War has been around for the entirety of human history, but photography has not. We've all seen our fair share of World War I and II photographs, but what about the many conflicts before those? When were the first war photographs taken, and which conflicts were they documenting?
The first photo of an actual battle is thought to have been taken during the Franco-Prussian war in 1870, but pioneering photographer Roger Fenton extensively documented the Crimean War before that in 1855. Old cameras were difficult to move and time-consuming to set up, two poor characteristics in times of war, and Fenton was repeatedly targeted by Russian artillery. Fortunately, ballistics in the 1850s weren't as accurate as they are today.
Check out those photos and more from conflicts before the turn of the 19th century.
1
This 1870 image is considered the first actual photograph taken of a battle. Taken during the Franco-Prussian war, it shows a line of Prussian troops advancing. The photographer stood with the French defenders when he captured this image.
2
During the Philippine-American War, members of an unidentified U.S. Army regiment fire on Filipino insurgents while positioned in trenches. 1899.
3
Alexander Gardner, Home of a rebel sharpshooter, Gettysburg, 1863.
4
General Wool and staff in the Calle Real, Saltillo, Mexico, 1847.
5
A Harvest of Death, Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, July, 1863.
6
Fallen Confederate soldiers after the battle of Antietam, 1862.
7
Roger Fenton, Hardships in the Camp, 1855.
8
Crimean War, 1855. The Crimean War was one of the first with more regular photography, many from photographer Roger Fenton.
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British troops ready for battle in the Crimean War, 1855.
13
The ruins of a Russian post used to defend Sevastopol during the Crimean War.
14
Mortar batteries in front of Picquet house Light Division, Roger Fenton, 1855.
15
8th Hussars cooking hut, 1855.
17
During the Philippine-American War, members of an unidentified U.S. Army regiment fire on Filipino insurgents while positioned in trenches. 1899.
18
Prussian troops on the march during the Franco-Prussian war 1870-71.
19
Major Edmund Gilling Hallewell, 1855.
20
French soldiers during the Franco-Prussian War, 1870.
21
Chinese Catholics prepared to defend their church from the Boxers. Boxer Rebellion, 1899.
22
Spanish cavalry in Puerto Rico. Spanish-American war, 1898.
