Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) [Facsimile] [Paperback]

Frederick William Baron von Steuben (Author)

Book Description

Series: Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor | Publication Date: September 1, 1985

Facsimile of extremely rare 1794 edition of von Steuben's basic manual of military training and procedure — the official U.S. military guide until 1812. Invaluable reference for historians, military buffs details drill and field service regulations: formation of a company, marching, firings, inspection, much more. Publisher's Note. 8 black-and-white illustrations.

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Dover Publications; Facsimile edition (September 1, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0486249344
• ISBN-13: 978-0486249346
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.7 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #373,958 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #54 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > History > Americas > General

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars von Steuben's Drill Manual, September 21, 2001

By 

N McDonald, Eleventh PA Regiment (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) (Paperback)

This copy is a must have reference for any Revolutionary War reenactor or Eighteenth Century history enthusiast. It is an actual copy of the original printing. von Steuben is often called the Father of the modern Army, due to his contributions to our training readiness at Valley Forge encampment 1777-1778.(http://www.nps.gov/vafo/) Required reading for new recruits in the Continental Army of his excellency General George Washington!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Incredible historical document, September 23, 2007

By 

E. M. Van Court "Van, emvc (at) lycos.com" (Honolulu, Hawai'i, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

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This review is from: Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) (Paperback)

Von Steuben's drill manual is of extrordinary importance for several reasons.

At the shallowest level, it is a primary source for Revolutionary War and War of 1812 reenactors. For 34 years, (1778-1812) this was THE book for the U.S. Army, so any reenactor interested in this period should start here.

Pertaining to the history of the U.S. Army, this was the first manual, the first set of standards in place in the army. The first of anything sets the tone for later developments, and any serious research about the U.S. Army or Army doctrine should start here.

As an enduring framework, the "Instructions" section is still echoed in U.S. Army leadership doctrine. The roles, responsibilities, and relationships of officers and non-commissioned officers haven't changed that much, especially when compared to the changes in tactics and technology in the intervening centuries. A regimental commander's "first and greatest care" should be "the preservation of the soldiers health", "A captain cannot be too careful of the company the state has committed to his charge", "the discipline and order of a company" depend upon the non-commissioned officers. All these ideas ring true whether the army was outfited with flintlocks or thermal-sighted gas-operated selective fire rifles. This continuity is of tremendous value to the spirit of a successful army.

This manual was also the instrument of a military transformation for the U.S. Army. Von Steuben arrived at the Continental Army's encampment, and popular legend in the U.S. Army is that he was so shocked by the lack of discipline and disorder that he sat down and wrote the first copy of this manual that very night. This is not true, as mentioned in the publisher's note, but by bringing military discipline to the Continental Army, a bunch of farmers and store clerks were able to turn the tides and defeat the premier ground forces of the era. Again, a significant event in the history of military science as well as American history.

As a fencer, I was a little disappointed. Although in the first chapter it mentions that officers and NCOs are to be armed with swords, there is no further mention of the use of swords. Other than this one shortcoming, this was a very enlightening book about the period, and is an influential manual with continuing significance to military science and U.S. Army history.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent tool for understanding focused discipline, February 6, 2007

By 

M. Waters "1st Sgt" (Albuquerque, New Mexico) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Baron Von Steuben's Revolutionary War Drill Manual: A Facsimile Reprint of the 1794 Edition (Dover Military History, Weapons, Armor) (Paperback)

I bought this book for the sole purpose of reviewing discipline in military organizations. Being an AF First Sergeant, it re-focused and validated many of the methods still used today. An excellent way to see how history can be a valuable tool in teaching and leading.
The only down side is the dry reading. The english language has progressed leaps and bounds since the Revolutionary War.