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Auction: 317 - The Collector's Series
Lot: 1084

Civil War: Snyder, George W.. Born in Cobleskill, NY, Snyder was the "great grandson of the old patriot Nicholas Warner"; an honors graduate of West Point in 1856, he was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers; raised to First Lieutenant, he arrived at Fort Sumter September 21, 1860; there he helped evacuate Maj. Anderson's command from Fort Moultrie to Fort Sumter. Autograph Book Signed. Snyder's copy of "Elements of Chemistry" by Kane, NY 1854, which he used while at West Point, signed "G W Snyder U S M A" in ink on the front endpaper, and again "George W Snyder USMA" in pencil on the title page. After Fort Sumter's surrender, Snyder served as an engineer in the 3rd Division of the Army of Northeastern Virginia, participating in the First Battle of Bull Run. He was brevetted Captain, and later Major for "gallant and meritorious service in the Manassas Campaign." He died, while on duty in 1861 likely of typhoid fever -- "While acting as First Lieutenant under Major Anderson, he was with the gallant company that held Fort Sumter against the misguided Carolinians, and it was through exposure and the use of unwholesome food and water, that he was attacked with a diarrhoae which became chronic, and closed his life upon the 17th of November, 1861" (`History of Schoharie County, 1713-1882', Volume 2, by William E. Roscoe). It is most probable that this book was among other personal items that Snyder had with him during the bombardment of Fort Sumter. Snyder's pencil notations are scattered throughout the book. The book itself has a minor tear along the spine and is Very Good, the signatures Fine.

Sold for
$150