Henry T. Johns, Life With the Forty-Ninth Massachusetts Volunteers, 1st Ed

Description

Henry T. Johns wrote Life With the Forty-Ninth Massachusetts Volunteers after returning from his nine-month enlistment, producing a scarce war-dated chronicle of the Civil War in Louisiana.

The 49th Massachusetts was a regiment that served in Louisiana, and their one big campaign was for Port Hudson. The author of this unit history was greatly interested in the African Americans the regiment encountered and described individual freed people and larger gatherings such as religious meetings. Johns is an unusual Union observer, as he boldly advocates social equality.

The regiment was commanded by the remarkable William F. Bartlett, who is pictured on the frontispiece. Bartlett, twenty-one years old in 1861, served in the 20th Massachusetts before taking command of the 49th. He later commanded the 57th Massachusetts, before receiving command of a brigade and a division. Bartlett was wounded at Port Hudson, and then wounded and captured at the Battle of the Crater.

Rebound in cloth with gilt spine label; light foxing throughout; else very good.

Johns, Henry T. Life With the Forty-Ninth Massachusetts Volunteers. Pittsfield, MA: C. A. Alvord, 1864. 1st edition, 391p., Frontispiece, illustrated, (Dornbusch-375).