Elijah Edwards served in many roles throughout his life, including professor, artist, and clergyman. From 1864-1865, he was chaplain for the Seventh Minnesota Infantry Regiment. He kept detailed journals of camp life, battles, people and locations. Included in his journals were several sketches of his surroundings and the men he served with. This painting by Edwards, "Union Soldier's Camp," may be one those sketches, which he completed after the war was over. The exact date of the painting is unknown.