American Historical Ephemera and Photography

Lot includes loose pocket diary pages, 23pp, containing manuscript war-dated entries (various dates, bulk Nov-Dec 1862), primarily in pencil (some entries light but legible, creasing, light soil), including 5pp detailing incidents related to the Battle of Fredericksburg, also including various notations, and copies of the letters written recommending his promotion in the field. Pages in Rhodes's hand and appear to have been removed from multiple diaries. Pages found within a pink cloth map folder containing a 15 x 27 in. folded color map titled "Map of the Seat of War in Virginia, Maryland, &c." by J.H. Colton, New York, 1862 (heavy wear and dampstaining to pink cloth, map with some tears along folds, wear, toning, loss upper right corner). Inscribed on interior map cover is "E.H. Rhodes / Adjutant / 2d R I Vols." Rhodes attained the rank of adjutant in November 1863, and carried map with him throughout the war as evidenced by his added notations with updated rank, "Lt. Col." [February 1865] / "Comdg 2 RIV" [June 1864] / Brevet Col US Vols 1865."

Sample diary entries include: "Nov. 9th 1862. Genl McClellan took leave of the Army of the Potomac being superseded by Genl Ambrose E. Burnside." "Thursday, Dec 11/62. Left Camp near Bell Plain at 1 o clock AM and reached the Rappahannock was opposite the city of Fredericksburg where 200 Union Batteries were preying on the Rebel works on the opposite side. After heavy cannonading all day the two pontoon bridges were finished and at dark Co's 'F' 'B' & 'K' charged the bridges at double quick followed by the balance of the 2d RIV...." "Saturday Dec 13/62. Firing resumed at 8 AM and the engagement became general. Our camp was shelled by the enemy at noon and we had to change our position. Gunner on the right at this city was hotly engaged and the long lines of the enemy could be seen charging down the hill in front of the fort...."

[With:] U.S. Infantry Tactics, For the Instruction, Exercise, and Maneuvers, of The Soldier, A Company, Line of Skirmishers, an Battalion; for the Use of The Colored Troops of the United States Infantry. New York: D. Van Norstrand, 1863. First edition. 63 plates, 16 mo., 445pp. (wear esp. at spine, inside front cover with boldly stenciled initials "JFC" across from penciled inscription "J.F. Crocker / 2nd Regt R I Vol." Additional pencil notation on the inside of flyleaf: "My memo on opposite page is as near as I can remember as to the place and time of the incident and is written nine years after my father's death. C.N. [Charles Nevitt]." Nevitt's original memorandum opposite this memo reads "Capt. C.R. Nevitt, Co E - 5th Wis picked up this book on the battlefield near Petersburg Va. a few days before Appomattox 1865. Chas. Nevitt (son) Oshkosh Wis." A T.L.S laid in at back cover, 1p, Oshkosh, 11 December 1916, Nevitt to Elisha Hunt Rhodes regarding a book about the Petersburg Campaign sent by Rhodes to Nevitt. An accompanying letter housed loose within the book, 25 November 1916, also Nevitt to Rhodes, indicates Nevitt's excitement that Rhodes was acquainted with Crocker, the original owner of the volume. A rare association copy with a unique battlefield pick-up backstory.

Elisha Hunt Rhodes served for the entirety of the Civil War, rising from the rank of corporal in 1861, to commanding his regiment in 1864, and attaining the rank of colonel in 1865. He later served as Brigadier General Commanding the Rhode Island State Militia. Rhodes kept a diary throughout the war which, combined with his letters home, was published by his grandson. Quotes from Rhodes were utilized extensively in Ken Burns's landmark documentary The Civil War, bringing his Civil War experience to a national audience. Most of Rhodes's personal collection of relics and papers reside in the collections of the Rhode Island Historical Society.