Lexington During The Civil War By J. Winston Coleman / 1938 HC SIGNED

  
The Book: "Lexington During the Civil War" (1938). Published by the Commercial Printing Company in Lexington, Kentucky, this was a limited edition (only 250 copies initially). In this work, Coleman details how Lexington-known as the "Athens of the West"-was a city of divided loyalties, serving as a strategic prize for both the Union and the Confederacy. Key Detailed Themes from Coleman's 1938 Account. The "Neutrality" Period (1861): Coleman describes the tension in Lexington during the state's brief period of neutrality, where neighbors and families (including the Clays and Breckinridges) began choosing sides. The Occupations: The book provides a chronological account of the various shifts in power.

Union Occupation: General Nelson's entry into the city and the establishment of Camp Dick Robinson nearby. Confederate Occupation (1862): The arrival of General Edmund Kirby Smith following the Battle of Richmond. Coleman describes the brief, jubilant reception by Southern sympathizers and the inauguration of a provisional Confederate governor. The Return of the Federals: The re-occupation by Union forces after the Battle of Perryville and the increasingly harsh martial law that followed.

John Hunt Morgan's Raids: As a Lexington native, Morgan's "Christmas Raids" and his various incursions into the city are covered with specific detail regarding local skirmishes and the destruction of infrastructure (like the local railroad and the burning of government supplies). Social and Economic Impact: Coleman provides data on the "Starvation Parties" (social events where no food was served due to scarcity) and the impact of the war on Transylvania University, which was used as a military hospital. Prisons and Execution: He details the "Military Prison" (the old jail on Limestone Street) and the instances of Order No. 59, where Confederate sympathizers were executed in retaliation for guerrilla activities. 51 pages clean interior and tight binding / exterior is worn and spine is mostly gone / signed by author.