MEMOIRS OF THE CONFEDERATE WAR FOR INDEPENDENCE by von Borcke, Heros - 1867

Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott & Co, 1867. Hard Cover. Good binding. 12mo. x, 438 pp., folding map. First American edition. Early rebinding in cloth with the title from the original spine laid down. Binding is generally worn and soiled; map is present in the rear but has many splits and early tape repairs to the backside; contents are generally toned and sporatically foxed with spotting; a few instances of marginalia or underlining. Contemporary owner name of "J. F.(?) Ramage / April 21st 1870" on the first blank. Also, on the front free endpaper, is the signature and stamp of Eppa Hunton IV, grandson of the Confederate generals Eppa Hunton and Wm H. Payne. Hunton IV relates a bit about Payne's and von Borcke's association: "[Payne] & von Borcke were warm friends. He visited him in Germany where they had a glorious time together. I understand a Confederate flag flew over the von Borcke place until his death." A nice association from a descendant of von Borcke's friend.

All in all, a reasonable copy of an uncommon book that was originally serialized in Blackwood's Magazine. Of this narrative, Hartwell writes, "Despite some exaggerations and bits of overblown writing, these are exceptionally fine recollections." He goes on to quote Freeman, "A book that no student of Confederate history will forget. Swords clash and bugles blow in every page of it" In Tall Cotton 12. Coulter describes von Borcke's account as "largely military in aspect and is intensely personal. Bordering on the heroic most of the time, it is made up of narrow escapes and remarkable personal experiences. . . . it is a valuable commentary on the military phase of the Confederacy in so far as von Borcke was able to note it" Coulter 47. "These personal, full, and highly revealing recollections by a Prussian officer who served with 'Jeb' Stuart are a mandatory source for any study of Confederate cavalry" Nevins I, p. 61. Dornbusch II, 2614; Howes B-618 "aa"; In Tall Cotton 12.