"REGULATIONS FOR THE ORDER AND DISCIPLINE OF THE TROOPS" ATTRIBUTED TO WILHELM FRIEDRICH VON STEUBEN
Very early edition of von Steuben's "Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States," (Philadelphia: Charles Cist) 1794. 74pp. (plus 6pp. table of contents), eight plates. Original leather covers and spine cover gone, chip to bottom of front flyleaf which bears the blind-embossed library stamp of Mina von Steuben: a Viking with her name "Mina L. von Steuben" near the top. This volume was a drill manual written by Steuben during the Revolution in order to train the Continentals. Steuben first formed a model drill company of 120 men who were in turn to train further companies until the entire army was trained under the same procedures as the first company of troops. Following this exercise, Steuben published his drill instructions in this manual that was first published in 1779 and widely distributed throughout the Continental Army. This copy belonged to Mina von Steuben who had also inherited the general's Society of the Cincinnati medal, his German-English dictionary, and other family heirlooms. It was published in the year of Steuben's death, and is believed to be one of his personal copies which descended in his American family. With genealogical notes in the hand of Mina von Steuben obtained at the same sale as this volume, with additional geneaogical research done by the consignor and original and copy of letters of provenance are also included.