General Custer Presenting Captured Battle Flags

Art Historical Context

Alfred R. Waud 1864 print captures a pivotal moment from the American Civil War, showing Union cavalry commander George Armstronguster presenting captured Confederate flags. Waud, a British-born and correspondent for Harper’s, traveled extensively with the of the Potomac, producing on-the-spot sketches were later turned into widely circulated. These images brought the realities of conflict to Northern audiences hungry for news. The scene highlights the symbolic importance of battle flags, which served as rallying points for regiments and whose capture signified both tactical success and a blo...