Recollections of a Private Soldier in the Army of the Potomac.
NY: Putnam, 1887. First. Hard Cover. VG. / None. Item #523
The author served the 11th NY Battery. He was just 16 when he enlisted in 1863. Mistakenly, he was first confined with misfit bounty jumpers and captured deserters. They drew little sympathy from the rest of the army as evidenced by the shooting of several before the motley crew was shipped out to the field. Wilkeson fought at The Wilderness and then at Petersburg.
Nevins I-178: "...charming and refreshing...wit and sarcasm... Dornbusch I-NY-58.
There is an interesting chapter titled, "How Men Die in Battle" that is full of personal observations.
THIS COPY WAS OBVIOUSLY OWNED ONCE BY A UNION VETERAN WHO SHARED THE SAME EXPERIENCES AS THE AUTHOR. THERE ARE A FEW BRIEF PENCIL ANNOTATIONS AND A NOTE CLIPPED ONTO A PAGE IN THE TEXT. THIS MAN HAD A FASCINATION ABOUT GENERAL OFFICERS. PART OF THE NOTE DEALS WITH THE WOUNDING OF UNION GENERALS.THIS OWNER IS NOT IDENTIFIED.
Overall the book a very interesting read.
Price: $150.00