A Civil War era steel engraving, 14 x 6 in., presented in a 20 x 11.5 in. black and gold frame. Titled ‘Government Buildings For ‘Contrabands’ Erected At Hilton Head, S.C., In 1862. From A Sketch By Our Special Artist, W.T. Crane’, this engraving shows ‘contrabands’ - former slaves - who escaped to Union lines as they work on various tasks such as laundry and cutting wood under the guard of several Union Soldiers. William T. Crane worked as a ‘special artist’ for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper throughout the war, a notable publication that depicted American life from 1855-1922. 244 drawings of Crane’s appeared in the paper. By 1861, the Union decided that these men and women would no longer be returned to their previous owners but would be considered ‘contraband of war’, and used many to work as laborers for the war effort. Beneath the title is a brief description, in part: ‘...What was to be done with the contrabands? The Government...gave orders to receive them, as a mere question of humanity...At Hilton Head they were employed to build fortifications...after careful drilling made very efficient soldiers. Their numbers became so large that it necessitated the erection of new buildings for their accommodation...’ Fine condition.