American Historical Ephemera & Photography

Autographs, US Officers, Prisoners of War. 8vo (5 x 8 in.). Bound in black leather with gilt title (some surface wear to spine and edges). Title page done in pen and ink, with title and identification written in fancy lettering, "Autographs. US Officers, Prisoners of war. Libby Prison, Richmond, Va. Capt. A.M. Keeler." A highly detailed pen drawing of Libby Prison is shown at center. Contains 86pp.  including 390 autographs of officers who were prisoners of war and confined at Libby Prison with Captain Keeler (overall very good, contents toned, occasional soiling). Each officer signed in ink his name, rank, organization, home city, and state. Includes approx. 5-6 names per page. Page 76 entitled "Roper Hospital Autographs," which start with autograph no. 344. After autograph no. 368 is a 2pp. manuscript table entitled, "Official Returns of the Presidential Election held in the CS Military Prison Near Columbia, SC among the Federal Prisoners, Oct. 17th 1864," listing each candidate and number of votes each received by state. Someone had started a contemporary index by state in the back of the book but never completed it. Housed in a special gilt lettered double slip case. 

[With:] The Book of Common Prayer, and Administration of the Sacraments; and other Rites and Ceremonies of the Church... Philadelphia, PA: King & Baird, 1852. Small 32mo (3 x 4 1/2 in.) Bound in brown leather with "Prayer" in gilt on spine (surface wear, partial separation at spine). Front free endpaper with ownership inscription, "A.M. Keeler, Libby Prison, Richmond, VA, 1864." Noted on the margins of this Bible are dates, places, and thoughts of the owner while a prisoner in various southern prisons, including Macon, GA, Roper's Hospital in Charleston, SC, Asylum Prison in Columbia, SC, and Camp Holmes Prison in Raleigh, NC. Housed in a presentation box constructed of buckram and paper to appear as a book, with gilt spine. 

[With:] 5 Confederate newspapers collected and saved by Alonzo Keeler while a prisoner of war of the Confederacy, including: The Daily South Carolinian. Columbia, SC: 18 October 1864. 4pp. -- The Charleston Mercery. Charleston, SC: 27 August 1864. 2pp. -- The Charleston Mercury. Charleston, SC: 9 September 1864. 2pp. -- The Charleston Daily Courier. Charleston, SC: 22 September 1864. 2pp. -- The Charleston Daily Courier. Charleston, SC: 1 September 1864. (Each have been folded multiple times, typical consistent with wear and age). The 5 newspapers are housed in a special gilt lettered slipcase. -- 2 1/2 x 2 1/4 in. wood fragment with applied label, "This piece of wood is part of the original floor of Libby Prison Building." Signed Jno. L. Ransom, Manager. Ransom authored a book on Andersonville Prison. This was likely issued at the time Libby Prison was moved to Chicago for the 1890s World's Fair. The wood is embedded in a presentation box constructed of buckram and paper to appear as a book, with gilt spine. 

[Also with:] CASEY, Silas. Infantry Tactics for the Instruction, Exercise, and Maneuvers of the soldier, a Company, Line of Skirmishers, Battalion, Brigade, or Corps D'Armee. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1862. Vols. I, II, III. (shelf wear; contents toned, staining, spotting throughout). Each volume, front free endpaper stenciled, "Alonzo M. Keeler, Capt. Co B. 22nd. M.I." 

Provenance: Alonzo Martin Keeler, 22nd Michigan Infantry. Accompanied by typed letter signed by previous owner indicating that the autograph book, Bible, newspapers, and piece of wood were purchased from Keeler's great-grandson, Herber K. Gute of San Francisco, CA, in January 1957. 

Alonzo M. Keeler enlisted on 8/14/1862 as a captain and was commissioned into Company B, 22nd Michigan Infantry. He was taken prisoner at Chickamauga, GA, 9/20/1863, and confined at various southern military prisons, including Macon, GA, and Columbia, SC before being paroled 2/28/1865. He was promoted major 10/14/1864, and lieutenant colonel 3/13/1865 by brevet for "gallant and meritorious service during the war." Keeler mustered out 6/26/1865 at Nashville, TN, and was honorably discharged.

A rare and desirable group of artifacts collected by a Union officer confined at multiple Confederate prisons between 1864-1865.