Behind the breastworks at Cold Harbor awaiting an attack

1864

Edwin Forbes sketched this deceptively calm Civil War encampment in 1864, capturing the eerie quiet just before the brutal Battle of Cold Harbor. Working as an artist-correspondent, he traveled right alongside the Union Army to document the mundane, human moments of soldier life—like troops lounging by a rustic log cabin or tending to horses—often just hours before chaos erupted. This gritty, realistic snapshot strips away the romanticized glory of war, leaving us with a haunting reminder of the deep breath soldiers took before the storm.

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