Drawing Civil War Soldiers

Abstract

News illustrations and editorial cartoons in Harper's Weekly and Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, the two major illustrated news weeklies of the time, have been credited with directly aiding Civil War enlistment efforts in the North. This article uses illustrations and editorial cartoons published from 1861 to 1864 in both weeklies to demonstrate that while they supported voluntary enlistments and bounties, Harper's supported the Civil War draft while Leslie's did not. The difference in editorial positions regarding the draft was heightened by coverage of the draft riots in 1863. Harper's played down the riots and limited coverage primarily to a two-page spread depicting ape-like, Irish rioters committing acts of violence. Leslie's carried considerably more coverage, depicting less chaotic “rioters” and used riot illustrations on its cover.