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THE REVEILLE ON THE LINE OF BATTLE & TATTOO IN CAMP

LIFE STUDIES OF THE GREAT ARMY, BY EDWIN FORBES “A Historical Work of Art, in Copper-Plate Etching, illustrating the Life of the Union Armies during the years 1862-‘3-‘4-‘5.” .

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THE REVEILLE ON THE LINE OF BATTLE & TATTOO IN CAMP

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  1. LIFE STUDIES OF THE GREAT ARMY,BY EDWIN FORBES “A Historical Work of Art, in Copper-Plate Etching, illustrating the Life of the Union Armies during the years 1862-‘3-‘4-‘5.” Edwin Forbes (1839-1895) was a classically trained “special artist” (and probably the best artist-correspondent of the war) for Frank Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper, spending two and a half years with the Army of the Potomac, covering great battles from the Shenandoah Campaign, through Second Bull Run, Antietam, Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, the Wilderness, Early’s Raid on Washington, and to the Siege of Petersburg. But daily camp life and incidents in the field were his favorite subjects to draw, and comprised the vast majority of his work. Forbes left the army and returned to his native New York in the autumn of 1964, reclaimed his original sketches from his employer --- fewer than half of which were reproduced by Leslie, who liked action scenes best --- and began work on his greatest artistic achievement. Between 1865 and 1868 Forbes completed drawings of forty scenes based on his wartime sketches, which were then transferred into a series of copper-place etchings, Life Studies of the Great Army. Exhibited to critical acclaim at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876, Life Studies won Forbes an award from the Exhibition, as well as honors from Great Britain and France, and “was a major achievement that represented a notable step forward in establishing etching as a fine art in the United States” (William J. Cooper, Jr.). In an effort to make the sketches a financial success as well, Forbes published a catalog that contained plugs from leading war figures, including President Ulysses S. Grant (to whom he had sent editions of the portfolio) and General William T. Sherman (who had bought the original portfolio to decorate his office). We offer, from an undated edition (“Issued under the Authority, Inspection and Signature of Mrs. Edwin Forbes”.) of the portfolio, twenty-two of the etchings from Life Studies of the Great Army. Each plate (some with multiple images) is 16” x 11” sight and 17” x 12” overall, is matted in cardboard with linen finish (23 ½ “ x 19”), is signed in the lower left border by “Mrs. Edwin Forbes”, and is in excellent condition. The following descriptions of each available plate are from the original cover index (18 ¾ “ x 24”) that accompanied the portfolio. Please email the shop if you would like a larger view of any of these prints, have a question or would like to order a print.

  2. THE REVEILLE ON THE LINE OF BATTLE & TATTOO IN CAMP The Reveille Print represents the line of battle at daylight. The regimental bugler stands on the crest of the hill playing the reveille to arouse the troops, who are lying on the ground wrapped in their blankets. In the middle distance a battery is seen to position with ‘caissons’ and ‘limbers’ to the rear.” The Tattoo Print is a moonlight scene. The regimental drum-corps is beating ‘tattoo’, the signal for the men to retire to their tents. ‘Taps’, the signal for ‘lights out’ follows half an hour later. $125.00

  3. THROUGH THE WILDERNESS A battery of artillery dragged through the mud during a spring rain-storm. $125.00

  4. WINTER CAMP Featuring three images: A Wagoner’s Shanty The Deserted Picket Hut, and Mud Huts. $125.00

  5. THE PONTOON BRIDGES The army crossing a river and closing up in column on the hill, while the advance is pushing into the woods, which have caught fire from exploded cartridges. $125.00

  6. A THIRSTY CROWD AT THE OLD SPRING HOUSE & A RACE FOR CAMP A Thirsty Crowd is a scene on the line of march during a hot day.A Race For Camp features newsboys passing the picket station while on the road to camp with the latest news. $125.00

  7. THE LEADER OF THE HERD Cattle for army use led by a Zouve butcher. Across the road, under the pine trees, can be seen the graves of two Union soldiers, who have been killed in a roadside skirmish. $125.00

