The Arms & Equipment in the Civil War Message Board

Re: "Roadmaster's cars"
In Response To: "Roadmaster's cars" ()

L.K.:

When I first read your subject, I thought it referred to
railroad "cars"; however, after searching online I thought otherwise. The writer of the quote likens "roadmaster's cars" to that of a ambulatory (movable) "daguerrian establishments." An online search revealed that this phrase refers to French painter Louis J.M. Daguerre (1789-1851), who developed the "daguerreotype", a method of photography.

Sometime after Daguerre's development of his new method of photography, knowledge of it spread to America and soon there were numerous traveling daguerreotype or "daguerreian establishments." The term refers to the enclosed wagons in which the proprietor slept and developed portraits as he traveled around to cities and in the country taking views and portraits with his camera.

See the website:

http://www.daguerre.org/gallery/oakland/4ca.html

So I am "assuming" that the two Generals probably borrowed? the roadmaster's cars (enclosed wagons?), which provided their "quarters for the night" and the roadmasters (that were in charge of a road building crew?) had to find another place to sleep.

Hope this is helpful. I had fun doing the research and also learned something new. ....Joe Ashley

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"Roadmaster's cars"
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