Newell, Lafayette, 1833-1914

Photograph depicts an unidentifed African American soldier sitting with his legs straddling a rough rail suspended in the air at the Union military base in Point Lookout, Maryland. This was a common device for punishing soldiers during the Civil War and was called "the mule," "the wooden horse," or "riding the rail." The image is captioned "Nigro prisoner" and the soldier guarding the prisoner appears to also be African American.