1887 Kurz & Allison Civil War Chromolithograph "Battle of Fort Donelson"

Item Details

Not Signed

An 1885 Kurz & Allison chromolithograph of a Civil War battle titled Battle of Fort Donelson. The piece depicts an important Union victory, the capture of the Confederate fort near the Cumberland River by the Tennessee-Kentucky border. This battle was also important one for Grant, moving him up to the rank of major general and earning him the nickname of ‘Unconditional Surrender’ Grant. In the scene depicted, Grant is shown on his horse to the left side, having arrived after the start of the battle, ready to counterattack the Rebel Army. The capture of Forts Henry and Donelson were the first significant Union victories in the war and opened two great rivers to invasion in the heartland of the South. The battle was fought in freezing temperatures, going down to 10F, with the soldiers unable to light fires before the battle for fear of sharpshooters detecting their location. Brig. General Simon Bolivar Buckner was the surrendering officer for the Confederacy. The print shows Grant on a dark horse to the left side, with advancing Union troops, with Fort Donelson to the background. The print is presented under glass in a light wood frame, wired to the back for wall hanging. Kurt & Allison were a Chicago publisher of chromolithographs in the 1800s, specializing in prints of Civil War battles.

Condition

-to fair, overall toning, edge wear with minor tears, notable tear to lower right edge of image, crease/tear to center, wear to frame with some spots

Dimensions

visible artwork 24.25″ × 16.5″

Item #

18CIN029-100