"THERE STANDS JACKSON LIKE A STONE WALL!": FIRST EDITION OF THE LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON, 1863, RICHMOND PRINTING, EXCEEDINGLY RARE IN ORIGINAL WRAPPERS WITH PORTRAIT OF GENERAL JACKSON

(JACKSON, Stonewall) [COOKE, John]. The Life of Stonewall Jackson. From Official Papers, Contemporary Narratives, and Personal Acquaintance. By a Virginian. Richmond: Ayres & Wade, 1863. Octavo, original pictorial paper wrappers. Housed in a folding cardboard portfolio.

First edition, the important Civil War printing published in Richmond, of Cooke's biography of General Stonewall Jackson—"the most famous nickname in the Civil War"—issued only months after Jackson's death. An exceptional copy in the rare original wrappers with the commanding image of General Jackson on the front wrapper along with his frontispiece portrait.

This wartime biography of Thomas Jonathan "Stonewall" Jackson was published in Richmond within months of his death in 1863. "The most famous nickname in the Civil War came to the general… in the first major battle of the war (First Manassas)." There General Barnard Bee sought to rally his troops by "pointing to the top of a hill that was the key to the battlefield. Bee shouted something to the effect of: 'Look, men! There stands Jackson like a stone wall! Rally behind the Virginians!' Jackson's subsequent attack helped turn the tide and bring victory to the Confederates as well as fame and the sobriquet of 'Stonewall' to himself." But in 1863 after leading his army in "a devastating flank attack" on the Federals, Jackson died on May 10 from complications caused by amputation of his wounded left arm (ANB). John Cooke, who "as an officer on General Jeb Stuart's staff… saw the war from a special vantage point," authored this important early biography (In Tall Cotton 27). Cooke notes within that on learning of Jackson's death, "General Lee, who knew his incomparable value more than all other men, exclaimed with tears in his eye, 'He is better off than I am. He lost his left arm, but I have lost my right!" (271). Lithographic frontispiece portrait after a photograph by D.T. Cowell. With publisher's advertisement on rear wrapper; three rear leaves of advertisements. BAL 3718. Harwell 23. Dornbusch II:2820. Howes C734. Parish & Willingham 4779. Wright J51. Nicholson, 165. Seagrave, 246. See Sabin 100578; Nevins II:47; Broadfoot, 104. Small numerical notation above front wrapper. Trace of small bookplate removal to preliminary blank.

Interior generally fresh with light scattered foxing, occasional dampstaining, mild soiling tand expert restoration to rare original wrappers.