"Prison Life in Andersonville": With Special Reference to the Opening of Providence Spring (Signed)
Los Angeles: Grafton Publishing Company, (1912). Limited edition, #471 of 500. Black and white photographic plates, drawings. Cloth over boards. Duodecimo. 152 pages.
Maile enlisted in the Eighth Regiment Michigan Volunteer Infantry in September 1861. He participated in many of the important battles of the Civil War. He was assigned to be a Lieutenant in the 28th U.S. Colored Troops but before he could take command he was captured by the Confederates during the Battle of the Wilderness on May 6, 1864. Maile and many fellow Union soldiers were sent to Andersonville where they endured the shocking conditions and treatment he describes herein.
Maile describes the breaking open of a clear spring of water within the prison following a torrential storm--Providence Spring. In addition to Maile's detailed memoir there are several Appendices at rear, including a tribute to the Women's Relief Corps and an interesting discussion of whether it would be appropriate for the U.S. Government to erect Confederate monuments. Without bitterness or ill-will Maile expresses his opposition to federally-funded monuments to Confederates at a time when many of these tributes were being erected in the early 20th century. His thoughts give a particularly interesting and relevant perspective on the early 21st century debates over removals of monuments to the "lost cause."
Inscribed and signed by Maile on the limitation page at front. A rather scarce book, particularly in the original dust jacket.
Ref. DORNBUSCH Vol. I, pt VI, Mi 84; NEVINS Vol. I, p. 197.
Bound in red cloth over boards with gilt-stamped spine and upper board. Slight extremity rubs, slight toning to endpapers, some light wear to gilt titling on upper board. Jacket has overall browning and several edge chips but no loss of content. A clean and sound copy overall.
Item #2074
Price: $250