Beschreibung:

Lt. John Douglas Fowler, 4th AlaVI, CSMC, the only Confederate Marine officer to die while on active duty. Includes The Book of Common Prayer... According to the Use of the Protestant Episcopal Church.... Boston: C. Stimson, Jr. 4to, full leather boards, gilt spine, marbled endpapers. 1838. Second free end paper has inked inscription: Merrimac Cabin in one hand, and Lt. John Douglas Fowler / Confederate Marine Corps. / Officer on Ram Merrimac / Died while Commanding / Marine Corps at / Drery's [sic] Bluff, Va. / Drove back the Federal / Gunboat "Galena" / & saved Richmond / from Genl. Butler's / fleet of Gunboats. / in 1862. in another. Inside ffep: Property of Val. Taylor, Uniontown, Ala., This Book was given to me by Aunt Fannie Fowler, wife of Theo. G. Fowler, brother of John Douglas Fowler - V(?) Fowler, and This is one of most highly prized possessions I have. PLUS ALS, 16pp, 8 x 10". "Rapid Ann [Rapidan] Station," Culpeper City, Aug. 24, 1861. Addressed to Mrs. M.E. Terrell [Fowler's older brother Theo.'s mother-in-law]. This letter was partially transcribed in an article about Fowler by David M. Sullivan, in Civil War Times Illustrated, Feb. 1988. AND a cdv of Fowler with backmark of Bogardus, New York. John Douglas Fowler was born in Virginia to a middle class family. Hard times hit, and John moved with his brothers to Alabama, where opportunities appeared better. As war broke out, he enlisted in Co. D of the 4th Alabama Infantry, the "Canebrake Rifle Guards," and was sworn into service April 25, 1861. After a period of training and engagement in small skirmishes, they saw their first major battle. The 4th Ala. was assigned to Johnson's force at Winchester, but received orders to evacuate. From Fowler's letter: [T]he general impression was that we were falling back on Manassas to avoid a fight with Patterson, but we were not long left in doubt.... Beauregard notified Johnson ...that he had fought and won a battle that day with a loss to the enemy of over eight hundred, but that the enemy was collecting in large force with the intention of giving him battle, also, that he (Beauregard) thought he could hold his position for forty-eight hours, and ... hoped that Johnson might be able to join him in that time. Johnson informed them that this would be a forced march, traversing 36 miles of mountainous country without rest, after which they waited in rain at Piedmont station for a train to carry them to Manassas Junction, ...arriving there at 9 O'clock. We...bivouacked about half way between Bull run and the Junction, in a fine piece of woods. It fell to my lot to be on duty Saturday night as Corporal of the guard, as all of the Corporals were Sick, or broke down. He describes the start of the battle: I was just finishing my breakfast, (a Slice of Shoulder broiled on the coals, and two hard crackers, washed down with a good drink of branch water) when they fired thir first gun (Cannon) at half past Six. Our regiment was immediately ordered to form, which we did in quick time, and then our gallant and lamented Bee rode in front of us and in a clear trumpet like voice gave the command, "right face" "forward march" to which we responded with a "hurrah," and off we marched in quick time, in the direction of the firing of the "Yankee" guns, in high Spirits and the now good prospect of Seeing a live Yankee with a musket in his hand. He vividly describes the fury of the battle after arriving in the vicinity: We only remained here a few minutes as it was obvious that it was not his intention to attack us at this point..., we could see the "rascals" filing up to Bull run on the north Side. We then Knew that it was their intention to outflank us on our left and then commenced a desperate race between the "Yankee rascals" and ourselves, they striving to outflank us and we, as determindly [sic] Striving to prevent them. On, On, we Sped, nothing checking Speed through woods and briarfields, up and down hills, across branches and creeks,