Augustus Woodbury (1814-1902)
‘Major General Ambrose E Burnside and the 9th Army Corps:
A Narrative of Campaigns in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia,
Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, During the [Civil] War
for the Preservation of the Republic’
First Edition, Signed & Inscribed by Author
Burnside and the Ninth Army Corp…
1867
Markings: inscribed, “With compliments / of the author”; further signed by the Author, “A. Woodbury”
Description: “Major General Ambrose E. Burnside and the Ninth Army Corps: A Narrative of Campaigns in North Carolina, Maryland, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky, Mississippi and Tennessee, During the [Civil] War for the Preservation of the Republic”, by August Woodbury. Illustrated with eight b/w portraits and eight b/w maps. 8vo, 554pp. First Edition, Signed and Inscribed by author on front free endpaper. Green cloth covered boards are stamped and gilt with the abridged title and author’s last name on spine. Published in Providence, Rhode Island, by Sidney S. Rider & Brother, 1867.
Condition: Very good antique condition; some light bumping and wear to the extremities, some light foxing to the interior, a chip to the top right corner of the title page; generally a fine copy, the pages are crisp, all tissues and sixteen illustrations present.
Notes: The inscription “With compliments / of the author” appears on a handful of first edition volumes (found in both green, blue and red bindings). Occasionally further personalization occurs with the name of the recipient being added either above or below this inscription; this is the only example we have found that is signed by the author Augustus Woodbury himself.
Author Biography: Rev. Augustus Woodbury, D.D., M.A, was no small being. An ardent supporter of civil rights and universal suffrage he was active in every area of service he walked upon. It was said at his funeral, the service published in full: “His constant solicitude was that he might learn.. and his learning penetrated his being. He said, ‘He did not judge people for their actions but actions by their people’”. Born in Beverly, MA, Dec. 4th, 1825. EDUCATION & VOCATION: Phillips Exeter Academy, NY; Divinity School, Harvard University (1846-1849); ordained Unitarian Ministry 1849. Married Rebecca Bryant English, 1850. Pastor of the Second Congregational Church in Concord, New Hampshire, 1849-1853; Lee Street Church, Lowell, MA, 1853-1857; Westminster Congregational Society, Providence, RI, 1857-1892. Received an honorary Masters of Arts from Harvard University, 1866; honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Brown University, 1888. PUBLISHED: Plain words to Young Men; The Campaign of the First Rhode Island Regiment; Major-General A. E. Burnside of the Ninth Army Corps; The Second Rhode Island Regiment; Sermons; Orations and Addresses delivered on different occasions. Contributed to: Barlett’s Rhode Island Officers and several Religious and Secular Magazines and Reviews. WORKED: House of Representatives, General Assembly of Rhode Island, 1863-64, and again 1874-75; Chairman of the inspectors of the Rhode Island State Prison, 1866-77; Commissioner for building the new State Prison, 1874-79; a member of the School Committee of the City of Providence, 1863 and 1866-1869; chosen director of the American Unitarian Association for two terms of three years each; President of the Alumni Association of the Divinity School of Cambridge; a prominent place in the government of the Channing Conference; many years a trustee of the Ministry at Large; Director of the Providence Athenaeum for 16 years, then Vice-President, then President, 1883-1888; Treasurer for the Providence Charitable Fuel Society, President for three years. Additionally he was Chaplain of : The First Light Infantry Company of Providence, 1865-1871; the First Light Infantry Veteran Association; The First Regiment and First Battery, Rhode Island Detached Militia, 1861; The First Regiment and First Battery, Rhode Island Detached Militia Veteran Association, 1873-1895; President of The First Regiment and First Battery, RI Detached Militia Veteran Association 1883-1884; Chaplain of Rodman Post, No. 12, Department of Rhode Island, Grand Army of the Republic, 1870-1872; 1878; 1879; 1881; 1883; and 1885-1889; Department of Rhode Island, Grand Army of the Republic, 1873-1984; aided on the Staff of General A. E. Burnside at the first battle of Bull Run, July 21, 1861. Died in 1889.
