David Hunter Strother
David Hunter Strother was an influential American illustrator, writer, and Civil War figure, born on September 26, 1816, in Martinsburg, West Virginia. He began his artistic training in drawing at a young age, studying under notable artists in Philadelphia and New York before spending five years in Europe, where he honed his skills in Rome. Returning to the U.S., Strother adopted the pseudonym "Porte Crayon" and gained recognition for his illustrated writings in Harper's Weekly, where he became a prominent contributor. During the Civil War, he served as a Unionist brigadier-general and worked as a correspondent, providing accounts of significant events, including John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry. While Strother opposed secession, he also held complex views on slavery, as some family members were slaveholders, which influenced his writings. His perspectives often reflected the racial attitudes of his time, which sparked criticism from both Northern and Southern audiences. Strother's legacy includes his contributions to literature and illustration, alongside his military service and wartime journalism.
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David Hunter Strother
Illustrator
- Born: September 26, 1816
- Birthplace: Martinsburg, West Virginia
- Died: March 8, 1888
- Place of death: West Virginia
Biography
David Hunter Strother was born in Martinsburg, West Virginia, on September 26, 1816. His parents were Colonel John Strother and Elizabeth Pendleton (Hunter) Strother. In 1829, David began studying drawing in Philadelphia under the tutelage of Pietro Aneora and later studied with Samuel F. B. Norse in New York. He began traveling across the United States in 1838, and in 1840, he left for Europe, where he remained for five years. While in Europe, he studied for two years (1842-1844) in Rome, Italy. Strother returned to the United States and settled in New York, where he studied with John G. Chapman and learned the art of wood engraving. In 1848, he returned to West Virginia.
Four years after returning home, he began to publish under the name Porte Crayon, a name he adopted because his writing was accompanied by clever illustrations. Much of his work was published in Harper’s, and he soon became well known across the United States.
During the Civil War, Strother was a Unionist, and he eventually rose to the rank of brigadier-general. He was appointed adjutant-general on McClellan’s staff, and he served on General Pope’s staff during the Virginia campaign. During the war, Strother was a correspondent for Harper’s. Although he was against secession, he was opposed to the abolition of slavery, and some members of his family were slaveholders.
Strother happened to be in Charles Town during John Brown’s raid on Harper’s Ferry. Harper’s immediately sent Strother to cover the story, and he wrote a series of eyewitness accounts of the events surrounding the raid. After the capture of John Brown and his men, Strother was allowed to attend the interviews with the captives because he was related to the special prosecutor at their trial. Strother’s account of the trial and his characterization of Brown as an outlaw was meant to allay the fears of Southern slave owners, who were terrified of a slave uprising. His description of slaves and former slaves, who he claimed to have interviewed, was blatantly racist. He depicted them as too frightened to join Brown and in need of the protection afforded by their owners. Strother’s articles and drawings eventually drew criticism from Northern and Southern subscribers to the magazine, and Harper’s Weekly refused to print his final account of Brown’s execution.
In 1866-1868, Strother published a series in Harper’s entitled “Personal Recollections of the War, by a Virginian,” based on the journal he kept during his war years. Some of his writing and illustrations were compiled into two books, The Blackwater Chronicle, published in 1853, and Virginia Illustrated, published in 1857. However, Strother’s real fame stemmed from his frequent contributions to Harper’s.