The History of North and South America From its Discovery, to the Death of General Washington. In Two Volumes

Philadelphia: Johnson & Warner, 1809. Leather bound. Fair. 12mo. Two volumes in one. [4], 196 pages, [1]; 166 pages. Illustrated with folding maps of North and South America. Brown calf leather binding with leather title label on the spine. Leather is dry and rubbed on the board edges and outer joints. Front and rear end sheets have been removed. Text is moderately toned with scattered foxing. Maps have irregular folds. Approx. 2" closed tear to the North American Map. The South American map also has a closed tear from the left edge. No missing content. A fair copy.

Three inscriptions from previous owners on the blank front end paper preceding the frontispiece map - "James Sampson Book Dec. 29th 1814 Zanesville" [AND] "Mrs G. W. Morgan Mount Vernon Ohio" [AND] "For her daughter Harriet D. Coffinberry March 99." This copy belonged to the George Washington Morgan family of Mount Vernon, Ohio. The first inscription was by James Sampson believed to be the father of Mrs. George Washington Morgan. George Washington Morgan was a famous Military officer and politician. Their had a daughter named Harriet Coffinberry.

From Ancestry:

GEORGE W. MORGAN Morgan, George W., brigadier-general, was born in Washington, Pa., Sept. 20, 1820. He entered Washington college, but left when sixteen years old to enlist in a company organized for the purpose of assisting Texas to gain her independence, and at the age of eighteen years he was in command of Galveston. He entered the United States military academy in 1841, but left in 1843, studied law, and practiced at Mt. Vernon Ohio, until the beginning of the Mexican war. In that conflict he served first as colonel of the 2nd Ohio volunteers and then of the 15th U. S. infantry, and was engaged at Contreras, and at Churubusco, where he was severely wounded. For his gallantry he was brevetted brigadier-general and was awarded the thanks of the legislature of Ohio, and was presented with a gold sword by the citizens of that state. He was United States consul at Marseilles, France, 1856-58, and minister to Portugal, 1858-61; was commissioned brigadier-general of volunteers, Nov. 12, 1861, and assigned to duty under Gen. Buell.

In March, 1862, he assumed command of the 7th division, Army of the Ohio, and was ordered to occupy Cumberland gap, and, if possible, drive the Confederates out of East Tennessee. He took possession of Cumberland gap, June 18, 1861, but in September of that year retreated toward the Ohio, as its importance in a general campaign was disproportionate to the force required to maintain it. He commanded a division under Gen. Sherman at the battle of Chickasaw bluffs, Vicksburg, Miss., under Gen. McClernand at the capture of Fort Hindman Ark., Jan. 11, 1863, and on June 8, 1863, he resigned on account of ill health. He was an unsuccessful candidate on the Democratic ticket for governor of Ohio in 1865, and was congressman, 1867-69 and 1871-73. He died at Old Point Comfort, Va., July 26, 1893. Source: The Union Army, vol. 8.