905

A "LUCKY" COLOR SERGEANT'S PRAYER BOOK

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles / Militaria Start Price:100.00 USD Estimated At:200.00 - 300.00 USD
A  LUCKY  COLOR SERGEANT'S PRAYER BOOK
An evocative (and as we shall see, likely very effective) prayer book carried by Confederate Pvt. James E. Tucker of the 2nd Va. Cavalry. The book contains the Acts of the Apostles (as contained within the Bible), about 60pp. 2 3/4" x 4 1/2", faux black leather covers, with Tucker's ownership signature on front flyleaf: "James E. Tucker Co. K 2nd Va. Cavalry Fitz Lee's Division Army No. Va.". At a later time the year "1863" was added beneath. A bookbinder carefully tipped this page, which is worn at left, back into the book some time ago, but there is do doubt that it is original to the book. The front cover is cleanly detached and should be reaffixed. As mentioned above, this book may have somehow "blessed" its owner, when one considers his wartime trevails. Tucker, 18 years old, enlisted on June 17, 1863 after running the blockaded to return to Virginia from England in order to sign up. He was wounded in the leg while bearing the colors at Aldie, Va., June 17, 1863 and hospitalized the next day. He returned to duty, but was again hospitalized for illness. A week after he returned to duty, on May 7, 1864 he was wounded in the left thigh and his horse was shot from under him at Spotsylvania Court House. He returned on Sep. 6, and was wounded by a sabre cut to his shoulder on Dec. 15. Tucker returned on Mar. 21, 1865 and surrendered with Lee's army at Appomattox. He would live in San Francisco to the ripe old age of 79.

Estimate: $200 - 300.

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Part I: Lots 1-979 - September 27th, 2012

Part II: Lots 980-1845 - September 28th, 2012