Russell, United States Military Railroad Photographic Album. REBEL DEAD BEHIND STONE WALL, Fredericksburgh [sic], May 3, 1863.
Herman Haupts copy of this photo, at the Library of Congress, includes hand written text by Haupt detailing the significance of the wall: This is a photograph of the celebrated stone wall at Fredericksburg. The stone wall on the north side of a [sunken?] [road?] running parallel to the river. From the top of the wall the ground sloped gently [toward?] the City on the bank of the river half a mile distant; on the south side of the road was the house of Col. Marye and immediately [something] high [hills?] [something] [something] projecting [points?] like [natural?] [bastions?] [something] [something] the first battle of Fredericksburg, under Burnside, the enemys batteries were placed. It would be difficult to conceive of a [stronger?] [something] [position?]. The enemy [something] in the road could load and fire with perfect safety while [our?] forces, charging [something] open field, were exposed to cross fire of grape and cannister from the artillery on the heights. Repeated charges were repulsed with heavy loss, that could have had no hope of success and the orders must have been given by Burnside in ignorance of the strength of the position. There was of course no opportunity of taking photographs after the defeat of Burnside, but during the Hooker campaign we had [something] for a few hours after a skirmish during which [something] [something], Captain Russell, got a picture of the stone wall and also a picture of the heights above Maryes house in which my assistant W. W. Wright and myself are represented. [see AACZ]
MOLLUS collection print, written on mount: Stone wall at the foot of Maryes Heights, which was gallantly carried by the 6th Maine Infantry.
Etched onto negative just below the stock of the rifle in the foreground, and seen on every print: Capt Russell Phot.
