2006-06
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 5/31/2006
A fascinating 1p. folio manuscript, n.p., n.d., but certainly early document likely from the War of 1812 or earlier judging from the paper, ink, and from the nature of the instructions themselves, which are entitled: "The manner of forming a company in order of battalion as practiced by the Independent companies in Boston". The manuscript gives a series of detailed orders as to how the battalion can be brought into marching order, relying heavily on musical commands, as would be the case on the battlefield where verbal orders could be confused or may not be heard. The final positions of each officer at the end of the exercise., from the four Sergeants, two Lieuts, an adjutant and a captain , are detailed by a series of small footprints defining where each man should be. Strangely enough, the instructions state that the company should be referred to as a Battalion for the duration of all drills, but only for this purpose. Faint water stains in upper left, upper right, and bottom left margins which, due to the color of the paper and ink, blend in fairly readily having no effect upon the legibility of the document, otherwise very good.
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