Our Collection

At the Institute’s core is the Gilder Lehrman Collection, one of the great archives in American history. More than 85,000 items cover five hundred years of American history, from Columbus’s 1493 letter describing the New World through the end of the twentieth century.

Hardee, William Joseph (1815-1873) Rifle and Infantry Tactics, Revised and Improved

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Gilder Lehrman Collection #: GLC03071 Author/Creator: Hardee, William Joseph (1815-1873) Place Written: Mobile, Alabama Type: Book Date: 1861 Pagination: 1 v. : 250 p. : ill ; 13.4 x 9.5 cm. Order a Copy

Written by Confederate Brigadier General Hardee. Fifth Edition copy of volume 1 (first published in 1855). Printed in the "First Year of the Confederacy" by S.H. Goetzel & Co. This book was the standard instructional manual for the U.S. Army when it was first written and became the most widely used manual during the Civil War by both sides. Provides information on how to run a company, battalion and regiment as well as how to train individual solders. Signed 14 times by Captain William H. Wilkinson. First time in pencil says "W. H. Wilkinson Co G 2nd Tenn Regt." at front of book. Also signed in pencil on a notice pasted toward the front of the book as well as after the title page. Also signed in pencil by Wilkinson between pages 32-33, plate 9 on page 44, pages 46-47, page 53, page 61, page 87 plate 17 after page 118 as well as page 139, 157, plate 28 after page 184, and page 218. Pencil sketch of Henry W. Marshall with a horn between pages 180-181. Contains 31 plates depicting various poses, uniforms, and unit formations, including one large fold-out plate at the front of the book. Military sheet music at pages 221-240. Table of contents at pages 241-250. Item has been rebound.

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