About this Item
Fourteen volumes, publication details and pagination provided in the listing below. Uniform half calf and marbled boards, leather labels. Small ink library stamps and embossed blind-stamps and occasional ink ownership inscriptions on titlepages. Some contemporary ink marginalia, a handful of leaves trimmed close, a few small tape repairs or reinforcements. A significant run of the laws of the State of Ohio from the first session of the General Assembly to the fourteenth of 1816, covering the crucial years of 1812-15 when Ohio was the Western theater of the War of 1812. The impact of the war can be seen right away in the 1812 session laws: the very first act provides "blankets for the Ohio militia, now in the service of the United States." Later in this session, the assembly passed an act "for the encouragement of Volunteers in the North Western Army of the United States" after the "lamentable disaster, which has happened to that part of the North Western Army of the United States, lately under the command of Gen. James Winchester." The Army of the Northwest was a unit of the American army formed at the outset of the War of 1812 and charged with control of the state of Ohio, the Indiana Territory, Michigan Territory, and Illinois Territory. The "lamentable disaster" refers to the Battle of Frenchtown, fought near the River Raisin in Monroe, Michigan, which was a massive loss for the American army in the War of 1812. The day after the battle ended, British troops and Native Americans massacred wounded soldiers in what became known as the River Raisin Massacre, additionally killing many more troops in a subsequent forced march to Fort Malden. Though Frenchtown resulted in more casualties than any other battle during the War of 1812, it became a rallying cry for the American army. In addition to these acts, the 1812 laws include several resolutions related to war activities within the state, including resolutions authorizing the governor to procure arms, one regarding "the conduct of the corps of volunteers from this state, during and previous to the late campaign, under the command of general Hull," and a resolution requesting that the services of the Ohio militia be paid by the United States. The resolution regarding Gen. Hull refers to another disastrous event for the American effort earlier in the war, the Siege of Detroit, where the American army surrendered Fort Detroit to the British in August 1812. Here, the resolution commends the Ohio corps of volunteers "for the patriotism, bravery and general good conduct, which they evinced, during their late arduous and disastrous expedition." A couple of years later, the assembly passed a resolution to thank Andrew Jackson, his officers, and his men, for their "gallant defence of New Orleans," the great American land victory of the war. Such a consecutive run of session laws for Ohio is unprecedented in the market, with only an occasional single volume coming up for sale. Most of the session laws were printed by various printers in Chillicothe, but the ninth and tenth General Assemblies were held at, and the session laws printed in, Zanesville. All are rare. A marvelous run of early Ohio state laws. The imprints included here are as follows: 1) Acts of the State of Ohio: First Session of the General Assembly, Held under the Constitution of the State, A. D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three. Chillicothe: N. Willis, 1803. 164pp. Ohio Imprints 35; Sabin 56869; Wilkie 47. 2) Acts of the State of Ohio: Second Session of the General Assembly, Held under the Constitution of the State, A. D. One Thousand Eight Hundred and Three. Chillicothe: N. Willis, [1804]. 316,xvi pp. Bottom corner of titlepage reinforced. Ohio Imprints 39; Wilkie 52. 3) Acts of the State of Ohio, Passed and Revised, First Session of the Third General Assembly.December 3, 1804. Chillicothe: N. Willis, 1805. lxxvi,491pp. Ohio Imprints 44; Wilkie 63. 4) Acts of the State of Ohio Enacted the Fourth Session of the Genera. Seller Inventory # 28984
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