  8. A RAINY DAY ON PICKET &WASHING DAY A Rainy Day on Picket, an infantry-man sheltered behind a pine tree, with his rifle under his arm to protect it from the rain. Washing Day A soldier with his latest wash hung out to dry on the barrel of his rifle. In the distance the column is seen on the march. [An iconic image of the Civil War soldier!]. $125.00

  9. A SLAVE CABIN; THE OLD GRIST MILL; ’GOT ANY PIES FOR SALE, AUNTY?’ A party straggling from the line of march in search of luxuries of the season. $125.00

  10. OFFICERS WINTER QUARTERS Waiting for dinner after dress parade, in the doorway the sergeant of the guard is seen reporting to the officer of the day. $125.00

  11. A HALT IN LINE OF BATTLE The line, having advance and driven the enemy, whose dead are lying in front, is ‘dressing up’ while a reinforcing column can be seen coming over the hill in the distance. Shells from the enemy’s batteries are bursting in the air. $125.00

  12. STUCK IN THE MUD & A FLANK MARCH ACROSS COUNTRY DURING A THUNDER SHOWER A pontoon wagon with boat fast in a slough. A regiment of infantry is pulling on a rope attached to head of the team, trying to drag them to firmer ground. $125.00

  13. GOING INTO CAMP AT NIGHT The fields on all sides are covered with troops who are engaged in cooking supper, the column in the road marching on and disappearing over the hill in the distance. $125.00

  14. ON PICKET AT THE RIVER BANK, AN OLD SAW MILL & WAITING FOR SOMETHING TO TURN UP A scene behind the breastworks during a lull in the battle. The troops defending this position on the line are sleeping under their shelter-tents or lounging under the shade of the trees and house. In a tree, beyond the house, a lookout is posted to give warning of the advance of the enemy. $125.00

  15. A DISTANT BATTLE Seen at a distance of about six miles. In the foreground is an abandoned breastwork; and on the road to the left a column of troops is seen hurrying toward the sound of distant cannon. $125.00

  16. A CAVALRY CHARGE An advance against the enemy’s guns, which are posted on the hill. The enemy’s line has met the charge, and is trying to save the guns which are hurrying to the rear. [One of the few battle scenes in the series, and the most dramatic!]. $125.00

  17. A HOT DAY, BEEF STEAK RARE, A STRAGGLER, A QUIET NIBBLE ON THE CAVALRY SKIRMISH LINES, A CAVALRY ORDERLY WAITING ORDERS A HOT DAY Soldiers grouped about a gun in position, and sleeping under a shelter.STRAGGLER Always sick when a fight is expected. $125.00

  18. A WATCHED POT NEVER BOILS, A HEARTY SUPPER ON THE BATTLE FIELD, DRUMMER BOYS & PLAYED OUT A Watched Pot Never Boils features The Captains CookDrummer Boys have been halted on the road Played Out illustrates two foot-sore and used-up soldiers have dropped out of the column and fallen asleep at the foot of a tree, while rear of the detachment is seen disappearing up the road. $125.00

  19. THE SUPPLY TRAIN ’Hard tack and salt horse’ for the army. $125.00

  20. ’GONE WITH THE YANKS’, A LAND FLOWING WITH MILK AND HONEY, A SCOUTING PARTY & AN OLD CAMPAIGNER $125.00

  21. THE OUTER PICKET LINE, WINTER A general view overlooking the enemy’s country. $125.00

  22. TRAFFIC BETWEEN THE LINES Pickets trading for coffee and tobacco between the fortified lines during a truce. The enemy’s works (protected by abattis and cheveaux-de-frise) are seen in the background, with groups of soldiers on the parapet. SOLD

  23. FORDING A RIVER & TWENTY MINUTES HALT Fording A River features infantry are wading the stream at the ford, with a line of cavalry posted below to catch any unlucky soldier who may be carried away by the force of the current.Twenty Minutes Halt illustrates A column of troops, while on the march, have been halted for rest, and are lying about under the trees and in the road. $125.00

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