VON STEUBEN'S REGULATIONS FOR THE ORDER & DISCIPLINE OF THE TROOPS, CIRCA 1786.

Early circa 1786 copy of Friedrich Wilhelm von Steuben’s “Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops”. Due to the deficiencies of the Continental Army, George Washington put forth a request for an inspector-general to transform the army into a professional fighting force. The request was answered on February 23, 1778, with the arrival of Prussian officer Baron de Steuben, whose training program helped the army become a more proficient fighting force and, at the same time, gave the troops a new sense of purpose. Once the troops were thoroughly trained and their skills demonstrated, Washington requested that Steuben compose a manual of military regulations. Steuben’s Regulations for the Order and Discipline of the Troops of the United States was first published in March 1779 by Philadelphia printers Styner and Cist. The book went on to have some 70 editions and remained an indispensable manual for American soldiers until the War of 1812. This copy is signed in several areas by a soldier. There are no foldout plates in this example. Some pages appear to have been torn and are missing 5% of the lower portion. Covers and spine are intact but worn. Covers exhibit edge wear and rubbing, as do the pages, which exhibit blemishes typical of old paper. Nonetheless, a nice example of a well-regarded and desirable early military text. CONDITION: Fair.