This is an original Civil War infantry tactics manual for Bayonet tactics. The book itself is the 1862 edition of the Bayonet Exercise Tactics manual by George McClellan and the title page adds that it was printed by order of the War Department. This one was printed by J.B. Lippencott of Philadelphia and it has the date of 1862 in Roman Numerals. It appears to have all of the pages as well as the diagrams intact. You can tell that this book was carried and used. The book measures 7-5/8ths inches by 5 inches in overall size. On the inside page it has the pencil inscription of the soldier that carried the book. It states " Capt. J.B. Van Meter Camp Near Memphis, Tenn. June 20th 1864 Hiram F. Garretson". The records show that Jacob Van Meter was from Adel, Iowa and was commissioned in the 46th Iowa Infantry on June 10th 1864 and mustered out on September 23rd 1864. A brief printout of his service as well as that of the 46th Iowa will accompany the book at no extra charge. It is a great piece for the price of a
U.S. belt buckle costs these days.