Taylor, James E

James Edward Taylor (1839-1901) was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, where his training as an artist began. He attended Robert Conner's Academy of Art under the patronage of Nicholas Longworth. Family circumstances required that he enter the work force, but he continued to study art, learning lithography and oil painting. At the outbreak of the Civil War, Taylor enlisted in the 10th New York Volunteers and served for two years.

After his military service, Taylor obtained a position as a "special artist" for Frank Leslie's Illustrated Newspaper and was assigned to cover the campaign of General Phillip Sheridan in the Shenandoah Valley which began in August 1864. Following the war, Taylor continued to work for Leslie's . His home in New York City served as a studio where he prepared illustrations for books and magazines, while continuing to paint Civil War subjects. He enjoyed a number of commissions from former officers and generals from both the Union and Confederate armies. Taylor, a bachelor, died in 1901.

With Sheridan Up the Shenandoah Valley in 1864: Leaves from a Special Artist's Sketch Book and Diary was compiled by Taylor over an eight-year period that concluded in 1898. It consists of 567 pages in fourteen parts of Taylor's narrative illustrated by some five hundred sketches and drawings. All of the narrative and illustrations were based on Taylor's unique experiences since he was the only artist assigned to cover General Sheridan. His drawings show heroic encounters, tragic deaths, thrilling victories, defeats, and all manner of military activity. Taylor's sketches and drawings also depict places, buildings, and scenes of local interest and character. All are tied together by a narrative, offering insight into the dangers and travail of being an artist-correspondent traveling with a Civil War army in combat. If Taylor's intention was to seek publication of this sketch book and diary, it never materialized.

William Pendleton Palmer, president of the Western Reserve Historical Society (WRHS) from 1913-1927, donated the Taylor Sketchbook to WRHS in 1919, and it was added to MS 2152 Regimental Papers of the Civil War in 1962. In 1989, WRHS compiled the Taylor Sketchbook into a published book entitled With Sheridan up the Shenandoah Valley in 1864 : leaves from a special artist's sketchbook and diary.

From the guide to the James E. Taylor Sketchbook; With Sheridan up the Shenandoah Valley in 1864: Leaves From a Special Artist's Sketchbook and Diary, 1890-1898, (Western Reserve Historical Society)