General Ellison Capers Memoirs with Signed Letter to the Publisher

A boxed display of a first edition book of General Ellison Capers memoirs printed in 1912 along with a signed letter by the general to his editor. The letter is framed in double sided glass with both sides of the letter exposed to read. The book is wrapped in plastic to preserve it and some other news clippings about the book and the General are included in the bottom of the box.

The Soldier-Bishop: by Ellison Capers.

New York: Neale Publishing Co., 1912. First edition. 367 pp. Illustrated from photographs, plates, portraits. Capers (1837-1908), a Charleston native, was elected major of a regiment at the beginning of the war, but advanced quickly, being promoted to colonel during the Atlanta campaign, and to Brigadier General in the aftermath of the defeat at Franklin, Tennessee, in 1864. Less than one hundred pages of this biography cover Capers' Confederate military career, the heaviest emphasis being on the 1863 and 1864 campaigns ... the large part of the volume covers the bishop's later career as a clergyman in South Carolina, and as Chancellor of the University of the South. Very good original gilt-stamped decorated blue cloth in very fine condition, boxed with new paper clippings and the letter.

At the outbreak of the Civil War, Capers joined the Confederate Army with the rank of major. He was present at the bombardment of Fort Sumter then saw action at James Island and the Battle of Secessionville; he next served on coastal defense duties until 1863, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel of the 24th South Carolina. In May 1863 the regiment joined the army of General Joseph E. Johnston for the Vicksburg Campaign. Capers was wounded in the leg at Jackson, Mississippi, but promoted to colonel.

Capers returned to field service in time for the Chickamauga Campaign with the Army of Tennessee. He fought in the disastrous Battle of Franklin where he was severely wounded. After the campaign he commanded a brigade, replacing States Rights Gist, who had been killed in action. Capers was promoted to brigadier general on March 1, 1865, shortly before the end of hostilities. He was captured at Bentonville, North Carolina, but there is no record of parole.

Code: 51806