King Cotton , Yorktown, Va. (U.S. Civil War) Black Coffee Mug

King Cotton, Yorktown, Va. (U.S. Civil War) "King Cotton" is a painting by American artist Wycliffe Tornabene, created in 1862 during the U.S. Civil War. The artwork represents a cotton bale atop a wagon, surrounded by Union soldiers under siege in Yorktown, Virginia. The title reflects the profound economic influence of cotton on the Southern states and their desire to preserve the institution of slavery, which was a significant factor leading to the outbreak and continuation of the American Civil War. The painting serves as a visual commentary on the war's impact on everyday life, particularly the strategic importance of the South's chief cash crop.