Orderly book of the 5th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 8th Division of the Massachusetts militia, kept by Adjutant William Gould, 1800-1807

Orderly book of the 5th Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 8th Division of the Massachusetts militia, kept by Adjutant William Gould, 1800-1807

Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the United States

[Massachusetts] 1800-1807

1 v. (157 p.) ; 20 cm.

MSS L2020F5 [Bound]

Reflects the role of the state militia in early America: "With the Constitution of Government established by themselves, to promote their own happiness, and having an interest in that Government, the People are bound to defend it--and they will defend it against every encroachment, whether foreign or domestic"--p. 3.| The orders refer frequently to General Steuben's "Regulations for the order and discipline of the troops of the United State," adopted by Congress in 1779 for the use of the Continental Army, which continued to be the standard manual of the American military establishment until the War of 1812 (p. 6, 19, etc.).|Steuben's manual required that all officers be armed with an "espontoon," (or spontoon), the lack, or neglect, of which was an ongoing issue with General Washington. This orderly book reveals this was a continuing problem as late as 1806: "While the law for regulating and governing the militia expressly directs "that every commissioned officer of infantry, whose duty requires him to serve on foot, shall be armed with a Sword and espontoon," in many of the regiments, the espontoon is almost entirely laid aside. How officers can reconcile such neglect of duty with the obligations of office is difficult to conceive. This article, in the opinion of military men, is both a useful and ornamental piece of armour ..."--p. 151.|Bound in marbled paper boards with leather spine.

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