Item No: #307728 The Iowa First: Letters from the War in a US Civil War Sammelband [Dred Scott Decision; Vallandigham on Abolition, etc.]. Franc B. Wilkie.
The Iowa First: Letters from the War in a US Civil War Sammelband [Dred Scott Decision; Vallandigham on Abolition, etc.]
The Iowa First: Letters from the War in a US Civil War Sammelband [Dred Scott Decision; Vallandigham on Abolition, etc.]
The Iowa First: Letters from the War in a US Civil War Sammelband [Dred Scott Decision; Vallandigham on Abolition, etc.]

Civil War Sammelband

The Iowa First: Letters from the War in a US Civil War Sammelband [Dred Scott Decision; Vallandigham on Abolition, etc.]

Notes: A collection of tracts, including Wilkie's scarce report on the Iowa First in the opening months of the Civil War (a classic of war journalism written by an embedded newspaper reporter); two Copperhead (pro-slavery Democrats) pieces—the speeches of Clement Vallandingham and a pamphlet supporting the Dred Scott decision; Gen. Justus McKinstry's unsuccessful defense in his court martial for corruption; etc. In a late 19th century half-morocco binding. The works are all bound without wrappers.

1) The Record of Hon. C. L. Vallandigham on Abolition, the Union, and the Civil War. Fifth edition. Columbus, OH: J. Walter & Co., 1863. Frontispiece, 256 pages.

2) The Iowa First: Letters from the War by Franc. B. Wilkie. First edition. Dubuque: Herald Book and Job Establishment, 1861. 114 pages. Howes US-iana, W422. "aa."

3) Vindication of Brig. Gen. J. McKinstry, Formerly Quartermaster Western Department. First edition. [St. Louis], [Justus McKinstry], 1862. 102 pages; lacking title page.

4) A Report on the Results of a Special Inquiry into the Practice of Internment in Towns by Edwin Chadwick. First US edition. Philadelphia: C. Sherman, 1845. iv, 48 pages.

5) An Essay on Organic Remains, as Connected with an Ancient Tropical Region of the Earth by Thomas Gilpin. First edition. Philadelphia: E. H. Butler, 1843. 40 pages.

6) The Dred Scott Decision. Opinion of Chief Justice Tanney, with an Introduction by Dr. J. H. Van Evrie. Also, an Appendix Containing an Essay on the Natural History of the Prognathous Race of Mankind Originally Written for the New York Day-Book, by Dr. S. A. Cartwright of New Orleans. Third printing (after 1859 and 1860). New York: Van Evrie, Horton & Co., 1863. 48 pages.

Wilkie's history of the Iowa First Infantry is a particularly scarce and important account of the opening battles of the Civil War. According to the Biographical Dictionary of Iowa:

"The beginning of the Civil War catapulted Wilkie to prominence. Assigned to the First Iowa Infantry as the regiment's newspaper chronicler, Wilkie departed Dubuque in April 1861. Writing a series of letters to the [Dubuque] Herald, Wilkie detailed the First Iowa Infantry's Service through the Battle of Wilson's Creek (August 10, 1861). His letters attracted the attention of the editor of the New York Times, who retained Wilkie for $7.50 per column, with expenses. Unfortunately, the Times never paid Wilkie, prompting the Iowan to send his first scoop to the Dubuque Herald. His account of the Battle of Wilson's Creek became an instant success across the county, prompting the Times to send Wilkie a monetary retainer.

"After Wilson's Creek, Wilkie returned briefly to Iowa, where he discovered that he was a local hero and celebrity. At the same time, he published his second, and probably most famous book, The Iowa First: Letters from the War (1861). Sharing the hardships and privation of the Iowa First, Wilkie's epistles home were full of camp news that reflected the excitement of the times but never wandered from the truth, which at times was not pleasant. The Iowa First established Wilkie as one of the premier newspapermen of the Civil War. It is still read today by Civil War enthusiasts and is considered one of the best examples of Wilkie's writings."

Edition + Condition: Some wear to the outer joints, else a very good copy. All tracts are complete except for the Vindication of Brig. Gen. J. McKinstry, which is lacking the title page.

Publication: 1860s.

Item No: #307728

Price: $1,250