Elisha Franklin Paxton. John Gallatin Paxton, compiler. Memoir and Memorials Elisha Franklin Paxton. [New York]: [Printed by the De Vinne Press], 1905.

8vo. Frontispiece portrait with facsimile signature. Original blue cloth. Top edge gilt, others untrimmed FIRST EDITION, FIRST ISSUE. "Printed, not published." Howes P-147.

Provenance: Randolph Barton, two ownership inscriptions to the interior front cover and front free endpaper, one dated January 1906 and the other notes the copy was "from the author."; Marshall D. Krolick Collection

A fine association copy of the very scarce first issue of the memoirs of Elisha Franklin Paxton, the Confederate Brigadier General who served on the staff of Stonewall Jackson and died commanding the Stonewall Brigade during the Battle of Chancellorsville.

The author, Paxton's son, presented this copy to Randolph Barton (1844-1921), who served on Paxton's staff. Barton served in the 33rd and 2nd Virginia Infantries, reached the rank of Captain, was taken as a prisoner of war at Kernstown, confined at Fort Delaware, and was wounded in action at both Manassas and Chancellorsville. Barton was next to Paxton when he was slain, writing in a letter: "I placed my arm under him, when he muttered, 'Tie up my arm', and died. He was not shot in the arm, but through the heart." (Sears, Chancellorsville, p. 330).

In this copy, Barton has made annotations to the text on four pages. On page 80, he notes that "I was at this time Brevet 2nd Lieut in Co. K 2n3 Va Inf." signed with his initials. Also notably, he makes a correction to a letter from Henry K. Douglas to Mrs. Paxton regarding Paxton's death. Douglas wrote that Paxton "lifted his hand to his breast-pocket." Barton underlines the quote and avers "he did not" alongside other corrections. Very rare, only one copy has appeared at auction since 1963. Most copies available are the 1907 reissue or later facsimiles. This association copy is singular with the annotations of Barton.

A fine copy for the Stonewall collector.

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