The Very First Military Photos - Mexican-American War 1846-1848

[[WDW]Megaraptor]

The first war to be photographed was the Mexican-American War of 1846-1848.

There are very few photos of the war, due to the technology of the time being based on glass-plated daguerrotypes. Nevertheless, an enterprising photographers whose name is lost to us accompanied US troops into Mexico in 1847, and a few of his images have survived.


General John E. Wool and his staff after the capture of the city of Saltillo in early 1847. The troops marched 900 miles across the desert from San Antonio, then linked up with General Zachary Taylor's forces to fight the Battle of Buena Vista.


The Parroquia de Santiago in Saltillo, Mexico.


Major Lucien B. Webster's battery of artillery after the battle of Buena Vista, Feb. 22-23, 1847.


Grave of Henry Clay Jr, the son of the famous US Senator Henry Clay. He was killed in the Battle of Buena Vista, February 22 or 23, 1847. At the time, Senator Clay was an outspoken opponent of the war.


A leg amputation in a military hospital after the Battle of Cerro Gordo, April 18, 1847.


Street in Durango, Mexico, 1847


Colonel Hamtramck, Virginia Volunteers, 1847


Clockwise from top left: Mexican women, Mexican civilian man, Mexican military cadets, US soldier.


Mexican civilians.

Unidentified American soldiers:

[Wally1967]

Interesting thanks for posting.

[jetsetter]

I've seen so many Civil War photos that it is hard to image that these were taken 20 years earlier. Spectacular topic!!!

[big_les]

Superb, thanks for posting these.

[goat89]

Very interesting pics. Thx!

[skyeye]

Great window into history, thanx for posting.

"The troops marched 900 miles across the desert from San Antonio, then linked up with General Zachary Taylor's forces to fight the Battle of Buena Vista."

Hard men indeed.

[armored_diplomacy]

Great document; I´m a big fan of photography, and old pictures are always nice to see, specially when they depict historic events like this.

[khalifah]

very nice pictures there Megaraptor, interesting how that cover on the Colonel seems virtually unchanged after 170-odd years

[Wachmistrz]

Great!
it's very good addition to thread "The-Oldest-Military-Photos..." http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums...ead-before-WW1

[Tokamak]

WOW great pictures.

[realityexists]

Cool find, early pictures are always intriguing.

[Token White Guy]

Street in Durango, Mexico, 1847 looks amazing. It has a sketched type look to it.

[Th3Rul!ng@sS]

Really amazing photos, thank you very much!
What a technology they had for that time :O

[NicaRusso]

Great Pics.... Thank you

[Tim01433]

I never emagined that pics like these were taken, or even existed. Thanks for posting them!