Description
First edition of King’s Mountain and Its Heroes by Lyman C. Draper, inscribed to Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston.
Octavo, xv, [1], [17]-612pp. Brown cloth, title and decorative illustrations in gilt and black on spine and front cover. Rubbing to lower edge of covers, rubbing to spine, bright gilt illustrations. Solid text block, front hinge starting but stable. Includes two full-page battle maps and eight full-page engravings. (Howes D485) Bookplate of Robert M. Hughes on front pastedown, nephew of Gen. Johnston. Housed in custom red cloth jacket and matching slipcase, title in gilt over black morocco spine label on jacket. Includes laid-in prospectus for this edition. Also includes a clipped signature of Kentucky Governor and hero of the Battle of Kings Mountain, Isaac Shelby. This copy is inscribed by the author: “Gen. J.E. Johnston – With the kind regards of Lyman C. Draper. Oct. 1881.”
General Joseph E. Johnston (1807-1891) was a senior Confederate commander during the Civil War. After leading forces to victory at the First Battle of Bull Run, Johnston became commander of the Army of Northern Virginia, but due to an injury during the Peninsula Campaign, Jefferson Davis turned command over to General Robert E. Lee for the remainder of the war. Johnston was later given command of the Department of the West in late 1862, and by 1864, now in command of the Army of the Tennessee, he fought against Maj. General William Tecumseh Sherman in the Atlanta Campaign. After the war, Johnston received high praise from Generals Grant and Sherman, befriending both men and serving as a pallbearer at Sherman’s funeral.
