This volume was originally published in “The Long Arm of Lee: The History of the Artillery of the Army of Northern Virginia”, which was published in 1915, when Jennings Cropper Wise was commandant of the Virginia Military Institute. "The Long Arm of Lee" has never been surpassed as an authoritative study of the Confederate artillery in the Civil War. This particular book is just a collection of portraits of the commanders, including General Robert E. Lee, Willie Pegram, Stephen Dill Lee, John Pelham, and William Pendleton. There is a total of 26 portraits.

Book is covered in black leather with gold gilt lettering on the front cover. Edges are slightly worn. Measures 9 ¼” x 6 ¼” x ½”. Binding is tight with no loose pages. Pages have slightly yellowed with age.

Jennings Cropper Wise (1881-1968), lawyer and army officer, was born in Richmond, Virginia. He graduated from the Phillip Exeter Academy (New Hampshire) in 1882 and from the Virginia Military Institute in 1902. He subsequently received a law degree from the University of Virginia. Wise spent the majority of his career in the practice of law, primarily in private practice. Additionally, he taught at his alma mater, the Virginia Military Institute (1912-1915) and he served as a Lieutenant Colonel in the AEF during World War I. Following his retirement in 1954, he concentrated on researching and writing books, including one ultimately published under the title Sunrise of the Virginia Military Institute as a School of Arms.

This book is inscribed by Wise to Roger Preston Chew. The inscription reads, “To Lt. Col. Roger Preston Chew, one who was old though young; man in spirit though a lion at heart; one whose blows were mighty and whose caress was gentle. With ‘an eye like Mars to threaten and command’, his soul was humble, though strong was his hand. From Jennings C. Wise Richmond, Va Aug. 5, 1916”.

The owner of this book, Roger Preston Chew (1843-1921) of Jefferson County, Virginia, enlisted at the age of 18 on April 15, 1861 in Richmond, Virginia as a 1st Lieutenant and served as a drillmaster. On July 15, 1861 he was commissioned into Virginia Lee Battery, then on November 13, 1861 he was commissioned into Virginia Ashby Horse Light Artillery. On April 23, 1862 he was commissioned into 7th Virginia Cavalry where he was promoted to Captain. He was promoted to Major on March 14, 1864 as of Horse Artillery, and then to Lt. Col. on February 8, 1865 as Commanding Horse Artillery of ANV. After the war he lived in Charlestown, WV.

Chew's portrait can be found in this book on page 27.

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