The colors of war: Images from conflicts of the 1800s leap to life after being colorized for the first time

  • One image shows President Abraham Lincoln meeting with General George B McClellan during the Civil War 
  • McClellan, known for his cautious military tactics, was relieved of his duties by Lincoln the Battle of Antietam 
  • Other photos show a group of soldiers from the British 71st Highland Regiment assisting in the Crimean War 
  • They are the work of photographer, Mario Unger, from Rotenturm, Austria, who carefully retouched the snaps 

By Kelly Mclaughlin For Mailonline

Published: 12:35 GMT, 8 December 2017 | Updated: 21:03 GMT, 8 December 2017

Fascinating colorized photographs from the 1800s reveal the lives of soldiers during two of the century’s great wars in the United States and Europe.

One image reveals President Abraham Lincoln meeting with Unionist General George B McClellan after the Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War.

McClellan, known for his cautious military tactics, was relieved of his duties by Lincoln shortly after the battle after allowing General Robert E Lee's army to retreat into Virginia despite unknowingly having the confederates significantly outnumbered.

Other photos show a group of soldiers from the British 71st Highland Regiment assisting in the Crimean War in 1856, seeing action in the year-long Siege of Sevastopol, one of the final episodes in the conflict.

They are the work of photographer, Mario Unger, from Rotenturm, Austria, who carefully retouched the snaps, bringing them into the 21st century.

The striking images are featured in British author Michael D. Carroll's new book, Retrographic on the colourisation of historical images.

One image reveals President Abraham Lincoln meeting with Unionist General George B McClellan after the Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War
McClellan, known for his cautious military tactics, was relieved of his duties by Lincoln shortly after the battle after allowing General Robert E Lee's army to retreat into Virginia despite unknowingly having the confederates significantly outnumbered
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One image reveals President Abraham Lincoln meeting with Unionist General George B McClellan after the Battle of Antietam during the American Civil War. McClellan, known for his cautious military tactics, was relieved of his duties by Lincoln shortly after the battle after allowing General Robert E Lee's army to retreat into Virginia despite unknowingly having the confederates significantly outnumbered

Capt Henry Page, assistant quartermaster, is pictured above at the Army of Potomac headquarters in Bealeton, Virginia, with a horse in August 1963
Following Lee's retreat from Gettysburg at that time, the Union Army of the Potomac, along with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, established a lines at Virginia's Rappahannock River
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Capt Henry Page, assistant quartermaster, is pictured above at the Army of Potomac headquarters in Bealeton, Virginia, with a horse in August 1963. Following Lee's retreat from Gettysburg at that time, the Union Army of the Potomac, along with the Confederate Army of Northern Virginia, established a lines at Virginia's Rappahannock River

Military member Joseph Dorem is pictured during the American Civil War
The Civil War remains the bloodiest war in US history. Fought between 1861 and 1865, it claimed 620,000 lives - nearly as many American casualties as every other war fought by the United States combined

Military member Joseph Dorem is pictured during the American Civil War. The Civil War remains the bloodiest war in US history. Fought between 1861 and 1865, it claimed 620,000 lives - nearly as many American casualties as every other war fought by the United States combined

Officers of 3rd and 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry gather for drinks at a camp in Westover Landing, Virginia, during the Civil War. The Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiments were in part of the Union Army
The groups were sent to Camp Park outside Washington, DC, for training ahead of combat. They served in the Army of the Potomac
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Officers of 3rd and 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry gather for drinks at a camp in Westover Landing, Virginia, during the Civil War. The Pennsylvania Cavalry Regiments were in part of the Union Army. The groups were sent to Camp Park outside Washington, DC, for training ahead of combat. They served in the Army of the Potomac

John L Burns, a veteran of the War of 1812, joined the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg as a 69-year-old civilian combatant
During the infamous Civil War battle, Burns was injured, but survived. He later seen as a national hero for his actions
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John L Burns, a veteran of the War of 1812, joined the Union Army at the Battle of Gettysburg as a 69-year-old civilian combatant. During the infamous Civil War battle, Burns was injured, but survived. He later seen as a national hero for his actions

General Richard Oglesby, pictured in 1862, served in the US ARmy during the Mexican-American War, and later volunteered in the Union army during the Civil War
He rose through the ranks and became a major general and was present at the Peterson House when President Abraham Lincoln died. He later joined politics and became a US senator

General Richard Oglesby, pictured in 1862, served in the US ARmy during the Mexican-American War, and later volunteered in the Union army during the Civil War. He rose through the ranks and became a major general and was present at the Peterson House when President Abraham Lincoln died. He later joined politics and became a US senator

Members of the 71st Highlanders are pictured during the Crimean War in 1856. The group saw action in the year-long Siege of Sevastopol, one of the final episodes in the conflict. The Crimean War was a military conflict fought between October 1853 and March 1856
The Crimean War was a military conflict fought between October 1853 and March 1856
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Members of the 71st Highlanders are pictured during the Crimean War in 1856. The group saw action in the year-long Siege of Sevastopol, one of the final episodes in the conflict. The Crimean War was a military conflict fought between October 1853 and March 1856

British photographer Roger Fenton, pictured above, landed in Balaklava in 1855 and was there for a little over three months to document the Crimean War
Fenton took photos of the Crimean War including this of the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death' on the Black Sea. He landed in 1855 and his photos were the among the first the public had of war scenes
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British photographer Roger Fenton, pictured above, landed in Balaklava in 1855 and was there for a little over three months to document the Crimean War. Fenton took photos of the Crimean War including this of the 'Valley of the Shadow of Death' on the Black Sea. He landed in 1855 and his photos were the among the first the public had of war scenes

Fenton's assistant, Marcus Sparling, is seen above with his photographic wagon during the Crimean War in 1855
Because of photographic technology at the time, Fenton was only able to produce photos of stationary objects and posed photos. He avoided taking photos of dead and injured soldiers, and instead focused on landscapes and groups of soldiers
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Fenton's assistant, Marcus Sparling, is seen above with his photographic wagon during the Crimean War in 1855. Because of photographic technology at the time, Fenton was only able to produce photos of stationary objects and posed photos. He avoided taking photos of dead and injured soldiers, and instead focused on landscapes and groups of soldiers

 

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