ULYSSES S. GRANT
(1822 - 1885) Eighteenth President of the United States and Union lieutenant general. Most important signed book from his library: "The Virginia Campaign of 1864 and 1865" by Major Gen. A. A. Humphreys (New York: Charles Scribner's Sons), 1883. 452pp. 8vo. with a fold-out map of the region of the campaign in the rear of the book. The first front flyleaf bears Grant's pencil signature: "U. S. Grant" just above his name stamped in a period font and ink. Additionally, about 20 pages have paragraphs marked with brackets, including texts referring to the Battle of the Wilderness and North Anna. One page is also annotated "Bryan" in Grant's hand. This book having been published while Grant was writing his own memoirs and less than two years before his death, there's little doubt he used Humphrey's memoir as source material for his own recounting of the war. Humphreys himself died the same year the book was published. As for "Bryan," Grant refers to Col. Timothy M. Bryan of the 18th Pa. Cav. In the context of where the note was written, Grant notes that it was Bryan who had rescued Gen. James H. Wilson and his cavalry command by protecting his rear and allowing him to escape after encountering the main body of the Confederate forces at Parkers Store. There are two versions of the events that followed: one holds that Bryan's cavalry acquitted themselves well. The other, however, contends that Bryan's hesitation in engaging the enemy at this point resulted in a much larger action than would have otherwise been necessary, culminating in the Battle of the Wilderness. Bryan was replaced as brigade commander after the first day of the battle, and essentially disappears from history prior to being mustered out due to illness in December of 1864. Spine edges worn a bit, else very good, and an import relic from Grant's final days.