RULES AND REGULATIONS FOR DRILL, SABRE EXERCISE, EQUITATION, FORMATION AND FIELD MOVEMENTS OF CAVALRY by E. Hoyt, Esq, Brigade Major and Inspector in the Militia of Massachusetts
1813, Greenfield, Massachusetts. 252 pages, 13 illustrated plates. 4" x 7" approx.
As mentioned, the book shows signs of repeated use, as you might expect during a wartime. The cover is rubbed almost to the boards, the spine is almost worn away, and the hinges are hanging on for dear life. But the pages! The pages are remarkably intact, despite some small water (?) stains, foxing, and folding, here and there. Again, this is a military manual, used during wartime. It would have been handled on a daily basis, and it has earned its stripes. The 13 fold-out plates at the back are also intact, and fascinating to examine... I've included a photos of one... love the tiny cavalry figures.
Also, there are two different names inscribed inside, what appears to be a "Montgomery Joseph" and a "Samul R. Thompson"... both of Penfield (New York). I did find a Samuel R. Thompson, who is buried in Penfield, whose birth & death dates line up, and I'm guessing the slight misspelling of his first name was on account of his education, or lack thereof (he also misspells "Penfild").
If you have an interest in military campaigns, how often do you see a relic of The War of 1812 come up? Civil War, sure. WW1 and WW2, def'ly. But... 1812?
In any event, this is an extremely scarce book. Only about a dozen national libraries have a copy, including a couple of military institutions, and you will NOT find this 1813 edition for sale anywhere online.
Except here, of course!
