Tarleton's History of the U.S. Revolutionary War

TARLETON, Sir Banastre (1754-1833). A History of the Campaigns of 1780 and 1781, in the Southern Provinces of North America. London: T. Cadell, 1787.
4to., (11 x 8 7/8 inches). Large engraved folding map (lightly dampstained, short tear near the gutter) and four plates (two folding) hand-colored in outline to show military routes (preliminaries with some pale dampstaining). Contemporary half calf, marbled boards (rebacked to style, corners renewed, extremities repaired with Japanese paper). Provenance: The ownership inscription of J.S.R. Thomson, Spartanburg. S.C. April 9th, 1881, on front paste-down. "THIS BOOK HAS GREAT VALUE, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE IT CONTAINS MANY DOCUMENTS THAT CANNOT BE FOUND ELSEWHERE WITHOUT GREAT LABOR" (Church) First edition of Tarleton's quintessential work on the Southern Campaigns in the American Revolution. With the later state of the general map "The Marches of Lord Cornwallis in the Southern Provinces, now States of North Armerica, comprehending the Two Carolinas, with Virginia and Maryland, and the Delaware Counties.", dated 3 February 1787. "This short history commences at a time, when the whole aspect of the American was experienced a change the most critical and interesting; when prospects, big with the utmost importance, sprung up in a variety of shapes, and gave birth to those decisive events which so speedily followed…" (page [1]). Tarleton was the commander of a Tory cavalry unit, the British Legion, and served in America from May 1776 through the siege of Yorktown. He was renowned for his brutal tactics and hard-riding attacks. The plans illustrate the siege of Charleston, the battles of Camden and Guildford and the siege of Yorktown. Church 1224; Clark Old South 317; Howes T37; Nebenzahl Battle Plans of the American Revolution 60, 83, 90, 92, 197 ("this well engraved map [of the siege of Yorktown in Virginia] conveys considerable useful information"); Sabin 94397.