Fortress Monroe and Old Point Comfort, ca. 1880

Description: Offered here is an Extremely RARE Antique Military History Civil War Related Book - despite extensive searhing I find only ONE other copy online - priced at $1250: Fortress Monroe and Old Point Comfort, 1880, approx. 9 1/4" X 8 1/4" X 3/8". Original wraps, very good, with bumps and stressing at the extremities and along to edges - has a light musiness. Wonderful album of period, captioned photos of "Fortress Monroe", which was a Union stronghold in Hampton, VA, at the southern tip of the Viginia Peninsula, also known as "Freedom Fortress". The album inlcudes 25 pasted-in photographs (including 2 panoramics) of Ft. Monroe and the Old Point Comfort. Among them are photos of the "colored" Normal school, the building in which Jefferson Davis was imprisoned, the U.S.S. Maine and the U.S.S. Columbia. The album has held up very nicely in its dark-blue, ribbon-tied card wrappers, with circular exterior-shot of Fortress Monroe affixed to the front panel. Light rubbing to the titling, otherwise clean as could be, with each photo in near-pristine to pristine condition. Shipped in plastic, between stiff cardboard and with delivery confirmation and includes insurance. Fort Monroe is the largest stone fortification ever built in the United States. Construction began in 1819 and continued for 15 years. Second Lt. Robert E. Lee served as an engineer at Fort Monroe from 1831 to 1834. During the Civil War, Fort Monroe played an important strategic role for the Union because of its proximity to the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay, and the James and York rivers. The fort also sits on the southern tip of the James/York Peninsula, a strategic route to Richmond. The North Atlantic Blockading Squadron used the fort as a base and several amphibious expeditions to capture Confederate ports were organized from Fort Monroe. Fort Monroe was the only Union controlled fortified base in the Upper South and it soon became known as the “Freedom Fort” by blacks who sought escape from bondage. Brig. Gen. Benjamin F. Butler’s decision while commanding Fort Monroe in May 1861 to declare escaping slaves as “contraband of war” was the Civil War’s first step towards it becoming a war about freedom. Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan used Fort Monroe as his primary base for the Peninsula Campaign’s first phase. President Abraham Lincoln came to the fort in May 1862 hoping to further cooperation between the army and navy and increase the campaign’s pace. While here, President Lincoln formulated the plans for the capture of Norfolk, which would cause the eventual destruction of the Confederate ironclad CSS Virginia (Merrimack). Fort Monroe continued to serve as an important Union base throughout the war. The war’s last army-navy amphibious operation against Fort Fisher in North Carolina was launched from here. Lincoln returned to Fort Monroe once again in February 1865 to attend the Hampton Roads Peace Conference. This conference, actually held on board a steamer in Hampton Roads harbor, failed to restore peace. Jefferson Davis, the former Confederate president, was imprisoned at Fort Monroe following the war’s conclusion.Please go to my me button for additional information on collectibles we are offering!PLEASE leave positive feedback - I always do.Please be sure to check our store, Myers Collectibles, where we have thousands of items listed.Each week we list Over 100 new Antiques & Collectibles for sale! Always some superb items! You might want to keep us as a "favorite seller" and check back often on our offerings - you'll always find something special.We do discount shipping costs for multiple purchases.Shipping Procedures I pride myself on quick shipping. I ship next business day after payment is received. Please note Buyers from outside of the United States are responsible for any and all duties, tariffs or other fees that YOUR country may impose. Once a package is in the Postal Service hands, I loose control over it. Generally for US shipments you can expect delivery within 3 or 4 business days (or 3-9 for media rate). For non-US shipments, once the package leaves the US, even the USPS looses control over it. I can not predict transit times for these packages. They quite often are held up in customs in the receiving country. Please be patient.

Price: 401.99 USD

Location: Watervliet, New York

End Time: 2024-12-19T13:11:21.000Z

Shipping Cost: N/A USD