Lexington Gazette

Lexington, VA: McNutt & Edmondson, Thursday Morning, September 11, 1862. This issue only. Folio. 4 pp. The entire first page of this issue is filled with a day-by-day recounting of military movements along the Rappahannock River, August 19-23, a lead-up to Second Manassas, fought August 28-30; the other three pages are filled with reports about the battle at Manassas, including local casualties, dispatches concerning fighting in other theaters, letters from the field, and a variety of legal notices and advertisements, including a recruiting pitch for a local artillery company and a reward offered for the apprehension of a runaway slave. The Lexington Gazette was published as a weekly or semi-weekly, November 1860 through 1866 when it merged with another Lexington paper; because of shortages of paper, there were periods (e.g., July-August, 1862) during the Civil War when publication was suspended. This newspaper not located by Crandall. Gregory's "American Newspapers, 1821-1936: A Union List of Files Available in the United States and Canada" records nine locations with issues, all but two with minimal representation: both Washington & Lee and the Rockbridge County Court House appear to have complete runs (though the W&L online catalogue now shows only microfilm editions). OCLC locates 10 institutions as holding issues, but none that we have been able to confirm have more than a few (e.g., UVA has two issues from 1864). Small hole and tear on first page repaired with archival tape on verso (resulting in several lost letters), but still legible. Folded but never bound with other issues. An engaging issue, replete with news of the Civil War, from a rare Confederate newspaper. (#5349). Item #58320

Price: $600.00