July 3rd, 2012: The Skedaddler's Hall
Posted on: 07/03/2012
150 years ago the Seven Days Battles had ended and the Army of the Potomac began to settle in to many weeks of low activity near Harrison's Landing on the James River. Sketch artist Alfred Waud was there and captured some interesting moments. Today we'll show a place call the "Skedaddler's Hall" by Waud. It seems to have been a building occupied by a sutler that officers would congregate to get away from the daily routine.
Commentary provided by Waud tells us that the officers shown were from the Excelsior Brigade commanded by Daniel Sickles, and that he drew this on July 3rd, 1862. It looks like there were two large wooden tubs for laundry to be done and an abundance of tobacco and drink. Scenes like this could not be photographed during the war, so this sketch gives us a great candid view of the life of off duty Union officers.
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