A Rebel War Clerk's Diary
Condensed, edited, and annotated by Earl Schenck Miers
by John B. Jones
Sagamore Press, Inc., 1958, New York

CONDITION:
Well kept copy with original jacket, tight and unmarked, mild jacket edge wear.

ATTRIBUTES:
First edition. Hardcover. Bound in cloth over boards.

DESCRIPTION:
John B. Jones's *A Rebel War Clerk's Diary* offers a unique and invaluable first-hand account of the Confederacy during the American Civil War. As a senior clerk in the Confederate War Department in Richmond, Virginia, Jones was privy to the inner workings of the Confederate government and military planning. His diary, which he meticulously kept with the intention of future publication, covers the entire span of the war, from Sumter Day to April 1865, including the assassination of Lincoln.

The diary is significant for its comprehensive content, detailing not only major aspects of the war but also the daily life in wartime Richmond. Jones recorded confidential files, command-level conversations, official correspondence, rumors, statistics, weather reports, and his personal opinions, much of which is not found elsewhere in Civil War literature. He documented the internal struggles within the Confederate government, conflicts between the president and military officers, and the escalating prices and inflation that plagued the Confederacy. This provides a rich backdrop to the military and political events he describes.

John Beauchamp Jones himself was a successful novelist and journalist before the war, known for his books like *Wild Western Scenes* and *Wild Southern Scenes*. While his earlier fictional works were characterized by a florid style and exaggerated action, his diary stands in contrast as simple, direct, and perceptive. Collectors would find this book interesting not only for its historical significance as a primary source for understanding the Confederacy, but also as the magnum opus of a writer who, through his diligent record-keeping, provided an unparalleled eyewitness perspective on a pivotal period in American history.

FLASHBACK TO 1958 WHEN THIS BOOK WAS PUBLISHED:
When this book was published in 1958, the Space Race ignited as the US launched Explorer 1 and NASA was founded, while political tensions flared with the Suez Crisis aftermath and the establishment of the European Economic Community. Fidel Castro's revolution gained momentum in Cuba, and the world mourned the passing of Pope Pius XII, while in the US, the first Grammy Awards were held, and the hula hoop became a national craze. This was a year of burgeoning civil rights movements, atomic age anxieties, and a vibrant cultural scene across America and beyond.

Page Count: 545

Location: 01-05-01 #081