[Rarebooks] fs: Homeland Security -1820s style...

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

Two early American Militia Manuals
Offered by Joslin Hall Rare Books.

To feel more secure, take 20% off the
listed price of either book, or buy both
and take 25% off!

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POTTER'S COMPEND. TACTICS OF THE INFANTRY
OF THE U.S. ARMY, Abridged for the Use of the
Militia of the United States.

Paraclette Potter.
Poughkeepsie; printed by P. Potter:1826.
Sixth edition, revised and improved.

In the early 19th century America had a dual system of
defense -both national army and state militias. Congress
ordered that state militias be drilled and exercised using the
army standards, and Paraclete Potter [1784-1858] had the
bright idea of publishing a book specifically aimed at the
militia market. He did such a good job that the New York
Legislature ordered that his book be used as a standard
guide by all that state's militias in training.

The book went through a number of editions (as new
regulations came out), none of which are all that common.
OCLC lists four copies of this edition, one at the US Military
Academy.  Since 1975 no copy of any edition of this book
appears in the ABPC auction records.

Potter also wrote the immensely popular "Every Man His Own
Lawyer, or The Clerk and Magistrate's Assistant", as well as
"The Attorney's Companion". He also published a popular
almanac for the Poughkeepsie area.

Hardcover.  4.5"x7", 200 pages plus 25 plates (numbered
1-12 and 14-26, as called for in the text). Bound in full, flame-
grained polished period calf with a red spine label and speckled
edges. The covers are very good, with a slight chip to the
corner of the label. The text is somewhat browned and
moderately foxed. The plates have some offsetting and a little
foxing, varying in degree from plate to plate. [29533] $400.00

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THE AMERICAN MILITIA OFFICER'S MANUAL,
being a plain and concise system of instruction
for Infantry, Field & Horse Artillery, Cavalry and
Riflemen. As adopted by law for the standard of
discipline in the states of New-York and New-Jersey.
With An Appendix, containing forms for orders,
returns &c. and directions for holding courts martial.

J.G. Dyckman.
New York; N.B. Holmes: 1825.
2nd edition, revised, corrected and enlarged.

The first edition was published in 1824. Dyckman
seems to have been competing with Paraclette Potter for
the market in militia manuals. Potter's book was sanctioned
by New York, and Dyckman's appears to have been the
semi-official manual distributed in New Jersey (although it
was also ordered to be distributed to all Company Commanders
and Adjutants in New York).

Dyckman had the edge in practical experience -he had actually
commanded a battalion of light infantry in the New York militia
when it was "called into service of the United States".

Hardcover.  4"x7", 179 pages, folding frontispiece table showing
"the proper station of each officer in a regiment of infantry".
Bound in full period mottled calf with a red spine label, minor
rubbing to the tips, etc. There is scattered minor foxing throughout,
but it is not all that pronounced. [29564] $500.00

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