Special Civil War Paintings On Display At Garfield National Historic Site

Paintings by one of President James A. Garfield's subordinates during the civil war will be on display at the James A. Garfield National Historic Site through the end of August.

Garfield helped raise and organize the 42nd Ohio Volunteers in 1861 and he served as the regiment’s first commanding officer as well.

Owen J. Hopkins, a sergeant in Company K of the 42nd Ohio, painted a pair of portraits that are on display at the park's Visitor Center, which depicted life during the Civil War.

The paintings are entitled “On Picket Duty,” which depicts a 42nd Ohio soldier taking his turn as a picket and “The 42nd OVI at the Battle of Thompson’s Hill.”

The fight at Thompson’s Hill took place near Vicksburg, MS, on May 1, 1863, and the 42nd took heavy casualties. The battle was a Union victory that set the stage for General Ulysses S. Grant’s successful siege of Vicksburg.

Both paintings are on loan from the Ohio Historical Society.

Two cases of ribbons from the regular reunions of the 42nd Ohio that took place for decades after the Civil War are displayed, as well. A Civil War enthusiast from New York recently donated these original ribbons to the historic site.

“These paintings and ribbons add a great deal to our ongoing interpretation of the Civil War and James A. Garfield’s role in it,” said Todd Arrington, the site’s chief of interpretation and education.

“We’re very grateful to the Ohio Historical Society and our New York-based donor for making these items available to us. I hope everyone with an interest in the Civil War will be able to get here between now and August 31 to see these items on display.”

This special display coincides with the park's commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War.