2070

2 DIARIES OF CONFEDERATE LT. JAMES H. POLK, A CON

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:1,500.00 USD Estimated At:3,000.00 - 6,000.00 USD
2 DIARIES OF CONFEDERATE LT. JAMES H. POLK, A CON
2 DIARIES OF CONFEDERATE LT. JAMES H. POLK, A CONFEDERATE PRISONER AT HILTON HEAD, S.C. James H. Polk was the nephew of President Polk, grandson of Ezekiel Polk of the American Revolution & nephew of Gen. Leonidas "Bishop" Polk. Polk was captured as a Leiut. in the Confederate Army, and became a member of the "Immortal 600" at Hilton Head. A despicable event in the annals of the Civil War wherein 600 Confederate prisoners were placed in a stockade in front of the Union fort at the Siege of Charleston. They were fed starvation rations and essentially meant to be a shield for the fort being exposed to artillery fire from the Confederate ships. Grouping consists of civilian ambrotype of James Polk at Chapel Hill, North Carolina. First diary is about 7" x 5" and contains over 100 pages of entries spanning July 1, 1859 to July 8, 1860. Front page of diary is signed "JAMES H. POLK, ASHWOOD, TENNESSEE, JULY 1, 1859". Polk here is a student at the University of North Carolina and writes of pre-war politics, fraternity life, and family. Second diary is leather bound, 5" x 3". Front page is signed "JAMES H. POLK, C. CHASE. OHIO, FEBRUARY 8, 1864". Confederate Prisoner of War diaries are quite rare. Diary is about half filled out with Confederate poetry and songs, political comments, entries and signatures by other Confederate officers. Copies of pertinent information from various military records is also included. CONDITION: Generally good. 4-56156 JS213 (3,000-6,000)