The Fall of Richmond, Virginia On the Night of April 2nd, 1865

This image responds to a major event of the American Civil War. Civilians and soldiers cross a bridge that extends diagonally across the James River from the Confederate capitol Richmond, leaving the burning city, which the departing army set ablaze to keep military stores out of the hands of approaching Union forces.
The New York firm of Currier & Ives grew from a printing business established by Nathaniel Currier (1813–1888) in 1835. Expansion led, in 1857, to a partnership with James Merritt Ives (1824–1895). The firm operated until 1907, lithographing over 4,000 subjects for distribution across America and Europe. This uncolored example of their production demonstrates how, until the 1880s, images were printed in monochrome, with color added later by women who worked for the company. For a large dramatically colored version of the subject, see 63.550.11.