Battle at the Plains of Buena Vista, February 23,
1847
Watercolor and gouach, 10 x 14 1/16 inches
click for larger
image
This is a strange panorama because General Taylor appears to be facing the wrong way, as is the entire army. In fact, he is ordering the dragoons in the gulley that he is facing to make haste to the front and center of the line. Far in the distance, one can see the red-shirted Mississipi Rifles in their famous V formation. Everything is backwards, as if in a mirror image. This differs from other panoramas of the battle by Chamberlain. See image in Harper's edition of My Confession and the obvious preliminary sketch for it in picture no. 75.
Introduction | Living History | Sam's Story | Picture Gallery | Home