Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, of Philadelphia.
Title
Union Volunteer Refreshment Saloon, of Philadelphia Being the first institution of the kind in the United States. Organized, May 27th. 1861
Description
Lively scene containing a view of the two hospitals, refreshment stand, and other buildings of the Refreshment Saloon located near the Navy Yard at Swanson and Washington Avenues. Depicts a large crowd gathered to watch the arrival and departure of Union troops in November of 1863. Arriving soldiers march past the cannon, known as "Fort Brown," fired to forewarn saloon volunteers of the forthcoming arrival of troops. Departing soldiers board a Philadelphia, Wilmington, & Baltimore railroad car for the South. American flags dot the landscape. Crowd includes a band and an African American man. Contains the names of committee members and volunteers below the image. Situated at the transportation hub between the North and the South on land leased en gratis from the Philadelphia, Wilmington & Baltimore Railroad, the Saloon was a volunteer relief agency providing meals, hospital care, washing, sleeping, and writing facilities to military personnel, freedom seekers. It served over 800,000 men, 1,025,000 meals before closing on December 1, 1865., Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee's blindstamp on recto., Title from item., Date inferred from content., Philadelphia on Stone, POS 771, Detailed inscription by Fales about the history of the saloon on recto. Transcription available at repository., Manuscript note on recto of 5778.F Union Volunteer: "John A. McAllister Esq. with the kind regards of Saml B. Fales, Phila. Nov. 24th, 1866." Fales served on the Union Volunteer Refreshment Committee as correspondence secretary and financial agent, and became the committee's main fundraiser., Manuscript note on recto of P.2023.2: Mr. McNally with the compliments of Samuel B. Fales, No. 707 Vine St. Philadelphia., Description revised 2023., Access points revised 2021., P.2023.2 gift of Philadelphia Magazine., Digital image shows 5778.F Union Volunteer., Queen was a premier Philadelphia lithographer and pioneer chromolithographer known for his attention to detail, who served in the Civil War militia from 1862 until 1863, and created several lithographs with Civil War subjects, including views of and contribution certificates for the city's relief institutions.
Creator
Queen, James Fuller, 1820 or 21-1886, artist
Date
[1863]
Location
Library Company of Philadelphia | Print Department **W412 [5778.F Union Volunteer and P.2023.2]