A visual diversion
If you look down to the lower left corner you see that there is this black strip of paint. It doesn't go with the natural layout of the painting ? As a matter of fact you can see where the painting continued in its natural form under the black. The black also ends abruptly. I believe this is an intentional distraction, its meant to draw a viewer to it if that viewer was suspicious of the painting. There is nothing under it, no words, numbers or symbols but someone might believe there is ?
Sarah also included elements of her skills that were consistent with where she was artistically at that period in her life. Information on her states that after 1860 she was doing still life in natural settings including elements of nature. The first box (L to R) is of a bird, the second box is of a black dog and the third box (believe it or not) is of her mule. You can enlarge the picture and have a look. There is also a hedgehog right above the box of her mule. Other birds are in the painting too. A beautiful and crazy painting...
Some final notes:
i believe that General Quinby might have used amber colored glasses to view this along with a magnifying glass. Amber colored glasses were prevalent during the Civil War called 'sharpshooter' glasses but he might have had a more formal pair. He was from Rochester, NY and Bausch and Lomb (started 1853), who created these glasses were in business in Rochester, NY. The amber glasses would have made the message a little more clearer.
Sarah Peale was 100% a union sympathizer, not just a sympathizer but an active precipitant for the Union cause.
This is not in the painting but a personnel vision: I believe Sarah wore a blue union overcoat and a model 1858 Hardee hat in union style that had a gold eagle emblem/ black background patch on it signifying officer status. She would wear this when she would go to the headquarters and talk to the generals. She was a member of the upper most distinguished class of that era and would carry the status of an officer (similar to a lieutenant) and even though she was not officially one, she would have been treated like one.
The next coming soon section will be The Letter of John Kent ---- I guarantee Civil War Historians will want to read it...KSC