[BIOGRAPHY]. NORTON, Lewis Adelbert. Life and Adventures of Colonel L.A. Norton Written by Himself. Oakland, Cal.: Pacific Press Publishing House, 1887. [i-iii] iv-viii, [9] 10-492 pp., frontispiece. 8vo (20 x 15 cm), original stamped and gilt-lettered cloth. Slightly rubbed. Except for a few light stains, very good internally. With John Howell’s printed book ticket on rear pastedown.

First edition. Cowan I, p. 164; II, p. 457. Graff 3043. Howes N210. Kurutz 468. Mattes 1250. Mintz 347. Rocq 15987.

The Mexican-American War section covers pp. 78-236. He raised Company I of the Twenty-Second Illinois Volunteers, who acceded to his wish to be quartermaster instead of captain. The company landed at Tampico and ended the war in Mexico City. Norton’s memoirs are full of small details and stories of encounters with various Mexicans, of whom he had a low opinion. The work ends with an appendix of the colonel’s own poetry. One poem, “The Rio Grande Shore,” concerns the Battle of Palo Alto (pp. 482-483)

The autobiography of a busy man who joined the Canadian rebellion of 1837, was subsequently captured and banished, and attempted an invasion of Canada from Michigan. After the war Norton went to California and describes the early days of Placerville.