2,235 Naval operations, History Images: LOC's Public Domain Archive Public Domain Search

2,235 media by topic ∙ page 1 of 23

Commodore Hopkins, commander in chief of the American Fleet, British C...

Print shows Esek Hopkins, three-quarter length portrait, wearing uniform, standing, facing front, with sword drawn during naval engagement; ships in background display "Dont tread upon me" and "Liberty Tree - A... More

The taking of Miss Mud I'land, British Cartoon Print

Print shows a female figure as the Mud Island fortress, Fort Mifflin, with two flags on her bonnet, astride a cannon firing on the British warship "Isis"; also show the "Somerset", "Roebuck", "Eagle", and the "... More

St. Lucia in the West Indies taken possession of by Admiral Barrington...

Print shows six ships in line flying the French flag, however, appears to be disembarking British troops who are about to take possession of the island after the French have withdrawn. Engraved for Barnard's N... More

United States & Macedonian - Public domain drawing

Preliminary drawing for an oil painting showing the sea battle between the USS United States, under the command of Stephen Decatur, and HMS Macedonian off the coast of Maderia on October 25, 1812. The original... More

Le Combat naval, gloire Américaine / Garneray,del ; Coquerel,sc.

Print shows the U.S. Constitution and HBM Java, her masts and sails destroyed, after a battle during the War of 1812. Reference copy in LOT 4413A.

Prize brig captured at Hatteras Inlet.

Broadside view of frigate. Title inscribed below image. Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.2.93) Forms part of: Morgan collection of Civil War drawings.

Confederate iron-clad Stonewall, Confederate States of America.

No. 912. Civil War Photograph Collection (Library of Congress). Original negative: LC-B817-7912-B

The expedition to Beaufort - before the attack

Illustration shows three scenes of naval warfare off the coast of South Carolina during the Civil War. Illus. in: Harper's weekly, v. 5 (1861 Nov. 30), p. 757.

Map showing the defenses of the Mississippi below New Orleans and Farr...

Map shows the Confederate fortifications at Fort Jackson under Gen. Duncan, Fort St. Philip and the Union fleet along the Mississippi River. This map, also shows the positions of Union ships under Farragut, who... More

Capture of Fort Henry by U.S. gun boats under the command of Flag Offi...

Print shows four Union ironclads in the foreground, identified as the "St. Louis", "Carondelet", "Cincinnati", and the "Essex", bombarding Confederate Fort Henry in the background; also shows two Confederate st... More

Plan of the attack on Ft. Sumter, April 6th, 1863.

Map shows a regional view of Charleston Harbor including Confederate fortifications and Union naval vessels. This April 1863 atttack by Union ironclads was unsuccessful. Color coding indicates the location of U... More

Looking down James River, from Dutch Gap canal, December 12, 1864

Photograph showing army transports on the James River from the Dutch Gap Canal.

"In Roanoke River." (after the capture of Plymouth N.C. Oct 31 '64)

Three steamships in the river. Signed lower left image, stylized monogram: HAM. Title inscribed below image. Inscribed on verso: H.A. Macomb. Fomerly attributed to Alfred R. Waud, with the call number DRWG/US -... More

L'armée françoise courant en echiquier et combattant les vaisseaux des...

Photograph shows the French fleet, in the foreground, in pursuit of the British fleet which is attempting to flee; Grenada is visible in the distance. Includes legend. Original wash drawings Available in the O... More

Vue de la ville de Savannah, du camp, des tranchées et de l'attaque Oc...

Photograph shows a bird's-eye view of Savannah from the French camp.

Combat memorable entre le Pearson et Paul Jones / Richard Paton pinxit...

Vue d'optique showing naval battle during Revolutionary War between John Paul Jones of the Bonhomme Richard and Capt. Richard Pearson of the British naval vessel Serapis, Sept. 22, 1779. Title appears in revers... More

Gunboats shelling the enemy at the battle of Malvern hill sketched fro...

Signed lower right: A.R. Waud. Title inscribed below image. Inscribed upper right: General McClellan went aboard while I was sketching to change the position of the gunboats that were shelling our infantry. Gif... More

Wreck of Transport Steamers "Maple leaf" and "Genl. Hunter". St. Johns...

Title inscribed below image. Date derived from historical sources. Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.2.523) Forms part of: Morgan collection of Civil War drawings.

Intérieur de la batterie du Merrimac, pendant le combat avec le Monito...

Interior of the Merrimac showing Confederate sailors loading cannon, during combat with the Monitor. Illus. from: Le Monde Illustré. Exhibited: Capitol Visitors Center of the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C., 2011.

