Militiaman's Pocket Companion 1822

[Allison]

Would appreciate knowing a little more about a book I have. It is not in very good condition, missing some pages. Bound with string(?) at the spine.

 

The cover reads:

 

"Militiaman's Poocket Companion with a method to Form Company, and an Explanation of the Exercise of the Same. To which is added some explanation and improvement of the formation and exercise of the Regiment adapted to Major General Scott's System."

 

Following the above is: "By Joseph Lord, Brigade Major and Inspector, Columbia County, New York. Hudson published by William Y. Norman."

 

After this is printed 1821 and under that Price 50c.

 

I have only opened the first page or two as I am afraid it will come apart in my fingers, but I can see that it has illustrations of men in uniform and such. And I could also read that it is a second edition. I have it in a plastic bag as did not know how best to protect it.

 

Any information would be much appreciated.

 

Allison

[StevenL]

I can't tell you much about the book but 50 cents seems like a high price for 1821!

[ClaptonIsGod]

Actually, thanks to a inflation calculator, comes out to around $7.99 from 2008 standards.

[normaninvasion]

http://home.att.net/~Cap1MD/ABFormReg.htm This maybe related, I assume its a drill book for state militias to use, that was devised from Winfield Scotts book.

[Allison]

http://home.att.net/~Cap1MD/ABFormReg.htm This maybe related, I assume its a drill book for state militias to use, that was devised from Winfield Scotts book.

 

I had a look at that link, and will look more closely at it tomorrow. The only reference that I have managed to find to my particular book, was through googling it and finding someone on his blog saying that he had had the opportunity to photograph a few pages of a copy at the National Guard (in MA I think it was). Apart from that it is mentioned at the Library of Congress site too.

[Allison]

Thank you for your comments. I think that I shall continue with my efforts to find out more about this little book. Possibly there is a museum of the National Guard? I think that will be the next step.

 

By the way, to the person who said that 50c was a lot for a book of this time - it has quite a few pages, and a considerable number of illustrations. Perhaps it was considered to be of some importance in its day and hence the price. Time will tell.

 

Thanks again.

 

Allison

[Cobrahistorian]

Thank you for your comments. I think that I shall continue with my efforts to find out more about this little book. Possibly there is a museum of the National Guard? I think that will be the next step.

 

By the way, to the person who said that 50c was a lot for a book of this time - it has quite a few pages, and a considerable number of illustrations. Perhaps it was considered to be of some importance in its day and hence the price. Time will tell.

 

Thanks again.

 

Allison

 

Possibly? Why yes there is! The National Guard Memorial Museum is the National museum of the National Guard. We're here in Washington DC and being its director, I think I can give you a hand.

 

We have several volumes in the collection dating from this period that are basic drill manuals for state militias. I believe our earliest is 1814. We've recently had two of them digitized and are now available in .pdf form. Drop me an email at jonathan.bernstein@ngaus.org if you've got questions I can give you a hand with.

 

Jon

[Allison]

Possibly? Why yes there is! The National Guard Memorial Museum is the National museum of the National Guard. We're here in Washington DC and being its director, I think I can give you a hand.

 

We have several volumes in the collection dating from this period that are basic drill manuals for state militias. I believe our earliest is 1814. We've recently had two of them digitized and are now available in .pdf form. Drop me an email at jonathan.bernstein@ngaus.org if you've got questions I can give you a hand with.

 

Jon

 

Thank you. I have sent you an email!

[Allison]

Possibly? Why yes there is! The National Guard Memorial Museum is the National museum of the National Guard. We're here in Washington DC and being its director, I think I can give you a hand.

 

We have several volumes in the collection dating from this period that are basic drill manuals for state militias. I believe our earliest is 1814. Drop me an email at jonathan.bernstein@ngaus.org if you've got questions I can give you a hand with.

 

Jon

 

Hi, sorry if I am not going about this in the right way, but I sent you an email, and then a message here (think I did something wrong with the message here as I don't see it as sent - I access the net mostly through my Blackberry as only have dialup otherwise), the jist of the msg being my concern that the mail with its two jpgs had landed up in a "spam" folder! Thank you.

[Cobrahistorian]

Hey there!

 

Yep, I got your email, just been busy as heck and hadn't gotten to reply just yet. I've looked up the various militia manuals we have in the collection and have found some similar ones. Still looking for our other New York manual, I'm pretty sure it is also the 1821 edition. I'm home right now, but will be able to give you a better idea of what you've got when I get into the office tomorrow.

 

The manual itself is a nice piece of New York Militia history. Not really sure on the value, but it isn't a very common piece. Would definitely be interesting to see how many were actually printed!

 

I'll get back to you with more detail tomorrow.

 

Jon

[Allison]

Hey there!

 

Yep, I got your email, just been busy as heck and hadn't gotten to reply just yet. I've looked up the various militia manuals we have in the collection and have found some similar ones. Still looking for our other New York manual, I'm pretty sure it is also the 1821 edition. I'm home right now, but will be able to give you a better idea of what you've got when I get into the office tomorrow.

 

The manual itself is a nice piece of New York Militia history. Not really sure on the value, but it isn't a very common piece. Would definitely be interesting to see how many were actually printed!

 

I'll get back to you with more detail tomorrow.

 

Jon

 

Thank you very much. I will be patient!!

 

I do look forward to hearing about it, whatever you can find out, and will happily provide more pictures if you would like them. I have access to wireless during the day!

[mmerc20]

I found a complete copy for sale online for $325.

[Allison]

I found a complete copy for sale online for $325.

 

Yes, I saw that auction also, and if I remember correctly, it took place in 1993. I can't remember if it was a 1st or 2nd edition, but I think it had a few/a couple of pages missing.

 

There is very little on this item when I have done a search, which makes it all the more fascinating to me. It also has the name of a captain on the first page, in very beautiful writing. Altogether a very nice piece, for all that the condition is very delicate.