The Scout And Ranger : Being The Personal Adventures Of Corporal Pike Of The Fourth Ohio Cavalry. As A Texas Ranger, In The Indian Wars, Delineating Western Adventures; Afterward A Scout And Spy, In Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, And The Carolinas, Under General Mitchell, Rosecrans, Stanley, Sheridan, Lytle, Thomas, Crook, And Sherman. Fully Illustrating The Secret Service

JAMES PIKE

Publication: J R Hawley & Co, 1865, Cincinnati and New York

First edition, first issue, with the frontispiece portrait in oval and not having the words, "Indian Red," on page 151. This copy does not have the errata leaf, as it is seldom present. 8vo. This copy is rebound in two-tone red quarter leather and cloth, with titles and devices stamped in gilt on the spine, raised bands gilt lined, bright read marbled front and rear endpapers, teg, xi, 19 - 394 pp., frontispiece [portrait of Corporal Pike], preface, illustrated, plates.

Jenkins Basic Texas Books 162 says, "This is an interesting reminiscence of a Yankee who became a Texas Ranger and later a Union spy.... he joined John Henry Brown's Texas Ranger Company at Belton. During the next two years he saw almost continual action in the vicious Indian campaigns of that period, including ranger service under J. M. Smith. His recollection of these events are among the most vivid on record and, except for an occasional exaggeration, verifiably accurate." Tate Indians of Texas 2409 says, "A good firsthand account, filled with details about ranger operations against Comanches. Other Texas tribes are also covered....." Dobie p.60 says, "Pike tells a bully story to be ranked along with the personal narratives of those other two vivid ranger chroniclers, James B. Gillett and N. A. Jennings." Coulter Travels in the Confederate South 372 says, "This is a remarkable narrative, surprisingly true in its main discussion but undoubtedly embellished in details. It is peppered with characteristic travel incidents, local customs, and descriptions of the country traversed."Pike also received high praise from Generals Grant, Crook, Sherman, Thomas, and Sheridan for his work as a spy during the Civil War. After the war he returned to Ohio to write this book. Afterwards, he rejoined the army and went west to San Francisco assigned to Indian service. He died in 1867, due to an accident when his rifle jammed during an Indian attack, he angrily broke the barrel of his rifle over a rock which exploded the cartridge and he received a wound from which he never recovered.

Leather lightly rubbed and worn along spine and corners else a tight clean copy in very good condition.