Battlefield sketch artists worked quickly

A Civil War sketch artist sat on a stool, or stood silently at a spot where he could observe the battle. His hands worked feverishly, trying to capture moments in history with pencil sketches. He was dressed as a civilian, and hoped no one would take him for a soldier—and shoot in his direction. His purpose was to give an accurate description of Civil War conflicts for such publications as Harper's Weekly. As a Civil War re-enactor, Doug Laman, of rural Pineville, Mo., portrays a Harper's Weekly special correspondent and sketch artist. • Article