GILHAM’S MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION ID’D TO LT. COL. MERIWEATHER LEWIS, 9TH VIRGINIA CAVALRY

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Item Code: 980-15

First edition, war-era volume of Gilham’s Manual, published in Richmond in 1861. This was the most utilized manual for the Confederate Army. It is covered in blue pebbled cloth which has a gold gilt embossed image of soldiers with the title on the spine. Inside page is hand inscribed in period ink, “CAPT. M LEWIS / LANCASTER CAVALRY / LANCASTER COUNTY / VIRGINIA”. This is repeated several times and is also inscribed on the following page with the date, “MARCH 2, 1861”.

Title page reads, “MANUAL OF INSTRUCTION FOR THE VOLUNTEERS AND MILITIA OF THE CONFEDERATE STATES BY WILLIAM GILHAM, COLONEL OF VOLUNTEERS, INSTRUCTOR OF TACTICS, AND COMMANDANT OF CADETS, VIRGINIA MILITARY INSTITUTE / RICHMOND, VA. / WEST & JOHNSON, 145 MAIN STREET. 1861”.

Measures 5” x 7 ½” x 1 ½’. Text contains 559 pages plus fold-outs. At the center of book, the stitching has come out from the top two sections where the two halves were sewn together. Pages are still bound together in both halves, but a few center pages are loose. Pages have yellowed with age and show signs of water spotting. One page near the center has a large tear. Boards have light wear all over. Gilt on embossing remains bright. Corners are worn and lightly bent. This all shows how the manual was heavily used during the war and only adds to its character.

Meriweather Lewis was named for his famous relative that led the Lewis and Clark Expedition. He was born in Essex County, Virginia on February 17, 1827 to Warner Lewis and Catherine Butler Lewis. He attended the University of Virginia. He was a physician and Virginia legislator. He married Julia Sanders.

Lewis enlisted in the Confederate Army at the age of 34, on June 16, 1861 at Camp Henderson, Virginia as a Captain and was commissioned into Co. “D”, 9th Virginia Cavalry, Caldwell’s Battalion. He was promoted to Major on April 29, 1862 and to Lieutenant Colonel in October, 1862.

Lewis was wounded in the left lung at Upperville, Virginia, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign. He was admitted to the Union 3 Division Hospital near Aldie, Virginia on June 21, 1863 as a POW. He was released, requested absence from service to recover his health, and resigned his commission on May 9, 1864.

He died July 25, 1883 and is buried in St. Mary’s White Chapel, Lancaster County, Virginia. His grave marker reads, “A good husband, A kind father and a Faithful worker in God's Vineyard."

The 9th Virginia Cavalry Regiment was formed in January, 1862, using John E. Johnson's eight company 1st Battalion, Virginia Cavalry ("Lee's Legion") as its nucleus. These companies and the two added were from the counties of Stafford, Caroline, Westmoreland, Lancaster, Essex, Spotsylvania, Lunenburg, King William, King George, and Richmond. The unit served in W.H.F. Lee's, Chambliss', and Beale's Brigade, Army of Northern Virginia. It fought in the Seven Days' Battles and the conflicts at Gainesville, Second Manassas, Sharpsburg, Fredericksburg, Dumfries, Rapidan Station, Brandy Station, Upperville, Hanover, Gettysburg, Williamsport, Funkstown, and Culpeper Court House. The 9th went on to fight at Bristoe, Mine Run, The Wilderness, and Todd's Tavern. Later it skirmished around Richmond and Petersburg, then was active in the Appomattox operations.

This unit reported 32 casualties at Upperville, lost four percent of the 490 engaged at Gettysburg, and had 22 disabled at Williamsport. It surrendered 1 officer and 26 men. The field officers were Colonels Richard L. T. Beale, John E. Johnson, W.H.F. "Rooney" Lee, and Thomas Waller; Lieutenant Colonel Meriwether Lewis; and Major Samuel A. Swann.

Records on Lewis accompany this item.  [sl]

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