"THAT GREAT AND EXCELLENT MAN RESCUED THE SOUTH FROM THE SWORD OF THE INVADER": FIRST EDITION, 1819

(GREENE, Nathaniel) CALDWELL, Charles. Memoirs of the Life and Campaigns of the Hon. Nathaniel Greene, Major General in the Army of the United States, and Commander of the Southern Department, in the War of the Revolution. Philadelphia: Robert Desilver, 1819. Octavo, period-style half tan calf, red morocco spine label. $1200.

First edition of the first published full-length biography of General Nathanael Greene, with a frontispiece portrait and two folding facsimiles of letters to and from Greene.

"General Greene's outstanding characteristic as a strategist was his ability to weave the maraudings of partisan raiders into a coherent pattern, coordinating them with the maneuvers of a field army otherwise too weak to accomplish much, and making the combination a deadly one… His method of warmaking accorded thoroughly with the goals of the Revolution: Greene wrecked enemy armies" (Weigley, American Way of War, 35-36). Caldwell—a physician and the author of a variety of books and pamphlets—made use of portions of Henry Lee's Memoirs of the War in the Southern Department for this account of the life and accomplishments of one of Washington's most trusted generals. The steel-engraved portrait was done by James Neagle. Howes C21. Sabin 9897. Shaw & Shoemaker 47494. Library blindstamp. Stamped numeral beneath copyright statement.

Contents with moderate toning and foxing; one facsimile with minor loss at outer corner and one short closed tear. A handsome copy.