The tactics manual is dated 1862 and was prepared under the direction of the War Department. It meas. approx. 3.75 x 5.25 inches and has green cloth hardcovers with a small eagle embossed on each. The spine has the title and another eagle stamped in gold. This gold stamping is still strong. The book runs 450 pages and appears to have all its plates including the fold-outs. Only the fold-out plate in the very front of the book is missing a section. The interior is clean and well bound. Page edges have some wear especially the last few. The first page has a bookplate with the Hyde family crest surrounded by a riband that reads “THOMAS W. HYDE, BATH, MAINE-PRIVATE LIBRARY.” The bottom of the same page is signed in period ink “T. W. HYDE.”

The CDV with the group is a bust view of Hyde in a double-breasted dark frock coat wearing a forage cap with an oil cloth cover. The image is very clear with great contrast. There is some light surface dirt but this is negligible. The bottom of the image has “THOS. H. HEYDE-7^th MAINE.” Reverse has photographers imprint for GEORGE W. BUTLER…BATH, ME.” There is also some collector information in pencil.

With the group is a softbound 2005 copy of Hyde’s book “FOLLOWING THE GREEK CROSS OR MEMORIES OF THE SIXTH ARMY CORPS” which was originally published in 1894.

Thomas Worcester Hyde was born on January 15, 1841 in Florence, Italy during his parents yearlong honeymoon trip. He was raised and educated in Bath, Maine and received his college education at Bowdoin and later at the University of Chicago. Returning to Maine about the time of Fort Sumter Hyde secured a commission as Captain of Company D, 7^th Maine Infantry on August 21, 1861. At the time he was 20 years old. Hyde had been involved with some militia units while out west and had some military experience so not long after his joining the 7^th he was promoted to Major. The regiment was assigned to the 6^th Corps where it remained throughout the war. The 7^th served through the Peninsula Campaign and was present at South Mountain and Antietam. It was in the latter battle that Major Hyde won the Medal of Honor. His citation says "Led his regiment in an assault on a strong body of the enemy's infantry and kept up the fight until the greater part of his men had been killed or wounded, bringing the remainder safely out of the fight." The charge Major Hyde led was a desperate one on the Confederate positions on the Piper farm. In this attack the regiment suffered heavy casualties as stated in the citation. In February of 1863 Hyde was appointed to 6^th Corps commander Major General John Sedgwick’s staff where he served during the Chancellorsville and Gettysburg Campaigns. On December 1, 1863 Hyde attained the rank of Lieutenant Colonel and remained on the 6^th Corps staff through the first months of Grant’s Overland Campaign and after the death of his beloved Corps commander. In July of 1864 he took command of his old regiment and led them in the campaigns against Confederate forces under Jubal Early. In August of 1864 the 7^th Maine was mustered out and Hyde was attached to the 1^st Maine Veteran Infantry. Hyde joined the regiment a few days after the fight at Cedar Creek. He was appointed Colonel on October 22, 1864 and being the senior officer in his Brigade he assumed command. Hyde led this Brigade (3^rd Brigade, 2^nd Division, 6^th Corps) through to the wars end being promoted to Brigadier General on April 2, 1865.

After the war Hyde returned to Bath where he was successful in the iron foundry business and succeeded in getting Government shipbuilding contracts. He died in Bath on November 14, 1899 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery there.

This is a nice little group of items ID'd to an important figure in Maine history, the 6^th Corps of the Army of the Potomac and a hero of his Country.

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