15 Colorized Photos So Vivid They'll Change How You See the Civil War

Kellen Perry
Updated December 17, 2020 2.7M views 15 items
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Vote up the colorized photos that help bring a bygone era to life.

If you're a history buff looking to get your mind blown a little, Reddit's ColorizedHistory subreddit is the place to be. The forum is dedicated to sharing original, high-quality colorized photographs of historical black-and-white images. The colorized Civil War photos over at r/ColorizedHistory - many done by a user called zuzahin - pack a major wallop. 

There's something incredibly affecting about taking grainy, black-and-white Civil War photos from the 1860s and making them look like they're from the 1960s. It sounds silly, but you find yourself caring a lot more about the subjects in the photographs when the blood is returned to their faces and their world actually begins to resemble ours. It almost feels like time travel.

Immerse yourself in these colorful photographs, and check out more from u/zuzahin on Reddit and Facebook.

  • 1
    372 VOTES

    Lincoln And General McClellan, Antietam, October 3, 1862

    Lincoln And General McClellan, Antietam, October 3, 1862
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    372 votes
  • 2
    391 VOTES

    Private Francis Brownell, One Of The First Civil War Recipients Of A Medal Of Honor, 1865

    Private Francis Brownell, One Of The First Civil War Recipients Of A Medal Of Honor, 1865
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    391 votes
  • 3
    318 VOTES

    General William T. Sherman, November 1864

    General William T. Sherman, November 1864
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    318 votes
  • 4
    338 VOTES

    Civil War Sketch Artist, Gettysburg, July 1863

    Civil War Sketch Artist, Gettysburg, July 1863
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    338 votes
  • 5
    365 VOTES

    General Robert E. Lee, Post-Surrender, April 16, 1865

    General Robert E. Lee, Post-Surrender, April 16, 1865
    Photo: u/ExtraNoise / Reddit
    365 votes
  • 6
    321 VOTES

    Soldier Next To Sling Cart, Drewry's Bluff, VA, c. 1865

    Soldier Next To Sling Cart, Drewry's Bluff, VA, c. 1865
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    321 votes
  • 7
    328 VOTES

    Ulysses S. Grant And His War Council, May 21, 1864

    Ulysses S. Grant And His War Council, May 21, 1864
    Photo: MadsMadsen.CH / Facebook
    328 votes
  • 8
    311 VOTES

    General Ulysses S. Grant, 1865

    General Ulysses S. Grant, 1865
    Photo: MadsMadsen.CH / Facebook
    311 votes
  • 9
    304 VOTES

    Union Soldiers, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Date Unknown

    Union Soldiers, Massachusetts Volunteer Militia, Date Unknown
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    304 votes
  • 10
    289 VOTES

    Union Generals, Sheridan's Valley Campaign, 1864

    Union Generals, Sheridan's Valley Campaign, 1864
    Photo: MadsMadsen.CH / Facebook
    289 votes
  • 11
    283 VOTES

    Surgeons Outside A Hospital Tent, Petersburg, VA, July 1864

    Surgeons Outside A Hospital Tent, Petersburg, VA, July 1864
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    283 votes
  • 12
    259 VOTES

    Union Officers, Westover Landing, August 1862

    Union Officers, Westover Landing, August 1862
    Photo: MadsMadsen.CH / Facebook
    259 votes
  • 13
    323 VOTES

    George A. Custer Reclining With A Dog, 1862

    George A. Custer Reclining With A Dog, 1862
    Photo: MadsMadsen.CH / Facebook
    323 votes
  • 14
    223 VOTES

    Edwin V. Sumner And Staff, c. 1862

    Edwin V. Sumner And Staff, c. 1862
    Photo: u/zuzahin / Reddit
    223 votes
  • 15
    243 VOTES

    General Joseph Hooker, c. 1862

    General Joseph Hooker, c. 1862
    Photo: MadsMadsen.CH / Facebook
    243 votes