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How the two brothers tried to take a picture of the last survivors of the revolutionary war


In the 1860s, Connecticut photographers, two brothers, Nelson and Roswell Moore were considered to use the then emerging technology of photography to preserve the images of the final veterans of the American Revolution.

Photos: Nelson and Roswell Moore

As a photographer with a keen interest in history, I often find myself fascinated when two worlds collide. Seeing pictures of historical events, even simple pictures, my imagination wakes up and I go back in time.

More than historical events, I am attracted to the people present in these pictures. I try to imagine their lives, their experiences and the world settled by them. I remind myself that they are not only a historical person in time, but are real people who have lived a complex life like you or me, and I often think of their experiences and the ages that have shaped them .

Perhaps this is because old pictures remind us of our own death. Historical pictures whisper us that our time on Earth is limited and one day, we will also become a matter of historical curiosity.

Lemel Cook - Experienced of Revolutionary War
Photo: Nelson and Roswell Moore

This attraction towards the past, together with my interest in photography, is probably the reason why this is the reason Recent video by BBC I attracted my attention, telling the story behind the pictures for some of the last survivors of the American revolutionary war.

A revolutionary war between the Great Britain and its American colonies was fought from 1775 to 1783 over the desire of freedom of Americans. Finally, colonial forces won and, as we all know today, the United States became an independent nation.

“Historical pictures whisper us that our time on Earth is limited and one day, we will also become a matter of historical curiosity.”

Nearly eight decades proceeded fast and the US found itself entangled in another struggle: the US civil war. At the same time, the photographer of Connecticut, two brothers, Nelson and Roswell Moore, the idea of ​​using the then emerging technology of photography to preserve the images of the last living veterans of the American revolution.

According to the BBC, newspapers of the time used to publish details of the United States Federal Budget. It included a list of revolutionary war veterans who were still receiving government pension. Author of Don Hagist, Last men of revolution: soldiers behind photographs And editor of Journal of American RevolutionTold the BBC that by the 1860s, it was clear that very few revolutionary war veterans were left. This feeling inspired the Moore brothers to find out who were the last six living veterans who took their portraits.

Alexander Milner - Experienced of Revolutionary War
Photo: Nelson and Roswell Moore

The pictures of the Moore brothers were unveiled in 1864 and later published in the same year. Last men of American Revolution By Reverend EB Hilalard. The book also includes biographies of each veteran based on interviews taken by Hillard, however, according to the Hagist, Hilard has possibly used some creative licenses in his biographical articles.

Fortunately, these invaluable photos are not limited to the BBC archives. They are preserved and are available freely for download Congress libraryAn extraordinary resource for all types of historical imagination.

As it was later revealed, six persons drawn by the Moore brothers were not the only veterans of the revolutionary war. Other veterans came forward after his pictures and the publication of Hillard’s book. However, images drawn by the Moore brothers remain invaluable historical artifacts, which preserve the equality of men fighting for America’s independence. Looking in his eyes, I realized that these people could personally meet George Washington.

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Photos: Nelson and Roswell Moore

One of the permanent truths of photography is that we cannot often guess which images will be important for future generations. History will eventually be decisive. However, as a photographer, we have the ability to capture and preserve these visual records, even if their immediate importance is not immediately clear.

The next time you see an old historical picture, stop a moment to think about the person or people present in that picture. Who were they? How was his life? And consider the fact that, someday, in the future, someone must be thinking the same by looking at your picture.

Have you got the opportunity to take pictures of historical importance or take pictures of anything before disappearing forever? If yes, I would love to hear about it in the comments.



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