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	BACHMANN, John Panorama of the Seat of War. Birds Eye View of Virginia, Maryland, Delaware and the District of Columbia New York: Charles Magnus, 1864. Chromolithograph, by Bachmann. Small expert repairs to tears. Sheet size: 24 x 35 7/16 inches. Third state of this fascinating quasi-aerial view of the northernmost part of the east coast of the Confederacy, and the southernmost areas of the Union, including Washington: this third issue, printed after the smoke that was added to Manassas for the second issue had been removed again, has "many towns and battlefields ... added, especially around Richmond, Petersburg, and Fredericksburg" (Rumsey). It was published by Charles Magnus of New York. 'At the outset of the Civil War, John Bachmann, of New York City, one of the finest American artists and lithographers specializing in bird's-eye views, began producing a series of panoramas of likely theaters of War' (Stephenson & McKee Virginia in Maps p.239). This view, taken from the apparent vantage point some miles up in the outer atmosphere, was designed to serve as an individual stand-alone image (as here), but also to join with two other views by Bachmann which together form one continuous panorama of the east coast of the Confederacy. In all, Bachmann published six views covering the whole 'Seat of the War'. The present image covers an area which includes the locations of a number of well-known Civil War actions: Harper's Ferry, Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania, Manassas, Petersburg and Appomattox River, Richmond and environs. John Bachmann was one of America's leading viewmakers, having been responsible for some of the finest New York City views. This innovative cross between view and map appears to have been his own invention, and it gives an intriguing and different perspective on the conflict. The first state of this view was published by Bachmann in 1861, the second state was published with smoke billowing up from Manassas in reference to the Battle of Bull Run; the present third edition was published by Charles Magnus in 1864, the battlefield smoke having been removed. Cf. Stephenson Civil War Maps (1989) 2 & 3 (1st and 2nd states); cf. Stephenson & McKee Virginia in Maps p.239 (2nd state); Rumsey 2817 ; cf. Reps p.160 ('No finer artist of city views worked in America than John Bachmann") #19266$6,500.00
	BACHMANN, John Panorama of the Seat of War. Birds Eye View of Kentucky and Tennessee showing Cairo and part of the southern states New York: John Bachmann, [no date but 1862]. Chromolithograph, by Bachmann. Small expert marginal repairs. Sheet size: 22 3/4 x 31 inches. A fine copy of this bird's-eye by Bachmann, 'one of the finest American artists and lithographers specializing in bird's-eye views' (Stephenson & McKee), recalling a pivotal moment in the Civil War. 'Bachmann did six views of the Confederate States like this one ... They are very rare.' (Rumsey). The clouds of smoke over Fort Donelson show that this image is intended to recall a moment in time between February 11th and the 16th, 1862, when Brigadier General Ulysses S. Grant besieged and secured the surrender of Fort Donelson. The 12,000-stong garrison's unconditional surrender was a major victory for the Union and a catastrophe for the South: Kentucky stayed in the Union as a result, and Tennessee became vulnerable to a Northern advance along the Tennessee and Cumberland Rivers. Grant, who received the nickname 'Unconditional Surrender', was also promoted to Major General, and came to be considered as an important figure in the western theater of the war. Stephenson Civil War Maps (1989) 23.5; Rumsey 2657; Reps p.160 ('No finer artist of city views worked in America than John Bachmann. Unfortunately, there is no artist about whom less is known') #17538$6,000.00
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