"A series of photographs is sent to officers in command of departments ... with a view to increase the efficiency ... of the public service ... whereby our own communications can be most readily preserved ... and those of the enemy most rapidly and effectually destroyed." Some photographs accompanied by mounted slips with descriptive letterpress

Contained in one manuscript box. Each photograph is kept in a separate folder with any duplicates or reprints. The bound text is stored in its own folder, as are the miscellaneous photographs.

Series I and II consist of photographs of bridges, roads, and other Union army engineering projects taken by Andrew J. Russell and a bound work by Herman Haupt describing these photographs. The photographs and their associated text description were compiled by Herman Haupt, "Brigadier General in Charge of United States Military Railroads," and published in 1863. 82 photographs originally accompanyed Haupt's text, of which Lehigh holds 60 unique photographs and several duplicates. Haupt's text includes descriptions of each photograph, which are pasted on the reverse side of many of the photographs. There is handwriting in two different hands on the front cover of the bound volume. The first handwritten section reads "Photographs were taken by Capt. A.J. Russell Chief of Photograph Corps. U.S. Military Railroads" and the second section reads "This handwriting is that of Herman Haupt with which I am familiar. Edward Haupt July 19/1928"

Series III consists of images from an unknown publication, many of which appear to be illustrations of scenes depicted in the photographs of Russell and Haupt. These images appear to have slight differences from the original photographs including changing the skin color of some individuals.