The Ordnance Manual for the Use of the Officers of the united States Army by Laidley, Theodore - 1864

Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co, 1864. Octavo. ix, 13-159, blank, 33 plates. From the library of Captain (later promoted to Colonel) William A. McDermitt who has signed on front and rear endpapers along with a carte-de-visite of the Captain signed as well is laid in. He was with the 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Company I until February 19, 1865 and when Petersburg fell he was then given command of Company H (later changed to Company C) and he also had been engaged at Antietam, Gettysburg and the Battle of the Wilderness. This volume came from the McDermitt family. Third edition, the first edition published in 1861. All early editions of this title are quite scarce. The Ordnance Manual is absolutely indispensable to the serious student of military matters of this period and remains an invaluable tool for those interested in the technical aspects of the Civil War. Covered in minute detail are such diverse matters as formulas for paint, the characteristics of various metals, manufacture and inspection procedures for weapons and accoutrements, mathematical tables and how to tie various knots. Illustrations consist of a series of 33 plates of rifles and muskets, cannons, swords, ammunitions, etc. Bound in publisher's brown embossed cloth centrally decorated in gilt, spine lettering gilt but mostly faded, light water staining to last few pages, a small chip to outer edge of rear board, spine faded. A very nice copy of this scarce work with rich personal information from one who had participated in the war firsthand.