Un sonnellino
1861-1876
Edwin Forbes skipped the heroic battle scenes to document the gritty reality of the American Civil War. Attached to the Army of the Potomac, he filled his sketchbook with the quiet moments between fights. Here, we see a chaotic camp: soldiers napping by a cannon in 'A Siesta,' a man frying 'Beef Steaks, Rare!' over a fire, and a cavalryman 'Taking it easy' while his horse grazes. He even sketches a 'Bucktail' soldier, sporting the distinctive deer-tail hat of the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves. It’s a refreshing, humanizing look at history, reminding us that soldiers were just guys trying to get a decent meal and a quick nap.
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