West's military figures for the practice of tacticks : by which the movements of a battalion or larger body of troops may be displayed upon the present improved system : intended for the use & instruction of subalterns of the army

West's military figures for the practice of tacticks : by which the movements of a battalion or larger body of troops may be displayed upon the present improved system : intended for the use & instruction of subalterns of the army

Principles of military movement

London Published as the act directs ... by the proprietor 1797

1 box (27 wooden blocks) : hand colored ; 18 x 12 cm.

P&E L2019F54 [custom box]

(OCoLC)1112493714

Printed paper title label to the case lid.|" ...1st Octr. 1797, by the proprietor [T. Egerton?] " (it was advertised with Egerton given as the publisher-distributer).|Set of 20 hand colored paper-covered wooden blocks (and 7 blank blocks) in their original oak case with sliding lid; larger blocks in the set bear printed images of a line of 7 soldiers, presented facing front, right, left and back, representing line companies, with one light infantry company and one grenadier company. Each company has a smaller, single block drill sergeant.|This set was designed to help young officers to learn the theory and practice of the new system of army drill and tactics introduced by Sir David Dundas in 1788, particularly the "eighteen manoeuvres" that he outlined at the end of his "Principles of military movement."|It is known that George Washington received a set of these wooden figures in 1799 as a gift from James McHenry, who had served as his secretary of war. On June 24, 1799, McHenry wrote: "I send you by this mail, a small box containing military figures for the practice of tactics, being one of the few sets I ordered from London." Washington replied: "For the box ... I feel much obliged. I have not had the time yet to examine, and compare the figures with the Instructions; but prima facia, there is something curious and I dare say useful in the design." The box is listed on the inventory of Washington's estate taken at the time of his death in the "Iron Chest" in his study, appraised as $2.|Ms. inscription on the case lid: ""W.H. Dunn, Acting Adjutant, 1808."|Library copy: one of single block drill sergeant missing, replaced with modern copy.|See also MSS L2019F55 [Bound]|Digitized image available.

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