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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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Book Missing Since Civil War Returned to Virginia School

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(Newser) – A Virginia college has a missing library book back—145 years after a Union soldier stole it during the Civil War. An Illinois man who inherited the book from friends tracked down the original owner and returned it to Washington and Lee University in Lexington, reports the Washington Post. The soldier looted it in 1864 when Union troops raided the college and the adjacent Virginia Military Institute.

"We were astounded to get something back with the history that it has," said a librarian at the school. The book is the second volume of a military history about the Napoleonic wars, and the school now has the first two volumes. "Volumes three and four are out there somewhere," said the librarian. "We'd love to have them back!"

A handout photo released Tuesday, April 14, 2009, by Washington and Lee University shows a library book nearly 145 years after it was stolen by a Union soldier.
A handout photo released Tuesday, April 14, 2009, by Washington and Lee University shows a library book nearly 145 years after it was stolen by a Union soldier.   (AP Photo/Washington and Lee University)
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It's invaluable to us because of the historical connection to the university. We're just so grateful that he decided to return it. - Laura Turner, technical services librarian
at Washington and Lee University

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7 comments
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anchower
Apr 15, 09 8:25 PM CDT
F the South. Reply
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ObamaBinBiden
Apr 16, 09 1:30 AM CDT
Anchower displays some famous open minded libralness!
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IN RESPONSE:
ObamaBinBiden
Apr 16, 09 1:35 AM CDT
....and don't pick out the typo
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IN RESPONSE:
paul123
Apr 16, 09 10:35 AM CDT
Just remember, it was LIncoln, a member of the republican party, who fought to end slavery.
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Mad
Apr 15, 09 8:28 PM CDT
I knew a family that donated a book written and autographed by Sir Francis Bacon to a college library, and for a few years they thought they did the right thing. After the school stopped displaying it and mentioning the family's name, they decided they wanted it back. My gosh, the ridiculousness that ensued. Their children now agree, they should've kept the book. Even in private hands, it was appreciated by many. Now it's locked away somewhere Reply
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