Near Coal Harbor, Va., June 12th 64
1864
Edwin Forbes captured a quiet, rustic corner of the American Civil War in this sketch, dated June 12, 1864. Although the inscription reads 'Coal Harbor,' it almost certainly refers to the infamous Battle of Cold Harbor in Virginia, occurring just as this was drawn. The scene depicts a weathered wooden structure—perhaps a requisitioned barn—with a charmingly detailed pair of birdhouses on tall poles to the left, offering a touch of domestic normalcy. Forbes, working as an artist-correspondent for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper, was famous for documenting the gritty, everyday reality of soldier life rather than just heroic battles, making this a poignant slice of history.
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