George W. Cullum. Biographical Register of the Officers and Graduates of the U.S. Military Academy, at West Point, N.Y. New York: D. Van Nostrand, 1868. 2 volumes, 8vo. Original green cloth. FIRST EDITION. Sabin 17865.

SIGNED TO FRONT FREE ENDPAPER OF VOL. I: "Geo. H. Howard / U.S.A." 

WITH Half-length albumen portrait of General George Henry Thomas in Major General uniform. 2 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. on 4 1/4 x 6 1/2 in. cardstock mount.

A noteworthy copy of the well-regarded West Point Register featuring the ownership inscription of George Henry Thomas (1816-1870) of the Class of 1840, the same as such notables as his future colleague General William Tecumseh Sherman.

General Thomas served in the Mexican-American War with distinction at the battles of Fort Brown, Resaca de la Palma, Monterrey, and Buena Vista. When the Civil War erupted, he remained loyal to the Union despite being a Virginian. He became one of the principal commanders in the Western Theater, successfully commanding troops at the siege of Corinth, the Battle of Perryville, Stones River, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, and Nashville.

The work itself was extremely popular in the post-war era, especially as most of the prominent figures of the conflict are included, prompting continuous publication and the issue of supplemental volumes. Nevins regarded the work highly: "a fundamental starting point for data on the war's leading commanders; provides full records of antebellum service."

[Civil War, Union, Confederate, Generals, Ephemera, Books, West Point, U.S. Military Academy, US Military Academy, United States Military Academy]