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Forbes, Edwin (1839-1895) The "Reliable Contraband"

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02199.23 Author/Creator: Forbes, Edwin (1839-1895) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Print Date: 1876 Pagination: 1 etching : b&w ; 46.9 x 59.6 cm. Order a Copy

Marked "Plate 23." A scene at the cavalry outpost. In the foreground a black runaway slave, a contraband of war, is leading an old horse and is seen hesitatingly imparting to anxious officers what little information he possesses of the enemy's movements. Cavalrymen and their horses are grouped about the house in the middle ground, and in the distance a look-out is sitting on his horse watching the road through the woods, in anticipation of the approach of the enemy. Actual size of the image without the margins is 27.4 x 40.5 cm. Outline from matting is faintly visible. Title and image information taken from the table of contents.

Created by Forbes, a member of the French Etching Club, while he travelled with the Union Army from 1862-1865. Born in New York City, Forbes became a Civil War reportorial artist for Leslie's Illustrated newspaper, joining the staff at age 22 in 1861.

Forbes, Edwin, 1839-1895

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