By William Gilham….Commandant of Cadets, Virginia Military Institute. Published by West & Johnston, Richmond, 1861. Front eps owner inscription, in ink—“Cadet/J.W. Carter/ the Virginia/ University Military School/ The Property of/ JWC”. 559 pp., fldg. forms. In blue bind-stamped buckram, with gilt ills. Cover & gilt spine lettering. Exhibits  moderate rubbing at the  edges; covers scuffed with light soiling & wrinkling. Text lightly yellowed & foxed, while remaining entirely legible. Displays light, lower corner water-staining of the concluding 75 pages. Else VG, & solid, with tight spine and page signatures, and fine gilt cover illustration and lettering.

The University Military School Battalion was established in early 1861, and by July 1861 had 100 cadets. The school was defunct by the early fall of that year.

John Wright Carter was born in Middleburg, VA in 1844; at 18 years of age he enlisted as a Private and was mustered into the Ashby Virginia Horse Light Artillery, 11/13/1861. Twice hospitalized (once with “scabies”), Carter was promoted to 2^nd Lieut., 4/23/1862,  then 1^st Lieut., 4/13/1864, and finally to Capt., 2/15/1865.  Carter’s greatest moment may have been his lone gun’s stand on Fleetwood Hill during the June 9, 1863 battle at Brandy Station.

After the war Carter graduated from the University of Virginia with a law degree and moved to San Francisco, CA to establish a practice. He died in 1911 and is buried in Sharon Cemetery, Middleburg, VA.

In all, with its handsome VMI owner inscription, a superb Confederate collectible. Accompanied by a brief amount of research material.  [jp/ld]

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