[Civil War] De Peyster, John Watts.

"Major-General George H. Thomas, the Annual Address Delivered Before the New York Historical Society, Tuesday Evening, January 5, 1875" [with] 2 signed manuscript letters by General John Watts De Peyster.

New York: Atlantic Publishing, 1875. The address to the New York Historical Society, with an autograph note by De Peyster bound in, addressed to William H. Lambert, congratulating Lambert on a recent publication and referring to the record of the Civil War General Thomas. De Peyster writes, of General Thomas, "What a pity it is that Thomas did not live to know how he is appreciated. Still I do not think that he would have gone into political life. He wrote me positively that he would not. Like all good men he had terrible enemies ..." De Peyster's writing on Thomas helped to elevate Thomas's status to the top rank of Civil War commanders. Thomas was known as the "Rock of Chickamauga" for saving the Union Army from defeat in September 1863, after Gettysburg.

De Peyster (1821 - 1907) was a New York author and philanthropist, one of the first military critics, noted for his histories of the American Revolution and Civil War. His family played a large role in the development of the upstate New York town of Tivoli.

The autograph note dated 26th October 1880; with a second note dated 24th October 1880, to William Lambert, by De Peyster's secretary, James Outwater, apologizing for an unfulfilled request for a printed piece by De Peyster. OCLC: 58757992. 8vo, engraved frontispiece portrait of Thomas (slt tidemark along lower edge on the plate only), 24pp, original purple paper wrappers bound in. Three quarter period dark green calf with marbled boards, gilt title at spine. The De Peyster ALS on blue letterhead, Rose Hill, Tivoli, NY, folded, written on four sides, and signed in full. The Outwater note to Lambert also from Tivoli. 4 1/2 x 7 1/4" Very good condition. Item #20281

Price: $225.00