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SCHILLER B. HERMANN : 1891 ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT TRAVEL DIARY OF ONE MAN'S SOJOURN TO THE BATTLEFIELDS OF VIRGINIA AND PENNSYLVANIA 25 YEARS AFTER BROTHER FOUGHT BROTHER IN THE CIVIL WAR

48mo - over 3" - 4" tall. On offer is a fascinating, original, historic 1891 manuscript relic of one man's sojourn 25 years after the fact to many of the Civil War's battle sites. Handwritten by Schiller B. Hermann, as identified on the front cover plus his business card tucked in from Portland, Oregon he was the son of Oregon politician, Binger Hermann (1843-1926.) From April through May he writes in a 3" x 4.5" book 40 or so pages of notes first visiting Philadelphia and Valley Forge. The other entries for the most part center on the Civil War battlefields in Virginia. He describes the sites 25 years on with some riveting imagery. The back of the notebook contains names of the caretakers, books, etc. Here are some snippets: "Washington's teeth seen in a Dentist window worn by him at Valley Forge 1775 [?]. They are a solid piece of bone with the teeth cut in." (there is a small drawing.) Appomattox - Clover growing the field, ground very dry, Court House built in 1840, old Orchard where two armies met and the "Apple tree" - "Quick disappearance of the tree after the surrender even the roots." He sees "two darkies driving the hogs and playing their Banjoes & Singing." Petersburg - "I took a Hack and drove out to the Battle-ground. Sandy country...Peanuts & tobacco abound...25 cts admission is charge by Mr. Griffiths, a very well posted gentleman. (Hermann talks of battle between Beauregard, Lee and Grant.) "Grant's line and his breast works extended for 23 miles and they can all be plainly seen...Grant's men tunnelled under them from the west under the brow of the hill, all of which still remain though sunken in some places..." "We next drove to the National Cemetery where like the remains of 6500 dead about 500 know. The people of Richmond never visit these National Cemeteries and on Decoration Day the Negroes decorate the National and the whites Hollywood Cemetery." Writes of Pocohontas, sites: Train to Seven Pines, Fair Oaks - went across battlefield with Jim Lynes after buying relics from him. "Confeds are buried on every side, in some places they are so thick that their bones protrude above the ground. The ground where corn was growing 37 years ago is now covered thickly with pine timber 60 feet high...The cannon ruts still remain showing how soft the ground was when battle fought." Gaines's Mill, Chickahominy, Cold Harbor - "Many soldiers lie here this being a fierce battle. Confeds. used Union Dead for pillows...We now drove to Cold Harbor about 3 miles distant...and conversed with Mrs. Savage the Superintendent...Country much cultivated - corn rows." Mentions Grant, Lee. Mr. Savage was in war. Overall G+.. Manuscript. Book Condition: Good+

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