MEMOIRS OF ROBERT E. LEE. HIS MILITARY AND PERSONAL HISTORY Embracing A Large Amount Of Information Hitherto Unpublished.Together With Incidents Relating To His Private Life Subsequent To The War. Collected and Edited with the Assistance of Marcus J. Wright.

[Lee, Robert E.]; Long A.L.

Published by New York J. M. Stoddart and Company 1886

About this Item

First Edition, First Issue. Illustrated throughout with a facsimile of General Longís handwriting, an engraved portrait frontispiece of Lee, a number of other plates, a large and folding map, and seven other maps showing Leeís original field maps. Large, thick 8vo, publisherís original dark green cloth, lettered in gilt on the spine and upper cover. [4], 707 pp. A very handsome copy, quite fresh and clean with no evidence of the foxing usual to the book. Some very light age mellowing to the cloth, primarily confined to the spine panel, endpapers refreshed. SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF THIS HIGHLY IMPORTANT WORK. ëGeneral Lee, less fortunate than Grant, was overtaken by death before he could complete his design of writing and publishing to the world his ersonal narrative of the important events in which he figured. This work has been considered the consummation of that intention, with General Long who having served under General Lee, being chosen as the writer. Thus, the MEMOIRS has become as nearly autobiographical as would be possible. Lee had desired to write a history of the campaigns in Virginia, but had never been able to commence the task. He had begun to collect materials for the purpose shortly after the cessation of hostilities, but died in 1870 before ever setting a pen to paper other than to communicate in letters his desire to have this history written, both to honour the character and people of the South and to lay out the history of the War from the Southern perspective. Longís narrative includes contributions made by Leeís family as well as from Leeís own notes made at the time of each particular occurence. Long had been intimate with Lee, serving as his military secretary and had earlier graduated from West Point. Lee himself wrote of Long that his conduct in the war had been marked by zeal and gallantry serving as chief of artillary in the winter of 1861-62 and then to the command of the Army of Northern Virginia. He was promoted to Brigadier in 1863 adn served until the surrender of the army on 9 April, 1865. Long was influenced in the writing of the volume by Leeís letters, by legitimate subjects of record as confirmed by Leeís reports as well as by a great number of confidential letters and dispatches which form the only official record of the movements and operations of the Army of Northern Virginia for the period.í The work has always been considered to be the finest of all the contemporary accounts.

Seller Inventory # 34922

Bibliographic Details

• Title: MEMOIRS OF ROBERT E. LEE. HIS MILITARY AND PERSONAL HISTORY Embracing A Large Amount Of Information Hitherto Unpublished.Together With Incidents Relating To His Private Life Subsequent To The War. Collected and Edited with the Assistance of Marcus J. Wright.
• Publisher: New York J. M. Stoddart and Company 1886
• Binding: Hardcover