Print
The Latest Contraband of War
| A freed slave with a hoe in his left hand and his right hand on his hip. Caption at the top reads, "Massa can't have dis chile, dat's what's de matter." Caption below reads, "The latest contraband of war." The image is a reference to General Benjamin Butler's "contraband" policy, by which escaping slaves reaching the Union lines would not be returned to slavery. Butler, a trained attorney, used Virginia's secession to argue that under international law that escaped slaves were "contraband of war" and he was not required to return them to their former owners. Black ink on beige envelope, image on left side. Image printed on envelope, mounted on various colored pages and collected in an album. |
| Image ID: | 76526 |
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| Creation Date: | after 1860 |
| Creator Name: | Unknown |
| City: | |
| County: | |
| State: | |
| Collection Name: | Civil War illustrated envelopes, 1861-1865 |
| Genre: | |
| Original Format Type: | prints, fine-art |
| Original Format Number: | PH 2630, box #2, page 80 |
| Original Dimensions: | 5.5 x 3.0625 inches |
| Envelopes printed during Civil War depicting mostly pro-Union and anti-Confederate themes. |
| Americana |
| Slavery |
| Caricatures and cartoons |
| Clothing and dress |
| Implements, utensils, etc. |
| Ephemera |
| Civil War, 1861-1865 |
| African Americans |
| Men |
| This image is issued by the Wisconsin Historical Society. Use of the image requires written permission from the staff of the Collections Division. It may not be sold or redistributed, copied or distributed as a photograph, electronic file, or any other media. The image should not be significantly altered through conventional or electronic means. Images altered beyond standard cropping and resizing require further negotiation with a staff member. The user is responsible for all issues of copyright. Please Credit: Wisconsin Historical Society. |
| Location: | Wisconsin Historical Society Archives, 4th Floor, Madison, Wisconsin |
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