1861 CIVIL WAR CONFEDERACY. First Edition of the Foundational Documents of the Confederate Army.
1861 CIVIL WAR CONFEDERACY. First Edition of the Foundational Documents of the Confederate Army.
A rather desirable true first edition of the foundational documents of the "Army of the Confederate States," issued in Richmond and New Orleans.
The Army Regulations are organizationally very similar to those of the Union Army. The differences are important and show something of the dramatic contrast between morale in the Northern and Southern armies. One example states that anyone who has taken a dime in compensation from the Confederacy as a soldier who goes missing for any reason is to be executed. Joining the Southern Army was an "all in" and "in it till the end" decision.
Additionally, and of equal importance, the first edition contains the original Articles of War. This was not present in later editions as the official rationale for Southern engagement in the War shifted over time.
Army Regulations, Adopted for the Use of the Army of the Confederate States, in Accordance with Late Acts of Congress. Revised from the Army Regulations of the Old United States Army, 1857; Retaining All that is Essential for Officers on the Line. To which is added, An Act for the Establishment and Organization of the Army of the Confederate States of America. Also, Articles of War, for the Government of the Army of the Confederate States of America. Richmond, VA. West and Johnston. 1861.
Original quarter leather with marbled boards; rubbed at edges, leather worn, but attractive; unusually, retaining the spine tooling, "C.S.A. Army Regulat'ns." Thin morocco spine relaid in sections with losses as shown. Title heavily foxed [as appears usual for this volume.] Remaining text quite clean with light foxing; very slender tide mark at head of text block. Blank prelims and rears not present. Solid.