John Bull making a new batch of ships to send to the lakes / Charles, ...

A satire on British efforts to recover after major naval losses on the Great Lakes in 1813 and 1814. According to Lanmon, it is based on Thomas Rowlandson's 1798 satire "High Fun for John Bull or the Republica... More

Revenue cutter, 1861 - Public domain drawing

Several broadside views of ships. Signed lower right: A.R.W. Title inscribed below image. Broadside sketch of ship on verso. Formerly Waud no. C-127 Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.2.1054). Forms part o... More

Lashed to the shrouds--Farragut passing the forts at Mobile, in his fl...

Adm. David Farragut lashed to upper mast, holding spyglass; during Battle of Mobil Bay, Jan. 1864. "Prang's American Chromos."

Federal Vessels Driving Back the Iron-Plated Rebel Steamer Yorktown, w...

Published engraving based upon DRWG/US - Balling, no. 1 (A size). Attributed to Balling in New York Illustrated News caption. Title printed below image. Initials T.N. engraved lower right of image indicate that... More

Perry's victory / T. Birch. - Public domain dedication image

Marine view showing American fleet, under the command of Oliver Hazard Perry, engaged in battle with the British on Lake Erie during the War of 1812. Forms part of: Marian S. Carson collection (Library of Congr... More

Second days action at Hatteras inlet

Broadside views of ships bombarding Fort Hatteras. Signed lower right: Alf.R. Waud. Title inscribed lower left. Inscribed above image: No top gallant masts up; Susquehannah; Cumberland; [Adnatie]; Minnesota; Wa... More

The monitor Canonicus, James River, Virginia

No. 4093. Gift; Col. Godwin Ordway; 1948. The albumen silver print is a photographic printing process that was widely used in the 19th century. It involves coating paper support with a mixture of egg whites a... More

Perilous position of the U.S. Steam Sloop Seminole, while under a terr...

Broadside view of a steamship engaged in battle. Signed below title: L. Sands, US Navy. Title inscribed below image. Inscribed on verso: Sketched by Louis Sands; See Seminole sent by Crane, [T.W.F.?]. Formerly... More

American privateer "General Armstrong" Capt. Sam. C. Reid / lith. & pu...

Print shows the American privateer "General Armstrong" firing on British boats sent from HBM Carnation to capture her. Currier & Ives : a catalogue raisonné / compiled by Gale Research. Detroit, MI : Gale Rese... More

Great naval victory in Mobile Bay, Aug. 5th 1864

Print shows battle between Union monitors and sloops against Confederate ships and ram CSS Tennessee in Mobile Bay with Fort Morgan in the distance. Currier & Ives : a catalogue raisonné / compiled by Gale Rese... More

Destruction of Housatonic by a rebel torpedo. Feb. of 17 1864. Charles...

Title inscribed below image. Attributed to William Waud. Formerly attributed to Alfred R. Waud, with the call number DRWG/US - Waud no. 36 (A size). Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.2.525) Reference prin... More

Iohn Paul Iones, commander of a squadron in the service of the thirtee...

Print shows John Paul Jones, half-length portrait, facing slightly right, standing, wearing uniform, holding telescope cradled in right arm, left hand on anchor, with naval battle scene in the background.

Second view of Com. Perry's victory / M. Cornè p. ; W.B. Annin sc.

Print shows American warships under the command of Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry, firing on British warships during the Battle of Lake Erie. Printed above image: Engraved for the Naval Monument. Published in: Th... More

The Constitution and Guerriere / drawn by G. White ; engd by J.C. McRa...

Print shows the Constitution, in the background, firing on the wreckage of the HMS Guerriere in the aftermath of the battle between the two ships.

Desperate conflict of American seamen under Decatur, on boarding a Tri...

Illustration shows Stephen Decatur and his men fighting hand-to-hand fight on board a Tripolitan gunboat during the First Barbary War. Illus. in: Life and death on the ocean: a collection of extraordinary adve... More

President and Plantagenet. Book illustration from Library of Congress

Print shows the USS President sailing to the left, in the foreground, and the HMS Plantagenet, on the right, in the background. Inscribed below image: "President". Published in The Naval battles of the United ... More

Pivot guns crew, U.S. Steamer Pocahontas

Photograph shows sailors posed on the ship near the pivot gun. Title inscribed in ink on the front of the mount. Gladstone's inventory code and notes: M22. Purchase; William A. Gladstone; 1995; (DLC/PP-1995:113.269).

Battle of Lake Erie / painted by W.H. Powell ; engraved by T. Phillibr...

