[Manuscript]: "A Leaf from the Log Book of the Minnie." Narrative Account of a Sailboat Visit to West Point by William Sturgis
by STURGIS, William
- Used
- near fine
- Condition
- Near Fine
- Seller
-
Gloucester City, New Jersey, United States
Payment Methods Accepted
About This Item
The undated manuscript, written not long after the Civil War, recounts Sturgis's week-long stay at the quarters of "Our friend the Colonel" on the West Point campus. The narrative account begins on a Saturday at dusk: "The good yacht our floating home came gracefully sliding around the point ... and lowered her sails off the old wharf at West Point, the place where rocks & cadets stand perpendicular... ." After announcing their presence with a cannon shot, the Colonel "responded to the call of our artillery as promptly as he did to the long roll on the Banks of the Shenandoah on that dusky morning when the Johnnies came out of the mist like so many phantoms ... We soon had him on board & found we were just in time for the Dress Parade at sunset ... ."
Thus begins Sturgis's detailed description of his visit as he ascends the mount by carriage and attends the Dress Parade, and giving his impressions throughout the course of his stay of the "thousand soldiers at the Point divided between Cavalry, Artillery, & Engineers." Of particular interest is his description of "Old Put" (Fort Putnam, then in a ruined state), the picture gallery, the library, and other galleries in which were displayed many famous artifacts seized during the Mexican-American War. He often embellishes his observations with historical context, including Benedict Arnold's famous act of treason. Several other buildings on the campus are described, including the chapel, the Colonel's quarters, etc., along with several other military drills, including a cavalry exercise and its impressive leaping drills. In gratitude, Sturgis and his party take the Colonel for a sail on the Hudson.
An interesting, humorous and contemporary account of West Point and the surrounding area, written soon after the rapid modernization of the campus during the 1850s, often romanticized by the graduates on both sides of the Civil War as the "end of the Old West Point era.".
Details
- Bookseller
- Between the Covers- Rare Books, Inc. ABAA (US)
- Bookseller's Inventory #
- 407115
- Title
- [Manuscript]: "A Leaf from the Log Book of the Minnie." Narrative Account of a Sailboat Visit to West Point by William Sturgis
- Author
- STURGIS, William
- Format/Binding
- Unbound
- Book Condition
- Used - Near Fine
- Quantity Available
- 1
- Place of Publication
- West Point, New York
- Date Published
- 1866
- Keywords
- Americana, Manuscript, Travel/GeographicNon-fiction, Nautical, Military, Military-CivilWar, NYCinterest
- Bookseller catalogs
- Americana;
Terms of Sale
Between the Covers- Rare Books, Inc. ABAA
All books are first editions unless otherwise noted. All books are returnable within ten days if returned in the same condition as sent. We accept VISA, MASTERCARD, AMERICAN EXPRESS, DISCOVER, PAYPAL, checks and money orders. New Jersey residents please add 6.625% sales tax. All items guaranteed, all items subject to prior sale. Members ABAA, ILAB. Shipping is $4.50 for Media Mail, $10.00 for Priority Mail or UPS Ground. Tracking is provided for every order. Alternate shipping available by request. Shipping costs are based on books weighing 2.2 LB, or 1 KG. If your book order is heavy or oversized, we may contact you to let you know extra shipping is required.
About the Seller
Between the Covers- Rare Books, Inc. ABAA
About Between the Covers- Rare Books, Inc. ABAA
Glossary
Some terminology that may be used in this description includes:
- Octavo
- Another of the terms referring to page or book size, octavo refers to a standard printer's sheet folded four times, producing...
- New
- A new book is a book previously not circulated to a buyer. Although a new book is typically free of any faults or defects, "new"...
- Fine
- A book in fine condition exhibits no flaws. A fine condition book closely approaches As New condition, but may lack the...
- Unbound
- A book or pamphlet which does not have a covering binding, sometimes by original design, sometimes used to describe a book in...