"THE FIRST POPULAR HISTORY OF THE WAR FROM THE CONFEDERATE POINT OF VIEW": PRESENTATION COPY OF POLLARD'S FIRST YEAR OF THE WAR, 1863, INSCRIBED BY CONFEDERATE COLONEL JOHN MOSBY

(CIVIL WAR) (MOSBY, John S.) POLLARD, Edward A. The First Year of the War. New York: Charles B. Richardson, 1863. Octavo, modern half navy morocco, elaborately gilt-decorated spine, raised bands, gray morocco spine labels.

First New York edition, presentation copy, of Pollard's Confederate history, the first issued outside of Richmond and following the first edition by only a year, with the "supplementary chapter, tracing the progress and developments of the war" and the New York title page, with frontispiece portrait of Jefferson Davis and three full-page portraits, inscribed on the title page in pencil by Confederate colonel John Mosby: "—— ——- from Jno: Mosby," attractively bound.

As editor of the Richmond Examiner, Pollard had unique access to "a mass of authentic material which was not accessible to any other Southern writer" (Wright II:495), and "was the ablest and most prolific Southern writer of his day" (ANB). "His writings constantly emphasized the legitimacy of the Confederate nation and the righteousness of its cause… Pollard's love for the southern nation, however, did not extend to its chief executive. In his mind and in his books, the Confederacy had two enemies threatening to destroy it: the hated Yankees and the nearly as hated Jefferson Davis… Not surprisingly, Pollard's books provoked a great deal of controversy." Those sharing his disdain for Davis believed "First Year of the War was 'more convincing proof of Southern mettle and Southern freedom than any victory we have achieved" (Bernath, Confederate Minds, 186-7). This is "the first popular history of the war from the Confederate point of view" (Nevins II:175). With correct pagination of the 1863 first New York edition, which was issued with both the New York title page (here present) and "a reprint of the title-page of the Richmond edition" (here excised) (Sabin 63856). With New York publisher's rear leaf of advertisements. Howes P449. This copy is inscribed on the title page by Colonel John Mosby. Beginning as a soldier in the First Manassas, Mosby resigned his commission in April 1862, citing dislike of his new commanding officer, only to begin performing reconnaissance under J.E.B. Stuart. In late December Stuart directed Mosby and his small group of nine men, soon increased to 15, "to operate within Union lines in northern Virginia. From this original nucleus, the unit evolved into the 43rd Battalion of Virginia Cavalry or Mosby's Partisan Rangers. During a span of roughly 28 months, the 43rd Battalion was a matchless body of guerrillas, in turn becoming probably the most renowned combat unit of the Civil War… By the Civil War's conclusion, in April 1865, the Rangers stood unvanquished" (Wert, Mosby's Rangers, 11). "Mosby and his Rangers rode forth in raids against enemy supply lines, railroad and wagon trains, outposts, and detachments. The command provided Robert E. Lee with valuable intelligence information, seized hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of federal material, and captured thousands of enemy troops. Mosby never surrendered, disbanding the battalion on 21 April 1865, 12 days after Lee surrendered at Appomattox" (ANB).

Page 91 replaced with leaf from another copy, inner paper hinges repaired, light occasional foxing to interior, binding attractive.