Print shows Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry in a rowboat while being transferred from the U.S. Brig Lawrence to the U.S. Brig Niagara. Caption: "If a victory is to be gained, I'll gain it" Oliver H. Perry. Engrav... More

Admiral Porter's fleet at the mouth of the Yazoo

Print shows the Union vessels under the command of Admiral David D. Porter at the mouth of the Yazoo River, Mississippi, December 1862. Illus. in: Harper's pictorial history of the Civil War / Alfred H. Guerns... More

Navy secretary presents medal to Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd. Washing...

A group of men standing around a table. Public domain portrait photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

L'armée françoise Mouillée auprès de l'ance Molenieu dans l'isle de la...

Photograph shows the French fleet in the bay before the town of Saint George's on the island of Grenada, British reconnaissance vessels, and at far left, on the horizon, the British fleet. Caption continues: P... More

Vue du fort et ville de St. George dans l'isle de la Grenade et du Mor...

Photograph shows the French fleet in the bay before the town of Saint George's on the island of Grenada and French troops making an assault on the hill in the foreground; a British battery fires on the fleet fr... More

Battle of Lake Erie - A painting of a group of people in a boat

Photograph of William H. Powell's painting in the U.S. Capitol shows Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry in a rowboat while being transferred from the U.S. Brig Lawrence to the U.S. Brig Niagara. Title from original 1... More

Antisubmarine warfare in World War II

"Manuscript and illustrations for this volume were prepared for publication by the Summary Reports Group of the Columbia University Division of War Research under contract OEMsr-1131 with the Office of Scientif... More

The naval monument, containing official and other accounts of all the ...

Also available in digital form. Public domain photograph of British navy ship, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Pocohontus [sic] capturing blockade runner Antonia. Mobile

Rough sketch of two ships under sail. Title inscribed below image. Possibly by William Waud. Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.2.458) Reference Print available in the Civil War Drawings file P. Forms pa... More

Combat memorable entre le Pearson et Paul Jones / Richard Paton pinxit...

Gunboats shelling the enemy at the battle of Malvern hill sketched fro...

U.S.S. Kineo and Hartford (on right), March 1863

Stereograph showing gunboats at dock at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Handwritten on verso: The cooling yard at Baton Rouge (Messrs. Hill & Markham), Miller, vol. 1, p. 233. Forms part of: Civil War Photograph Colle... More

U.S.S. Constitution towing the H.B.M. ship Cyane captured February 28t...

Print represents the American capture of a British ship during the War of 1812. Captain Charles Stewart engaged the Constitution against the British Cyane, under the command of Captain Gordon Falcon, off the Ma... More

U.S. steamer "Massasoit," in James River, 1864

Stereograph showing Union sailors on a pier in the foreground and the U.S. gunboat Massasoit nearby on the James River in Virginia. No. 2547. Part of series: The War for the Union. Photographic War History, 186... More

[Fifteen officers on deck of a Union monitor warship]

Title devised by library staff. Formerly identified as "the original Monitor" in Miller, Vol. 6, p. 165. Corrected information provided by researcher, 12/28/2009. Gift; Col. Godwin Ordway; 1948.

Battle of Port Hudson / J.O. Davidson ; Facsimile print by L. Prang & ...

Public domain photograph - historical image of Louisiana, United States, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Perry's victory / T. Birch. - A drawing of a ship in a harbor

Macdonough's victory on Lake Champlain and defeat of the British Army ...

Print shows the naval battle that ensued on Sept. 11, 1814, between American forces commanded by Thomas Macdonough and British forces commanded by Captain George Downie. The Americans emerged victorious and the... More

Naval heroes of the United States: no. 2 / lith. & pub. by N. Currier.

Print shows portraits of War of 1812 American naval officers Thomas MacDonough, Isaac Hull, Jacob Jones, Joshua Barney, Charles Stewart, and William Henry Allen surrounding a vignette of the battle of Lake Cham... More

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, 19th centu...

Picryl description: Public domain image, drawing, American, free to use, no copyright restrictions

Views on the Appomattox at Port Walthall

Title inscribed upper left. Inscribed upper right: I enclose a dup from one of the papers giving a description of the scene. Inscribed below title: The nearest point to Petersburg, approached by the Gun Boats t... More

Pontoon bridge over the James River above Ft. Powhatan

Signed lower right: A.R. Waud. Title inscribed lower left. Inscribed below title: put in more boats ad libitum; evening effect misty; Inscribed upper left Atlanta 3 ports on a side. Sunset; rebel ram Atlanta. G... More

The sea fight between Keppel and d'Orvilliers

Print shows a depiction of the naval engagement between the British fleet under Admiral Keppel and the French fleet under Count d'Orvilliers; framed with elaborate border. Engraved for Cowley's history of engl... More

Capture of H.B.M. Frigate Macedonian, Capt. J.S. Carden by the U.S. fr...

