Forbes, Edwin (1839-1895) A Watched Pot Never Boils
High-resolution images are available to schools and libraries via subscription to American History, 1493-1943. Check to see if your school or library already has a subscription. Or click here for more information. You may also order a pdf of the image from us here.
Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC02199.29 Author/Creator: Forbes, Edwin (1839-1895) Place Written: New York, New York Type: Print Date: 1876 Pagination: 1 etching : b&w ; 46.9 x 59.4 cm. Order a Copy
Marked "Plate 29." Contains 4 images. Upper left is titled "A Watched Pot Never Boils," and shows a black soldier sleeping next to a coffeepot that had been sitting on a fire and that is now knocked over. Upper right image is titled "A Hearty Supper on the Battle Field," shows five men sitting around a campfire, which has a pot boiling over it, at night. Bottom left image is titled "Drummer Boys," and shows 3 drummer boys resting during a march. Bottom right image is titled "Played Out" and shows 2 foot-sore and used-up soldiers who have dropped out of the column and fallen asleep at the foot of a tree, while the rear of the detachment is seen disappearing up the road. Actual size of the image without the margins is 27.7 x 40.2 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.
Citation Guidelines for Online Resources
The copyright law of the United States (title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specific conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be “used for any purpose other than private study, scholarship, or research.” If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of “fair use,” that user may be liable for copyright infringement. This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgment, fulfillment of the order would involve violation of copyright law.