Instruction for Heavy Artillery / SOLD

Instruction for Heavy Artillery - Inventory Number: HIS 260 / SOLD

Prepared by a Board of Officers, for the Use of the Army of the United States

Published by D. Van Nostrand, 192 Broadway, New York, 1863

Original Civil War-dated artillery manual issued for the instruction of U.S. Army and militia forces in the handling of heavy artillery, including the service of guns mounted on the newly developed iron carriage. This manual was a critical resource for artillery officers during the war, covering drills, ordnance specifications, and siege operations.

This example is identified to Lieutenant Martin J. DeForest, Company B, 81st Regiment New York Volunteers, with a period ink inscription noting use at Fort Macon, South Carolina, June 1863. Fort Macon was a key coastal stronghold held by Union forces after its capture in 1862, and the presence of this manual there reflects the importance of coastal defense and heavy artillery in the broader war effort.

The interior exhibits typical foxing and age-related toning, but the text remains strong and legible. A small water stain is present at the upper corner. The inscription to Lt. DeForest is clear and original, adding significant historic and collectible value.

A rare, wartime-issued artillery manual with direct field use provenance—an excellent addition to any Civil War collection, especially one focused on artillery, Union fortifications, or New York regimental history.

Inventory Number: HIS 260 / SOLD