Print shows British frigate Macedonian, her masts and sails destroyed, being fired upon by the U.S. frigate United States during the War of 1812. 59P U.S. Copyright Office. Inscription: To Commadore Decatur, h... More

Battle between the Constitution and the Guerriere / painted by Alonzo ...

Print shows the Constitution and the wreckage of the HMS Guerriere, at sea in the aftermath of the battle between the two ships.

U.S. Sloop "Pensacola" - A black and white photo of a ship in the wate...

Photograph showing Civil War vessel in harbor, near dock. Public domain scan of 19th-century salted paper print artistic photograph, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Point of Rocks, Appomattox River (Andrew J. Russel)

Photograph showing the high rock cliff known as Point of Rocks projecting out into the channel of the Appomattox River.

[Ship deck with sailors and cannons]

Photograph possibly by George H. Houghton, photographer of other photographs in this album and fellow resident of Mead's in Brattleboro, Vermont. Houghton worked as a photographer at Camp Griffin and in the Tid... More

[Page from Harper's Weekly, June 29, 1861, including four prints and t...

Illus. in: Harper's weekly, v.5, no. 235 (1861 June 29), p. 413.

[Civil War envelope showing flotilla of gunboats engaged in battle on ...

Addressed to Miss Josie Paige, Nelson, N.H.; bears 3 cent stamp. Initialed A.L.M. Gift; Tom Liljenquist; 2010; (DLC/PP-2010:105). Forms part of: Liljenquist Family Collection of Civil War Photographs (Library ... More

The Meritanza i.e. Maratanza, as she appeared immediately after the ca...

Photograph shows Union gunboat Maritanza after capture of the Confederate ship Teaser on the James River, Richmond, Virginia. Brady's Album Gallery, no. 484. Gift; Tom Liljenquist; 2016; (DLC/PP-2016:144) Purc... More

The United States monitor "Neosho" engaging three Rebel batteries on t...

Published in: Harper's weekly, 1864. Public domain photograph of a navy ship, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Looking up Appomattox River, from Point of Rocks, December 1864

Photograph showing the channel of the Appomattox River from Point of Rocks.

Porter's fleet passing the dam at Alexandria

Print shows a dam constructed by Union troops to raise the water level to a depth that would enable Union ironclads to continue on the Red River at Alexandria, Louisiana. Illus. in: Harper's pictorial history ... More

Sr. George Bridges Rodney - [...] admiral of the Blue & [... Maje]sty'...

Print shows Sir George Brydges Rodney, half-length portrait, standing, facing left, wearing ornate uniform. After 1761 painting by Sir Joshua Reynolds. Published in: The American Revolution in drawings and pri... More

Naval heroes of the United States: no. 3 / lith. & pub. by N. Currier.

Print shows portraits of Revolutionary War American naval officers John Paul Jones, Alexander Murray, Richard Dale, John Barry Edward Preble, and Nicholas Biddle surrounding a vignette of the battle between the... More

Captain Gillespie and officers of flagship Philadelphia, Charleston Ha...

Stereograph showing group of Union officers posed next to a cannon in front of the wheel house on the deck of the U.S.S. Philadelphia. Part of the series, The War For The Union Photographic History. War Views. ... More

Vue de la ville de Savannah, du camp, des tranchées et de l'attaque Oc...

Photograph shows a bird's-eye view of Savannah from the French camp.

Kearsarce and Alabama / J.O. Davidson.

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of a ship, docks, navy, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

View from parapet, showing Federal Iron Class, taken by a Confederate ...

Photograph shows Federal Ironclads Weehawken, Montauk, and Passaic in combat, firing on Fort Sumter. No. 4383. This is the first known Civil War combat photo taken with the photographer actually under fire. (S... More

The Alabama (290) & the Brilliante, engraving, Library of Congress

Broadside view of steam frigate in foreground, broadside view of ship on fire in background. Signed lower right of image: G. Perkins. Title inscribed below image. Inscribed on mat : Ord. Div. No. 6035. A Lieute... More

Battle of Port Hudson / J.O. Davidson ; Facsimile print by L. Prang & ...

Picryl description: Public domain photograph of a ship, docks, navy, free to use, no copyright restrictions.

[Folly Island, S.C. (vicinity of Charleston). Beached remains of the B...

