Group including an inscribed copy of the rare first edition of the regimental history of the 1st Virginia Infantry by Sgt. Charles T. Loehr and a handsome scrapbook containing Loehr’s wartime and veteran-era photographs and ephemera. Items include: 

 1. Charles T. Loehr.  War History of the Old First Virginia Infantry Regiment, Army of Northern Virginia. Richmond, VA: Wm. Ellis Jones, 1884. 

8vo. Photographic frontispiece portrait of author. Original illustrated brown cloth, gilt. Housed with the “Personal Effects” (see below) in modern custom clamshell. FIRST EDITION. Broadfoot 6402; Howes L-425; Nevins I, p. 122; Nicholson, p. 478.

INSCRIBED BY THE AUTHOR to interior front board: “This is the only / copy I have so / please return to / Wm A. Loehr / Imperial Tobacco Co. / 5th  + Franklin.” With additional ownership inscription by Loehr to facing front free endpaper. 

VERY RARE. Only 4 copies have sold at auction since 1920. 

A scarce first edition regimental history of the 1st Virginia Infantry. In his introduction to the book, dated February 1884, Loehr wrote, “The following sketch of the career of the ‘Old First,’ during the war, is derived from a diary and the personal recollections of the writer; use also is made of written statements of some of his comrades.” Nevins describes Loehr’s “diary-based reminiscences” as “an above-average personal narrative on service in Lee’s army.” 

 2. The Personal Effects of Sgt. Charles T. Loehr 1st Va. Infantry 1841-1915. Collection of ephemera mounted in modern custom scrapbook with captions. 

8vo. Modern custom one-quarter morocco with gilt-lettered morocco label to front board. 

Provenance: Charles T. Loehr, by descent to Lois Brown, Annandale, Virginia, 1999 (title page of scrapbook). 

A beautifully arranged scrapbook containing personal effects from Charles T. Loehr, A book of personal effects from Loehr, purchased from his granddaughter, Mrs. Lois Brown, identified as his granddaughter, in Annadale, Virginia in 1999. The album includes a CDV of Lehr by Reese, and notably, a very rare view of Pickett, the last portrait taken of him before his death in 1875, given to Loehr by Mrs. Pickett. The assemblage also contains multiple postwar mementos, including several reunion items from when he accompanied Mrs. LaSalle Pickett, General Pickett’s widow, to the 1906 Gettysburg reunion. A complete list of included items is below. 

Charles T. Loehr (1842-1915) was born in Germany and emigrated with his family to Richmond, Virginia. A clerk before the Civil War, Loehr helped to organize Company D during the formation of the 1st Virginia Infantry Regiment, which was organized in May 1861 in Richmond.

The regiment saw heavy action, first fighting at Blackburn’s Ford, before continuing to fight in several battles during the Peninsula Campaign. At Second Bull Run (Manassas), they were part of Longstreet’s flank attack, capturing the guns of the 5th Maine Battery, but suffering heavy losses. Shortly after, they were bloodied again at Antietam while fighting against the IX Corps on Cemetery Hill. 

At Gettysburg, the regiment took part in Pickett’s charge on the right flank, engaging with the Philadelphia Brigade near the Angle. Loehr describes Pickett’s Charge, writing, “As Wilcox had fallen behind, Pickett and his heroes were left alone to breast the awful tempest. With marvellous [sic] precision they delivered a volley at the breastworks in their front, and then with their resounding yells rushed up the crest of Cemetery Ridge and took possession of the works at the point of the bayonet. But at what fearful cost! Garnett was dead; Armistead lunged forward, mortally wounded, while cheering on the breastworks; Kemper was helpless; the dead and dying were everywhere, and the triumph was only a few minutes’ duration.” Loehr was wounded in the face and arm, though he was able to retreat to Confederate lines. 

After Gettysburg, the 1st was detached from the Army of Northern Virginia and moved to North Carolina, fighting at the Battles of Drewry’s Bluff and Cold Harbor, where he was wounded once again. Loehr continued serving with the 1st during the Siege of Petersburg, fighting at the Battle of Five Forks, where he was captured. He was held at Point Lookout (see Confederate note, No. 5) until he took the oath of loyalty and returned to Richmond in June. 

After the war, Loehr was deeply involved in veteran affairs, serving as president of Pickett’s Division Association, a member of the R.E. Lee camp, organizing several reunions (including the first North-South Gettysburg Reunion in 1887), and serving in prominent roles during reunions. In 1906, he attended the Gettysburg Reunion, where General Pickett’s widow, LaSalle Pickett, was also a guest.   

When he died in 1915, he was interred at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, alongside over 18,000 other Confederate veterans, including General George Pickett. 

A large collection of Loehr's personal papers and mementos are held by The Library of Virginia (51904, Charles T. Loehr Collection, 1862-1943). This collection is a rare opportunity to acquire choice relics directly from the collection of a veteran of the 1st Virginia Infantry. 

Complete list of ephemera: 
1. Albumen CDV half-length portrait of George Pickett. N.p.: N.p., circa 1875. Period pencil inscription to verso: “Geo.. E. Pickett Camp C.V. / You have covered yourself with glory / Richmond.” Attributed as a gift from General Pickett’s widow Mrs. LaSalle Pickett to Loehr at Pickett’s internment at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond on 24 October 1875. Another copy of the image was published on p. 288 of R.A. Brock’s Gen. Robert Edward Lee: Soldier, Citizen, and Christian Patriot (1897), which identifies the view as the “Last Portrait of General Pickett.” No other copies were located. 

2. Vignetted albumen CDV portrait of Charles T. Loehr. Richmond, Virginia: Rees & Bro., circa 1864-65. Photographer’s imprints to mount recto & verso. Pencil identification to verso. 

3. Vignetted albumen CDV portrait of Nat. W. Bowe. Richmond, VA: Lee Photographic Gallery. SIGNED by Bowe to recto. Imprint to verso. Bowe, captured at Gettysburg, was tentmates with Loehr. 

4. Photograph of Maj. Genl. James L. Kemper. Attributed as gift from a VMI student.

 
5. $10 Confederate States of America note. Richmond, 17 February 1864. Printed by Keatinge & Ball of Charleston, SC. Serial No. 29215 penned in black ink. T68. With cavalry vignette and portrait of Robert M.T. Hunter. Attributed as Loehr’s note from during his incarceration at Point Lookout, Maryland. 

6. Souvenir German Given to Miss Davis. Gilt-printed silk ribbon. Richmond, VA, 1886.

7. Delegate Grand Camp C.V. of Va. Printed silk ribbon. Richmond: October 1897. 

8. Reunion calling card. [Gettysburg, PA], [1906]. Inscribed "Congratulations of Ladies Auxiliary / Geo. E. Pickett Camp C.V.” Attributed to 1906 Gettysburg Reunion when Loehr accompanied Mrs. LaSalle C. Pickett, George Pickett’s widow.

9. Society First Virginia Volunteer Infantry. Printed tri-color ribbon. Attributed to 1906 Gettysburg Reunion when Loehr accompanied Mrs. LaSalle C. Pickett, George Pickett’s widow. 

10. Gettysburg 1906. Gilt-printed white silk ribbon.

11. Old First Virginia Infantry Regiment. Printed silk ribbon. 

12. Loehr’s calling card as President of the Richmond Confederate Pension Board. 

13. High Tide at Gettysburg. Chromolithograph. From the Richmond, Va library of William Loehr (son).

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