With Fire And Sword
New York: The Neale Publishing Company, 1911. 1st Edition. 8vo. Near Fine. Item #18805
An exceptional first-hand account of Civil War life and imprisonment by this famed Iowa Union officer, poet and author who coined the term - "Sherman's March to the Sea".
"Byers' budding law career was cut short by the outbreak of the American Civil War in early 1861. Byers signed up for service with the 5th Iowa Infantry, and saw battle at the Battle of Iuka, the Siege of Vicksburg, and in the Chattanooga campaign. He was captured at the Battle of Missionary Ridge in November 1863, along with about 80 others from his regiment. He was first imprisoned at Libby Prison, spending seven months there. He then was sent to a camp in Macon, Georgia, before escaping. He was recaptured and sent first to Charleston, South Carolina, before ending up at Camp Sorghum outside the city of Columbia, South Carolina. He escaped Camp Sorghum, but was again recaptured and sent back to Camp Sorghum. The prisoners of Camp Sorghum were eventually transferred to the property of the state mental asylum in Columbia.
"During his imprisonment at Camp Sorghum, Byers read a newspaper that had been smuggled into camp by a slave in a piece of bread. From that he learned of Sherman's March to the Sea, and the taking of Atlanta, Georgia. Byers wrote a poem about the March, which was set to music by fellow prisoner W. O. Rockwell. The song was smuggled out of the prison in the wooden leg of Lt. Daniel W. Tower, and became an immediate hit in the north. Byers' poem coined the common name for Sherman's March to the Sea." - wiki
Original blue publisher's cloth with titling stamped in gilt. Square tight binding. Clean interior. Mild edge wear. 203pp. and excellent copy. Presents handsomely in archival mylar.
Price: $225.00