Photographs of the Federal Navy, and seaborne expeditions against the Atlantic Coast of the Confederacy -- the Federal Navy, 1861-1865.

U.S. Frigate "Pensacola," off Alexandria, Virginia

Stereograph showing a group of men at the shore with the U.S. steam frigate "Pensacola" in the distance on the Potomac River at Alexandria, Virginia in June, 1861. No. 103. Part of series: The War for the Unio... More

Pontoon bridge over the James River above Ft. Powhatan

Perry's victory on Lake Erie: fought Septr. 10th 1813

Print shows the American ships Lawrence and Niagara fighting British ships during the Battle of Lake Erie.

Where prisoners were exchanged - 19th century Virginia.

Stereograph showing three canal boats docked at the wharf where Union prisoners were exchanged for Confederate prisoners at Aiken's Landing, Virginia. The Union double-turreted monitor U.S.S. Onondaga is in the... More

Our Steamers passing sunken trees in the Pomonkey[sic] River, going up...

Title inscribed above image. Inscribed below image: Currituck Capt. W.F. Shunkerd[?]; Sethlow[?] tugboat. Inscribed in blue ink upper left: O.K., [with initials?]; and in pencil: 12. [Lumley?-on mat] Fomerly at... More

A perspective view of the loss of the U.S. frigate Philadelphia in whi...

Photograph shows Tripolitan gun boats firing on the U.S.S. Philadelphia and during the Tripolitan Wars, 1803. Original engraving by Charles Denoon not in LC collection, which has only a black-and-white reproduction.

Action between the Constitution and the Guerriere / Chapin ; Rogers.

Print shows HMS Guerriere without masts in the aftermath of battle with the USS Constitution.

Revenue cutter - Public domain document scan of drawing

Sketch of steamship. Title inscribed below image. Revenue Cutter Service was forerunner of Coast Guard. Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.2.47). Forms part of: Morgan collection of Civil War drawings.

Commodore Perry at the battle of Lake Erie. "Ready! All ready your hon...

Print shows Admiral Oliver Hazard Perry speaking to gunners aboard ship during the Battle of Lake Erie.

Discovery of a rebel battery & camp on Vernon River, Ga., by the U.S. ...

Photograph of drawing by William Crane, done in 1861.

L'armée françoise Mouillée auprès de l'Ance Molenieu dans l'isle de la...

Photograph shows French warships before the town of Saint George's on the island of Grenada and the disembarkation of French troops. Includes legend. Original wash drawings Available in the Ozanne map collecti... More

The U.S. frigate United States capturing H.B.M. frigate Macedonian: fo...

The United States was commanded by Stephen Decatur when it overtook Captain John S. Garden's Macedonian on October 28, 1812 near the Azores in the Atlantic. Decatur captured the Macedonian and brought it to Ne... More

Potomac Creek below Acquia Creek, in spring of 1862

Inscribed upper left: This will be useful if an engagement takes place here if you do not publish it now. Inscription identifying specific details: Supposed battery in the woods; portion of entrenchment; Windmi... More

The naval monument, containing official and other accounts of all the ...

Also available in digital form. Public domain photograph related to US navy, free to use, no copyright restrictions image - Picryl description

Antisubmarine warfare in World War II

[Coaling Admiral Farragut's fleet at Baton Rouge, Louisiana]

Photograph shows a group of men on a dock with ships in the background. Title devised by Library staff from information in Miller, v. 1, pg. 233. Gladstone's ownership logo appears on the back. Gladstone's inve... More

[Steam ship in storm, man overboard]

Man overboard lower right. Title devised. Rough sketches of three men on verso. Formerly Waud no. C-158. Gift, J.P. Morgan, 1919 (DLC/PP-1919:R1.2.1085) Forms part of: Morgan collection of Civil War drawings.

Rebel Ram Stonewall, Confederate States of America.

Stereograph showing the Confederate warship "Stonewall." No. 5. Part of series: Views in Washington, D.C. Copyright in 1867 by F. H. Bell. Forms part of: Civil War Photograph Collection (Library of Congress).

The great fight at Charleston S.C. April, 7th 1863: between 9 United S...

Currier & Ives : a catalogue raisonné / compiled by Gale Research. Detroit, MI : Gale Research, c1983, no. 2831

Pocohontus [sic] capturing blockade runner Antonia. Mobile

M'Donough's victy. on Lake Champlain / lith. & pub. by N. Currier.

Print shows an American warship between two British ships during the battle on Lake Champlain (Battle of Plattsburgh). Smoke from the battle is visible in the background. Legend on image: American guns 86, Ame... More

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