War Between the States

The photograph seen here, taken by Matthew Brady, is of Alan Pinkerton, Abraham Lincoln, and General John A. McClernand. Two of the more prominent figures of this photograph are Abraham Lincoln (center) and Alan Pinkerton (left), who was Lincoln’s bodyguard. Alan Pinkerton formed his own private detective agency in 1852 and was one of the first to do so. Some say his motto “We Never Sleep” may be where the term “Private Eye” came from. He solved an extreme amount of crimes which lead him to gain considerable fame over time. In 1861 he discovered a plot to assassinate Abraham Lincoln who was about to travel to Washington D.C. for the inauguration. He successfully guarded Lincoln and foiled this attempt at Lincoln’s life, which became one of his more notable accomplishments. He eventually was hired to work for the Federal army’s secret service, the Union Intelligence Service, in 1861–62. Although during this time some said he failed at his job, he continued his detective work throughout his life and continued his many great accomplishments. This photograph is a perfect demonstration of a documentary photograph, as it depicts part of the Civil War, and a time where President Lincoln was still living. The content of the photo is interesting in the way that three men are standing in all different directions. Although it makes the photograph appear random, the focus is still on the three men. The background and setting are also very interesting because they are less focused, which puts even more emphasis on the men. The setting also clearly shows the living conditions in the Civil War as a soldier or general.


http://www.bryantbooks.com/cgi-bin/bryant/4398
http://www.biography.com/search/article.do?id=9441102