CONFEDERATE WAR PAPERS BY MAJOR GENERAL GUSTAVUS W. SMITH, SIGNED BY AUTHOR

$175.00 SOLD

Quantity Available: None

Item Code: 344-2417

This volume is a first edition that was published in 1884 in New York by Atlantic Publishing and Engraving Co. Inscribed in period ink on the second page is, “Mrs. Ellen T. Costello, with the kindest regards of her friend, Gustavus W. Smith, New York City, Jany. 8th, 1884”. Following this is a lithograph image of Smith in civilian clothing.

Text is divided into four parts. Part 1 is titled, “War Policy of the Confederate States Administration”, part 2, “The Defences of Louisiana and the Evacuation of New Orleans”, part 3, “Notes on the Battle of Seven Pines or Fair Oaks”, and part 4, “The Defences of Richmond and of North Carolina in the Latter Part of 1862 and the Early Months of 1863”. Smith writes in the preface, “It is believed that, up to the present time, some of the subjects discussed in these papers are in many essential points not clearly understood. The author has endeavored to furnish authentic data, and proof, in regard to principal facts in this connection- and hopes the following pages may aid in the formation of correct views in regard to the events referred to and be useful in obviating, at least in part, false impressions which are certainly liable to be conveyed by some of the writings hereto published.” The back of the book features three appendixes- A. “Letters Addressed to General G.W. Smith in Reference to His Resignation”, B. “Extracts from Sketch of Life of Gustavus W. Smith”, and C. “Severe Accusations- Refuted by Plain Facts”. After this are three fold-out maps of Richmond, Seven Pines on May 31st, and Seven Pines on June 1st.

Gustavus Woodson Smith (November 30, 1821 – June 24, 1896), more commonly known as G.W. Smith, was a career United States Army officer who fought in the Mexican-American War, a civil engineer, and a major general in the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War. He briefly commanded the Army of Northern Virginia from May 31 until June 1, 1862, following the wounding of General Joseph E. Johnston at the Battle of Seven Pines, and before General Robert E. Lee took command. Smith later served as Interim Confederate Secretary of War and in the Georgia state militia.

Smith was born in Georgetown, Kentucky, and was a brother-in-law of Horace Randal and a relative of John Bell Hood. He graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point as a brevet second lieutenant in 1842. Smith finished eighth out of 56 cadets while at West Point. He entered the Army Corps of Engineers afterward, and was promoted to second lieutenant on January 1, 1845. Smith fought in the Mexican-American War, winning two brevet promotions for his actions there. On April 18, 1847, he was appointed brevet first lieutenant for his service at the Battle of Cerro Gordo, and on August 20, 1847, brevet captain for his service at the Battle of Contreras. In 1848 he became an original member of the Aztec Club of 1847. On March 3, 1853, Smith was promoted to first lieutenant. He resigned his commission on December 18, 1854, to become a civil engineer in New York City, and was Streets Commissioner there from 1858 to 1861.

Afterward, he presented himself at Richmond to serve the Confederate States of America. Commissioned as a major general on September 19, he served in Northern Virginia as a divisional and "wing" commander, and fought in the Battle of Seven Pines near Richmond during the Peninsula Campaign. On May 31, 1862, Smith briefly took command of the Army of Northern Virginia after Gen. Joseph E. Johnston was wounded at Seven Pines, due to his being the senior major general in Johnston's army. However, Jefferson Davis replaced him with Robert E. Lee the following day, June 1. On June 2, Smith became ill and took a leave of absence to recuperate. In late August, Smith returned and took command of the defenses around Richmond, which was expanded to become the Department of North Carolina & Southern Virginia in September. In addition, he acted as interim Confederate States Secretary of War from November 17 through November 21, 1862.

He resigned his commission as a major general on February 17, 1863, and became a volunteer aide to General P.G.T. Beauregard for the rest of that year. Smith was also the superintendent of the Etowah Iron Works in 1863 until June 1, 1864, when he was commissioned a major general in the Georgia state militia and commanded its first division until the end of the war.

Smith was paroled in Macon, Georgia, on April 20, 1865, and moved to Tennessee to become an iron manufacturer from 1866 to 1870. He moved back to his native Kentucky to become Insurance Commissioner until 1876, and then moved to New York City and began writing. Smith authored, “Notes on Insurance” in 1870, “Confederate War Papers” in 1884, “The Battle of Seven Pines” in 1891, and “Generals J. E. Johnston and G. T. Beauregard at the Battle of Manassas, July 1861” in 1892. His final work, “Company "A," Corps of Engineers, U.S.A., 1846–48, in the Mexican War”, was published in 1896 after his death. In December 1894 he was one of nineteen founders of the Military Order of Foreign Wars - a military society for officers who were veterans of wars with foreign nations and their descendants. Smith died in New York City in 1896 and is buried in the Cedar Grove Cemetery in New London, Connecticut.

Book has a burgundy colored cloth cover with a decorative embossed band at the top and bottom of both front and back covers. The book’s title is in gold gilt lettering on the front cover and spine. Both boards have light wear and rubbing, mainly on edges and corners. Binding is loose at the cover but pages are tightly bound together except for the first three pages, which are loose. Pages have lightly yellowed with age. No pages are missing. Book measures 7 ½” x 5” x 1 ¼”. Text contains 381 pages plus maps.   [sm]

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THIS ITEM, AS WITH ALL OTHER ITEMS AVAILABLE ON OUR WEB SITE,

MAY BE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR LAYAWAY PROGRAM.

FOR OUR POLICIES AND TERMS,

CLICK ON ‘CONTACT US’ AT THE TOP OF ANY PAGE ON THE SITE,

THEN ON ‘LAYAWAY POLICY’.

Inquire About CONFEDERATE WAR PAPERS BY MAJOR GENERAL GUSTAVUS W. SMITH, SIGNED BY AUTHOR

For inquiries, please email us at [email protected]

featured item

1847 CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS TO GEN. ZACHARY TAYLOR AND HIS OFFICERS AND MEN FOR MONTERREY, PERSONALLY DISPATCHED BY PRESIDENT POLK

Zachary Taylor received the formal thanks of Congress three times, along with gold medals, for victories in the Mexican War, the largest number of such resolutions and awards made by Congress to anyone. This is an official State Department copy on… (766-938). Learn More »

Upcoming Events

29
Mar

April 13-14: Spring Gettysburg Military Antiques Show Learn More »

Instagram