"WHEN THE BATTLE WAGED HOTTEST, SHERIDAN WAS AT HIS BEST": FIRST EDITION OF SHERIDAN’S MEMOIRS, IN PUBLISHER’S MOROCCO

SHERIDAN, P.H. Personal Memoirs of P.H. Sheridan. General United States Army. New York: Charles L. Webster, 1888. Two volumes. Octavo, original three-quarter brown morocco-gilt, gilt-stamped vignettes on front covers, raised bands, marbled endpapers and edges. $2400.

First edition of Sheridan’s military autobiography, with 27 maps (many folding) and 17 plates, handsome in publisher’s morocco-gilt bindings.

"Often ranked with Grant and Sherman as the foremost Union commanders" (Mullins & Reed 82), Sheridan completed this work just days before his death in 1888. He recounts three decades of military service including his many decisive Civil War campaigns and his later Indian campaigns, his military governorship of Texas and Louisiana and his tenure as commander-in-chief of the army after Sherman's retirement. "When the battle waged hottest, Sheridan was at his best—cool, exact, self-possessed, the dashing and brilliant leader of men willing to follow him anywhere" (DAB). Dornbusch II:2400. See Nicholson, 773. Owner ink signatures to front flyleaves and title pages, dated 1892.

Fine condition, very handsome and scarce in publisher's morocco.