Lee's Confidential Dispatches to Davis 1862-1865 by Douglas Southall Freeman - 1915

Lee's Confidential Dispatches, published in 1915, first edition. Crimson color covers and spine, title in gilt on spine, top of pages in gilt, rough cut edges of paper. Copy is in Good to Very Good condition with only minor bumping to the corners, top and bottom of spine shows wear. Map of "Eastern Virginia" at rear in Good condition, two very minor tears, rear endpaper has minor pencil marking. Front endpaper has bookplate of Gov. Frank O. Lowden and first free endpaper has 1939 US postage stamp of Washington and Lee's University Bicentennial celebration (see additional information below).

Portrait of Robert E. Lee with tissue paper protection. Three small black marks on rear. 400 pages total, 61 page index. Thirty five page introduction by Dr. Douglas Southall Freeman. Dr. Freeman provides extensive footnotes throughout.

Frank O. Lowden. U.S. Representative 1906-1911, Governor of Illinois 1917-1921, nominated for President 1920.

The following is provided by the University of Illinois – Special Collections:

"Frank O. Lowden Papers contains correspondences between Lowden and Francis P. Gaines, President of the Washington and Lee University (1930-1959), which one letter notes is Lowden's "honorary alma mater". The letters date from December 1931 - 1933. There are also letters between Lowden and Harry K Young, an alumni secretary of the school, regarding a donation that Lowden made (1934). There are further exchanges with Gaines 1934-1937."

Washington and Lee University bestowed a honorary law degree on Frank O. Lowden on June 9, 1931.

The bookplate was designed by Ralph M. Pearson and is shown in his book,

"A Portfolio of Original Etched Bookplates by Ralph M. Pearson". This bookplate is shown in the book as the third bookplate and is noted as being produced in 1913.

A 1949 postage stamp of Washington and Lee's bicentennial celebration is adhered to the first free endpaper. Washington and Lee University was celebrating a bicentennial in 1949, the United States issued a 3 cent stamp which was issued on April 12, 1949.

This group of books includes 4 items:

First edition (1915) of "Lee's Confidential Dispatches to Jefferson Davis 1862-1865"

Reprint (1957) of Lee's Dispatches to Jefferson Davis 1862-1865" in Good condition, dust jacket shows minor tears, wear and foxing to the interior of the dust jacket. Interior and map in Fine condition.

A copy of "The Virginia Magazine of History and Biography", January, 1989, Volume 97, Number 1.This volume has a 28 page article entitled "Our Joint Labor", W.J. De Renne, Douglas Southall Freeman, and Lee's Distpatches, 1910-1915" by William Harris Bragg. This item details the writing of Lee's Confidential Dispatches and the interaction of De Renne and Freeman.

A two volume set biography of Governor Lowden- "Lowden of Illinois", by William T. Hutchinson, 1957. These copies are from the J.E. Cobb Library, Central Baptist College, Conway, Arkansas. These two items have typical library

marking and adhered items.

Per WorldCat.org: During the evacuation of Richmond, these dispatches were hurridly placed in a trunk belonging to Burton Harrison, the private secretary to President Davis. The trunk was sent to Washington, Georgia, and later was sent to Harrison in New York where he had settled.
In 1876 one of the missing dispatches was printed by a Colonel Charles C. Jones who had gained access to the papers. Jefferson Davis, who was then preparing his history of the Confederate Government, inquired about the papers. They were missing from the trunk, but Jones insisted the letter he published had been borrowed from an unnamed person in Richmond. Ultimately the confidential dispatches became a part of the extensive collection of Wymberley Jones DeRenne of Georgia.