Inscribed Confederate Pocket Bible of Pvt. McGhee

nscribed Confederate Pocket Bible Belonging to Lucilius F. McGhee, Co. E, 15th Alabama Infantry

Pocket bible (New Testament), 3 x 4.75 in., 300+pp., published by the American Bible Society, New York, 1860. Bible inscribed on interior cover to Lucilius F. McGee of Co. E., 15th Alabama Infantry, by his sister, Melissa McGee of Clintonville, AL. Inscription below reads, "Read it for your sister's sake, and believe in Christ." Front flyleaf with inscribed biographical information about McGee, revealing that he left home in September of 1861 to join the Confederate States Army, and died shortly thereafter on November 15, 1861 in a hospital at Haymarket, VA at nineteen years of age. Inscription on the following page notes that the Bible was returned to McGee's sister after his death. Below, a faint and largely indecipherable pencil inscription (likely written by said friend) reads, in small part, "Farewell dear buddy..."

Lucilius Franklin McGee (1844-1861), a farmer originally from Georgia, enlisted in the CSA as a private on October 7, 1861, and mustered into Co. E, 15th Alabama Infantry the same day. Some records (including the HDS database, where he is listed as "S.F. McGhee") report that he died only about a week later, likely of disease.

The New Testament of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, Translated Out of The Original Greek. 209th ed. New York: American Bible Society, 1860.

Accompanied by typewritten transcription of legible portions of inscriptions, dated February 13, 1955.
Condition Report: Covers and spine still intact, though spine is completely missing outer covering. Heavy wear to cover edges and corners, with dampstaining and other discoloration to pages. Inscriptions with some ink bleeding, making them somewhat difficult to read.