Instruction for Field Artillery – 1861 First Edition / SOLD

Description

Instruction for Field Artillery – 1861 First Edition

 

A scarce and highly desirable Civil War-era artillery manual, Instruction for Field Artillery, prepared by a board of U.S. Army artillery officers and published in Philadelphia by J. B. Lippincott & Co. in 1861—the opening year of the Civil War. This official manual codified the tactics, drill, and organization of field artillery units and was actively used by Union forces throughout the conflict.

 

The work bears the names of prominent artillery officers involved in its preparation, including William H. French, William F. Barry, and Henry J. Hunt—the latter serving as Chief of Artillery of the Army of the Potomac and one of the most influential artillery commanders of the war. As such, this volume represents not just theory, but the practical doctrine applied on Civil War battlefields.

 

Bound in original brown cloth, the volume shows honest period wear, with surface rubbing, scattered staining, and softening at the extremities. The spine retains readable gilt titling. Internally, the book remains complete, with generally clean pages, light toning, and occasional foxing consistent with age. The War Department approval page dated March 6, 1860, is present, underscoring its official adoption just prior to the outbreak of hostilities.

 

Manuals of this type were essential tools for artillery officers and are closely tied to the evolution of battlefield tactics during the Civil War. First edition examples dated 1861 are particularly sought after for their direct wartime relevance.

 

A cornerstone Civil War artillery reference, increasingly difficult to find in original binding.

 

Inventory Number: HIS 305