A breakdown in the wagoner’s camp
1863
Edwin Forbes captured a rare moment of joy amidst the grim reality of the Civil War in this lively 1863 sketch. Under the shade of a sprawling tree, two men dance energetically to the tune of a fiddle played by a seated soldier, while a crowd of weary wagoners and soldiers look on with pipes in hand. Forbes, an official artist for the Union Army, was famous for sketching these candid, unposed scenes of daily camp life right on the battlefield. It’s a fascinating glimpse into how music and dance provided a crucial escape from the horrors of war, freezing a fleeting moment of humanity in graphite.