circa 1868
4. ‘Civil War Soldier, Circa 1860’
5. Union Troops Outside a Camp Labeled ‘Hotel DeHappy,’ 1860
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6. Confederate Prisoners Pictured at Gettysburg, Circa 1863
7. Union Soldiers Pose in a Camp Among the Trees, Circa 1864
8. Union General Custer in Full Dress Uniform Poses Before a US Flag
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9. Soldiers Stand Along a Riverbank While One Casts a Fishing Line
10. Captain J. W. Forsyth Sits on Crates in Front of a Stockpile, 1863
11. A Cavalry Sergeant Poses for a Portrait With His Sword and Full Dress Uniform, Circa 1866
12. ‘Union Soldiers Posing With a Cannon, Circa 1862’
13. US President Abraham Lincoln Stands Outside a Tent During the Battle of Antietam, September 1862
14. Union Cavalry Musician Pictured With a Bugle in Full Dress Uniform, Circa 1866
15. Union Officers Pose Outside a Tent With Swords and Sidearms, Gettysburg, 1863
16. Union Commanding General Ulysses S. Grant Pictured at Cold Harbor, Virginia, 1862
17. ‘Confederate Soldier in Uniform, Circa 1861’
More war stories:
- 12 Civil War Relics That Sold for Thousands — These pieces tell the stories of battles, political shifts, and personal moments that shaped American history.
- 10 Valuable Civil War Weapons — The rarest and most well-preserved examples fetch thousands at auction — not just for their historical significance, but also for their craftsmanship and the stories they carry.
- These 21 Powerful Photos Capture the Reality of World War I — World War I was a violent, chaotic unraveling of the old world order, and these powerful photos depict its magnitude.
