Edwin Forbes

American, 1839 – 1895

Edwin Austin Forbes was an American landscape painter and etcher who first gained fame during the American Civil War for his detailed and dramatic sketches of military subjects, including battlefield combat scenes.

Forbes was born in New York, studied under Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait, and began as an animal and landscape painter. During the Civil War, he was special artist for Frank Leslie's Magazine. Many of the spirited etchings he drew during the conflict were later presented by General Sherman to the government. They are now preserved in the War Office at Washington because of their historic value.

After the war, Forbes painted landscape and cattle scenes, among which are "Orange County Pasture" (1879) and "Evening—Sheep Pasture" (1881). In 1877 he was made an honorary member of the London Etching Club.

He died in 1895 in Brooklyn and is interred in Green-Wood Cemetery.

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A rainy day on picket

A rainy day on picket (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A rainy day. The army on the march

A rainy day. The army on the march (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A scene on the roadside near Summer Camp

A scene on the roadside near Summer Camp (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A scouting party

A scouting party (1862-1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A siesta

A siesta (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A stormy march–(Artillery)–Spotsylvania Court House

A stormy march–(Artillery)–Spotsylvania Court House (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A thirsty crowd Newspapers for the Army. The race for camp

A thirsty crowd Newspapers for the Army. The race for camp (1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A thirsty crowd

A thirsty crowd (1862-1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A tough customer. Army mule

A tough customer. Army mule (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A watched pot never boils

A watched pot never boils

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

A Yankee volunteer

A Yankee volunteer (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Acquia Creek landing. Depot of supplies for the Army of the Potomac

Acquia Creek landing. Depot of supplies for the Army of the Potomac (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

African American refugees coming into the Union lines near Culpeper Court House, Va.

African American refugees coming into the Union lines near Culpeper Court House, Va. (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

An advance of the cavalry skirmish line

An advance of the cavalry skirmish line (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

An army graveyard. Winter camp near Stoneman’s Switch, Falmouth, Va.

An army graveyard. Winter camp near Stoneman’s Switch, Falmouth, Va. (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

An army mule. September 28, 1863

An army mule. September 28, 1863 (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

An officer of infantry, U.S.V.

An officer of infantry, U.S.V. (1862-1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

An old soldier

An old soldier (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Attack on Gen. Sedwick’s Corps. Banks Ford near Chancellorsville, seen from the north bank of the Rappahannock River

Attack on Gen. Sedwick’s Corps. Banks Ford near Chancellorsville, seen from the north bank of the Rappahannock River (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Attack on the Union position at the Chancellorsville House

Attack on the Union position at the Chancellorsville House (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Ball of 2nd Corps–Washington’s birthday

Ball of 2nd Corps–Washington’s birthday (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Ball of the 5th Corps, 1st Div. (Gen. Bartlett). Near Beverly Ford, Va.

Ball of the 5th Corps, 1st Div. (Gen. Bartlett). Near Beverly Ford, Va. (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Battle of Bethesda Church

Battle of Bethesda Church (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Battle of the North Anna, from the hill above Jerico Ford showing Confederate lines, Union line, and road to Jerico Ford, Virginia

Battle of the North Anna, from the hill above Jerico Ford showing Confederate lines, Union line, and road to Jerico Ford, Virginia (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Battlefield of Chancellorsville

Battlefield of Chancellorsville (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Battlefield of Spotsylvania C.H. May 10th 64

Battlefield of Spotsylvania C.H. May 10th 64 (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Bealton Station, on the Orange and Alexandria R.R. Depot of supplies

Bealton Station, on the Orange and Alexandria R.R. Depot of supplies (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Beef for the army–on the march

Beef for the army–on the march (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Behind the breastworks at Cold Harbor awaiting an attack

Behind the breastworks at Cold Harbor awaiting an attack (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Brandy Station, on the Orange and Alexandria R.R. Light artillery going to the front

Brandy Station, on the Orange and Alexandria R.R. Light artillery going to the front (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

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