"GRANT USED THE WEAPON THAT MCCLELLAN FORGED TO DEFEAT LEE": SCARCE FIRST EDITION OF MCCLELLAN’S OWN STORY, 1887, IN PUBLISHER'S MOROCCO-GILT

MCCLELLAN, George B. McClellan's Own Story. The War for the Union. New York: Charles L. Webster, 1887. Octavo, original three-quarter black morocco gilt, raised bands, gilt and red medallion at center of front cover, marbled endpapers and edges. $1250.

First edition of the Civil War memoirs of Lincoln’s controversial commander of the Army of the Potomac, with steel-engraved frontispiece portrait, nine illustrations, three full-page maps and a two-page facsimile letter, handsomely bound.

"A military enigma, a brilliant administrator and a man possessing much good strategic sense" (Boatner, 524), McClellan was commander-in-chief of the Union forces from November 1861 to March 1862. "This controversial Union general's memoirs are really an explanation of his wartime activities and decisions. McClellan's administrative and organizational skills are often overshadowed by his alleged shortcomings in the field and his involvement in party politics. It is seldom remembered that Grant used the weapon that McClellan forged to defeat Lee and win the war" (Union Bookshelf 56). "Lee, who should have known, set him down as the best commander who ever faced him" (ANB). Eicher 539. Nevin I:124.

A beautiful copy in fine condition.