1863 ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR SOLDIER’S TEXTBOOK OF PRIVATE EPPELSHEIMER-SIGNED-DATED

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1863 ORIGINAL CIVIL WAR SOLDIER’S TEXTBOOK OF PRIVATE EPPELSHEIMER-SIGNED-DATED:
$169.00

Title: THE SOLDIER’S TEXT – BOOK OR CONFIDENCE IN TIME OF WAR

Author: John Ross Macduff, D. D. (1818-1895)

Year Published: 1860-s by The American Tract Society, Boston

Condition: Good+. Faint bloodstains to outer and inner front cover and top and middle of beginning pages. Fold to cover. Wear to covers, edges and corners. First blank page with signature - partially detached. Text in nice condition, overall.

Covers: Soft, Pictorial with Gilt embossed Bible, Union Flags and Constitution.

Pages: 48 + 16 of “Hymn”

Dimensions: 3 ¼ X 5 Inches

This Listing is for an Ultra-Rare Civil War Soldier’s Prayer and Inspirational Book, carried by soldiers in battle. This volume was printed in Boston for Union soldiers. A similar book was printed by the General Tract Agency, in the South, for confederate troops, under the same name, but, apparently, missing the “Hymn” section.

This Book is Very Scarce, as it is not available anywhere for sale. What makes it even more special, is the fact that we know the name of the Private to whom it belonged, as it is signed and dated, in Pencil, on the first blank page:

L.H. Eppelsheimer – June 10, 1863

This is one of those rare occasions, when we have some of the military records for Private Lewis H. Eppelsheimer, who also used the Alias of Alexander L. Eppelsheimer. He can be found in his retirement records (under both names) and on the Roll of one of the Regiments (196th Pennsylvania Volunteers) in which he served.

The Retirement Records indicate two of his enlistments: June 26, 1863 with the Pennsylvania Volunteer Militia – 32nd Regiment, Company G (Mustered In June 26, 1863 and discharged August 1, 1863), and with the 196th Regiment, Company F – Pennsylvania Volunteers (enlisted July 15, 1864 and discharged November 17, 1864). The retirement records also indicate that he was an “Invalid”, with his Residence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and that he died on June 17 1924.

Before I uncovered the retirement records, I was under the impression that the book belonged to a soldier who lost his life in the war, due to the blood stains on the book. We know now, that Eppelsheimer survived the Civil War and retired as an Invalid, therefore, it appears that the bloodstains are from an injury he must have recovered from.

As for the regiments in which Private Eppelsheimer served, they were Volunteer regiments from Pennsylvania:

The 32nd Regiment Emergency Militia Infantry – was organized at Harrisburg on June 26, 1863, for the protection of Pennsylvania against Lee’s invasion. Duty in the Dept. of Susquehanna during Gettysburg (Pa) Campaign. Mustered out on august 1, 1863.

One Hundred Ninety-Six Regiment – was a Volunteer Pennsylvania Regiment, which was recruited under the auspieces of the Union League of Philadelphia, to serve for one hundred days and was known as the Fifth Union Regiment. It was organized at Camp Cadwalader, near the cityon July 20th, 1864 and a week later proceeded to Camp Bradford, at Mankin’ Woods, near Baltimore and was mustered out of service at Philadelphia on November 17th, 1864.

The Roll of the 196th indicates that Private L.H. Eppelsheimer was “Joined for Duty and Enrolled” by Captain John L. Luckenbach. The Role of the Union League Association of Philadelphia in recruiting men and supplying financial assistance for the Union effort was nothing short of remarkable. Today, the Union League is one of the elite private clubs in the US, faithful to their founding Motto: “Amor Patriae Ducit” (Love of Country Leads).

All in all, an Original and Amazing piece of American Civil War History.

International buyers: I am grateful for your offers, but please note that the “Free Shipping” applies only to shipping in the USA.

Thanks for your interest.