Image ID: 2AZP

National Gallery of Art says: Enslaved People at Volusia, Residence of Felix Richards.

Amy Bertsch, Office of Historic Alexandria says: A digital version of a photograph featuring African Americans with a washtub and iron is used in the historical interpretation of Freedmen’s Cemetery. The actual photograph and a second shot of the same subjects are part of a private collection. The albumen photos dating from the Civil War show two African-American women and seven small children outside. The women appear to be doing laundry, with baskets and tubs nearby and one of the women pressing clothes with an iron.

The first has handwritten details on the back reading, “Slaves at Volusia the Residence of Felix Richards at Volusia Va. near Alexandria” and the second has a handwritten caption of “Felix Richards’ Slaves” below the image.

The owner of the two laundry day images has four other photographs taken at or near Volusia. All have the same handwriting on the back, and all six have consistent lighting and similar landscape details, like tree stumps and barren tree branches.

One of them shows a small wooden structure which is described as “Lt Col Langley’s quarters NH 5th Vol at Volusia.” In 1863, Samuel Langley recalled that the Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers “encamped on the grounds of Felix Richards” from 2 December 1861 to 10 March 1862. During that time, Colonel Edward Cross, commander of the Fifth New Hampshire asked Amelia Richards allow her servant to “wash a few clothes” for him, offering to “cheerfully pay almost any price” for the service.

In her claim against the federal government, Amelia Richards confirms the presence of the Fifth New Hampshire at Volusia in 1862, stating, “Genl. Howard’s command occupied the East portion of Volusia for five months in 1862_& Col. Edward E. Cross, commanding 5th N.H. vol’s, contracted with my husband for the delivery to his regt. of three hundred cords of wood at $4.50 per cord.”

Based on the fact that the Fifth New Hampshire was at Volusia from late 1861 to early 1862, it is very likely the photo of Langley’s quarters and of Felix Richards’ slaves were taken during that time. The use of the word “slaves” to describe the subjects in the laundry day photo appears to be accurate. Slavery still existed in 1862 and according to property tax records, Felix Richards owned two slaves in 1862. He died in 1864 and slavery was abolished the following year.