First American Artillery Drill Manual

FIRST EDITION of “the first official drill manual for either the American regular or militia artillery” (Graves). This manual constrains detailed instructions on procedures in firing and handling artillery and training soldiers in its use.

“In 1810 a Congressional committee looked into ways of improving the training of the militia. One of the results was the publication by the Senate in December 1810 of a small manual entitled Compendious Exercise for the Garrison and Field Ordnance, as Practised in the United States. This 30-page pamphlet [pp 31-48 comprise amendments to other military regularions] contained drills on the new seacoast carriage designed by the Marquis de Montalembert, which were just coming into service, and the exercise of 4 and 6-pdr. field pieces and additional comments on the use of the prolonge. The anonymous author or compiler seems to have used Tousard (or his French originals) for garrison and field artillery drill, and added excerpts from Jonathan Williams’s translation of Montalembert on the new carriage and Kosciuzko for the manoeuvres of a company of field artillery” (Donald E. Graves, “The First Official Artillery Manuals, 1810-1812,” The War of 1812 Magazine, May 2011).

RARE in the market. No copies in RBH or ABPC, none offered online at present (September 2022).

$2,200