Books and Manuscripts

"Daily Union Extra. Glorious News! The Army Of The Potomac Victorious! The Rebels Driven Four Miles And In Full Retreat. General Longstreet a Prisoner!...Our Army in the Best of Spirits..."

No place (presumed Rochester, New York), ca. July 1863. Long printed broadside; 27 5/8 x 5 3/ 8 in. (702 x 136 mm). Printed in one column, announcing the Union victory at the Battle of Gettysburg, reporting events of the final day of hostilities, casualties and prisoners, as well as an announcement of praise from President Lincoln. Scattered foxing; creasing; light dampstaining in top right; open tear at center. In mat and in frame, 32 x 9 1/2 in. (813 x 241 mm). Lengthy manuscript description on verso of frame written by Civil War collector Charles R. Hazard.

A large and rare broadside reporting the Union victory at Gettysburg, presumably published by the Daily Union News and Advertiser newspaper of Rochester, New York, following the battle's end on July 3, 1863. The broadside contains information from an official report given by commanding Union general George G. Meade, part of which describes Confederate general George Pickett's fateful charge on July 3--the Confederacy's last desperate attempt to turn the tide of the battle: "The enemy opened at 1 P.M. from about 150 guns concentrated on our left centre continuing without intermission for about three hours, at the expiration of which time he assaulted my left centre twice, being on both occasions handsomely repulsed, with severe loss to him, leaving in our hands nearly 3,000 prisoners. Among the prisoners are Brig. Gen. Amsted (sic) and many Colonels and officers of lesser rank..."

A final addendum from the editors states "that Gen. (James S.) Wadsworth is uninjured." James S. Wadsworth (1807-1864) was a Union brigadier general, and native of the Rochester area, whose well-being would have likely been of great interest to the paper's audience. While he survived the Battle of Gettysburg, and multiple other conflicts during the war, Wadsworth would die from wounds sustained at the Battle of the Wilderness, in May of 1864.

A fascinating piece of Civil War ephemera, this "extra" newspaper issue was likely set to type and printed as soon as the information was received, a 19th-century example of delivering "breaking news."

Rare. We can no other examples in the auction record.