John Esten Cooke, The Life of Stonewall Jackson from the Official Papers…, 1st ed., 2 vols

Description

Cooke was an officer on General JEB Stuart’s staff and saw the war and its participants from a unique vantage point, the book is based on personal observations, official papers, and contemporary narratives. 

“‘Composed in bivouac’ by an unconcealing admirer” — Nevins II, p.47.

Added to Volume I: Clipped laid-in Manuscript Endorsement, signed “T. J. Jackson / Mj. Genl.” of “Hdq. Q. 2d Army Corps / Febry 9 1863 / Res. Approved” with “W(alter) H. Taylor A. A. Genl.” signed endorsement on verso; plus 44 portraits, scenes and maps.   Jackson was then in winter camp at Moss Neck plantation near Front Royal, Virginia – a mere 7 miles from the Garrett Farm where Booth later met his end.  The plantation house, owned by James Parke Corbin, was offered to Jackson, who declined and lived in a tent on the lawn.  He did accept the use of an outbuilding as an office, and it seems likely that he made this signature in that little house. Both Cooke’s memoir and Bud Robertson’s bio include many stories that occurred in that office building.

 Added to Volume II:  Large, laid-in “R. E. Lee” signature (probably from an autograph album), plus an unmounted albumen cdv of Jackson, and 35 portraits, scenes (one double-paged), and maps.

Cooke, John Esten. THE LIFE OF STONEWALL JACKSON FROM OFFICIAL PAPERS, CONTEMPORARY NARRATIVE, AND PERSONAL ACQUAINTANCE. By a Virginian. New York: Charles B. Richardson, 1863. 2 vols.; 363pp.; frontis portrait in each volume; bound in full gray Morocco w/ gilt-decorated borders and spines; black calf labels; raised bands; a.e.g.  First Union edition “reprinted from advance sheets of the Richmond edition.”  [Howes C-734]