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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In the woods at Chancellorsville–Bivouac at night

In the woods at Chancellorsville–Bivouac at night (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Infantryman on guard

Infantryman on guard (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Infantryman on guard–Culpeper Court House, Va.

Infantryman on guard–Culpeper Court House, Va. (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Infantryman

Infantryman (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Jerico Mill, pontoons, etc

Jerico Mill, pontoons, etc (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Just from Chancellorsville. An amateur quartermaster

Just from Chancellorsville. An amateur quartermaster (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Kelly’s Ford – Stonemans raid, April 21st 1863

Kelly’s Ford – Stonemans raid, April 21st 1863 (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Kelly’s Ford on the Rappahannock River

Kelly’s Ford on the Rappahannock River (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Kilpatrick’s raid to Richmond

Kilpatrick’s raid to Richmond (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Kitty. Edwin Forbe’s mare that he rode from 1862-1865

Kitty. Edwin Forbe’s mare that he rode from 1862-1865 (1865-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Knapp’s Pennsylvania battery in action, at Cedar Mountain

Knapp’s Pennsylvania battery in action, at Cedar Mountain (1862)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Light 12 pdr. Napoleon gun, brass, Rappahannock

Light 12 pdr. Napoleon gun, brass, Rappahannock (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

March of Gen. N.P. Bank’s Corps, crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains through Chester Gap

March of Gen. N.P. Bank’s Corps, crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains through Chester Gap (1862)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

March of Genl. Fremont’s army through the woods in pursuit of Jackson

March of Genl. Fremont’s army through the woods in pursuit of Jackson (1862)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Massanutten Mountain, near Strasburg, Va., looking S.W.

Massanutten Mountain, near Strasburg, Va., looking S.W. (1862)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Mountain Run near Culpepper Court House, Apr. 1, 1864

Mountain Run near Culpepper Court House, Apr. 1, 1864 (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Mountain Run near Culpepper, Va. Apr. 21, 1864

Mountain Run near Culpepper, Va. Apr. 21, 1864 (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Music stand, 2nd Corps, ball

Music stand, 2nd Corps, ball (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

My studio

My studio (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Near Coal Harbor, Va., June 12th 64

Near Coal Harbor, Va., June 12th 64 (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

News from home

News from home (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

News from the front

News from the front (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Newsboys passing the picket post on way to camp

Newsboys passing the picket post on way to camp (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Newspapers in camp

Newspapers in camp (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Occupation of Fredericksburg. General McDowell’s corps crossing the Rappahannock River on pontoon bridge…

Occupation of Fredericksburg. General McDowell’s corps crossing the Rappahannock River on pontoon bridge… (1862)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Off duty

Off duty (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Officers and soldiers on the battlefield of the second Bull Run, recognizing the remains of their comrades

Officers and soldiers on the battlefield of the second Bull Run, recognizing the remains of their comrades (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Officers’ winter quarters

Officers’ winter quarters (1861-1876)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Old bridge near Culpepper

Old bridge near Culpepper (1863)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

Old house on the battlefield of Spottsylvania

Old house on the battlefield of Spottsylvania (1864)

Edwin Forbes (American, 1839 – 1895)

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