[ARTILLERY]. RASKIN, William L. The History of the First Regiment of Artillery from Its Origination in 1821 to January 1st, 1876...To which Is Added a Series of Communications from Officers, Now or Formerly of the Regiment, Giving their Personal Reminiscences of Service with It. Fort Preble, Portland, Me.: Printed by B. Thurston and Company, 1879. [i-v] vi-xvi, [1-3] 4-668 pp. 8vo (21.7 x 15 cm), original terracotta cloth ruled in black and with gilt vignette of crossed cannons (symbol of the regiment), beveled edges. Spine extremities slightly chipped, corners rubbed, shaken, front hinge split but holding. Text lightly age-toned, light crack in text block at pp. 232/233. With ink signature of F.C. Nichols, a lieutenant in the regiment, on front flyleaf. Very rare in commerce. No copies at auction in over thirty years.

First edition. Howes H282. Tutorow 3306.

An amazingly detailed history of this regiment that traces its roots to the founding of the Republic. In the Mexican-American War, the regiment served in Texas under Taylor at the major Texas battles and at Monterrey, before transferring to Scott’s command, where they participated in the Battles of Veracruz, Cerro Gordo, and the other major conflicts, including Mexico City. In an unusual situation, after the Battles of Veracruz and Cerro Gordo, the senior officers were all either so infirm or so old that they were replaced. Some of the officers who served with regiment in Mexico were Joseph Hooker, Abner Doubleday, A.P. Hill, and J.B. Ricketts. The reminiscences of the war printed herein are by Doubleday, Edward C. Boynton, and Henry Coppee.