The 1862 Army Officer's Pocket Companion: A Manual for Staff Officers in the Field

Description

This amazingly complete book describes in crisp text all the information commanders and Staff Officers needed to know about 'how the Army works'. It includes command organisation and administration; principles of employment of infantry, cavalry, artillery, engineers and signals; logistics (ordinance, quartermaster, transportation, subsistence, and medical); movement of armies; camps and bivouacs; reconnaissance and patrols; order of battle for attack, defence, siege, and retreat; and use of field fortifications, obstacles, spies and agents. Also included is information on promotions, courts-martial, military honours, and even on the design and use of field-ovens and cooking.

Lieutenant William P. Craighill, U.S. Corps of Engineers, was assistant professor of engineering at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point when he wrote this book.