Gettysburg: What to See, And How to See It, By John B. Bachelder, Seventh Edition, 1875

Bachelder, John. Gettysburg: What to see, and how to see it. Embodying Full Information For Visiting The Field. Beautifully Embellished with Wood-Cuts. With Complete index. Illustrated by the Isometrical Drawing of the Gettysburg Battle-field Showing the Position of Every Regiment and Battery of Both Armies. Boston: John B. Bachelder, 1875. Seventh Edition. In the publisher’s original seafoam green paper covers. Presented with a new cloth covered chemise and ¼ leather and cloth clamshell case. 

Presented is the seventh edition of John B. Bachelder’s Gettysburg: What to see and how to see it. The book was self-published by Bachelder in Boston; this seventh edition was printed in 1875. It is presented here in the publisher’s original seafoam green paper covers. It is now protected with a new, archival cloth covered chemise and ¼ leather and cloth clamshell case. 

From July 1 through July 3, 1863, Union and Confederate forces fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Union’s Army of the Potomac was under the command of General George G. Meade. General Robert E. Lee led the Confederate forces. Each day of battle saw heavier fighting and dramatically higher casualties, all of which culminated with a Confederate assault at Cemetery Ridge, known as Picket’s Charge. Although Confederates were able to pierce the Union lines, they eventually failed and Lee and his men were forced to retreat back towards Virginia, with thousands of casualties. 

Issued in 1875 as a both a guidebook to the historical site and a history of the battle, this book boasts “full information for visiting the field.” It is beautifully embellished with woodcuts, maps, and an “Isometrical Drawing of the Gettysburg Battle-field Showing the Position of Every Regiment and Battery of both Armies.”

John Bachelder (1825-1894) was a painter, lithographer, photographer and historian. Early in his career, from 1854-1863, he produced an important and appealing body of work depicting cities and towns in the northeastern United States. During the Civil War, Bachelder spent a year with the Army of the Potomac documenting various battles. He spent no fewer than 84 days traversing the field, making sketches, and interviewing soldiers and witnesses to the battle's events. Later that year, he published a spectacular and detailed bird’s-eye view of Gettysburg, his first published depiction of the battlefield. 

Bachelder went on to become the preeminent 19th-century historian of the battle, issuing engravings, maps, and books of the battle. He toured the country with his panoramic views of the battle, lecturing along the way. He also served as Superintendent of Tablets and Legends for the Gettysburg Battlefield Memorial Association for years, where he assumed a leading role in erecting battlefield monuments and organizing soldier reunions. 

CONDITION: 

Good condition overall, considering age and past use. In the publisher’s original seafoam green paper covers. Toning to paper covers, stains from old tape repairs, small splits and chipping along paper edges. Toning to interior pages. Issued with printed advertisements in front for "Five men of marked ability to sell my steel engraving of the Battle of Gettysburg..." as well as "Nine hundred and ninety-nine agents wanted to sell the Government Map of the Gettysburg Battlefield in every town, village, and city in the United States...." Illustrated throughout with images, maps, and diagrams. 124 pp, plus index 125-148, plus 4 more pages of ads. Presented with a new cloth covered chemise and ¼ leather and cloth clamshell case.

Accompanied by our company's letter of authenticity.