Soldier lying down to left of center, campfire on right at his feet. Image of man, woman and two children in upper center; soldier and canon lower center background. Poem to left and right of title
Produced for the soldier’s wife during the Civil War, this print reinforced the idea that the serviceman was not only fighting for the Union, but for his family as well. The soldier, pictured on the battlefront with an army encampment in the background, dreams of his return home to his loving wife and their child. The image provided a sense of comfort for loved ones by presenting the man as sleeping comfortably on the ground by a fire wearing a clean uniform. In reality, life on the battlefield was difficult, soldiers were often unable to sleep and their uniforms were in rags.
