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6 1/4 inches x 10 in., title-page with Jacob Morris' Preface: "To The Public" on the reverse. 134 pp. An untrimmed copy; most pages are unopened. Blue-gray paper wrappers, sewn, with an ink inscription (possibly from publisher Jacob Morris) on the front cover: For Col. Robert Troup. The paper-covered spine, edges of the wrappers and of the untrimmed paper show some wear, some tan spotting present to text. A mainly untrimmed and unopened cop; overall, in near fine condition. From the collection of Cleveland, Ohio-based book collector, William G. Mather (1857-1951), with his bookplate loosely inserted. The Cleveland Mather family had some connection with Cooperstown, and with James Fenimore Cooper. Robert Troup, who was a personal friend of Alexander Hamilton, served in the Revolutionary War, as did Jacob Morris, who had this Court Martial reprinted in 1823 to help vindicate Charles Lee, (the first edition of 100 copies, was Philadelphia, 1778). Robert Troup later pursued a legal career in New York. An exceedingly rare and fragile item that rarely comes up for sale. Jacob Morris Preface: To do justice to the memory of a gallant, frank, and warm hearted soldier of the Revolution, who, although not a native born American, was surpassed by few of that eventful period, in zeal and devotion to the cause of this country; I have directed to be republished the proceedings of the Court Martial that decided on the conduct of the late General Charles Lee, at the battle of Monmouth. Now, that the party excitement which unhappily existed in the army at that day, is almost forgotten, and nearly all the distinguished actors of that glorious era removed from the world, much might be said, without injury to the feelings of their surviving descendants, to shew that General Lee was harshly dealt by. My enlightened fellow-citizens of the United States, will be satisfied, I think, on the perusal of the annexed copy of the trial of that Officer, that the sentence emanated from feelings in the members of that court, not very friendly towards him. I was on the fields of Monmouth with General Lee's division, as a volunteer, attached to a troop of Light Dragoons, under Captain John Heard, commanding the cavalry of the State of New Jersey, and saw enough to impress me with a belief, in the language of a respectable military character now living, who was also present in that affair, that the conduct of General Lee, on the 28th of June, 1778, shewed great generalship, and that he deserved credit, and not censure. " Butternuts, Ostego County, State of New-York, Sept. 1823 Jacob Morris. Howes L-192, p. 336. Seller Inventory # M-84
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