Cavalier escorte, Culpeper
1863
Edwin Forbes captured this weary cavalryman on September 19, 1863, in Culpeper, Virginia, during the American Civil War. The soldier stands with a relaxed but ready posture, sporting a wide-brimmed hat, a buttoned tunic, and a pistol holstered at his hip, while his horse peers over his shoulder. As an official artist for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, Forbes focused on the gritty, everyday reality of camp life rather than just the chaos of battle. This quick, on-the-spot sketch offers a raw and intimate glimpse into the daily existence of a Union soldier.
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