Patten’s Manual For Officers- Rocket Battalion-23rd Independent Battery – SOLD

Description

PATTEN’S ARMY MANUAL: CONTAINING Instruction for Officers in the Preparation Of Rolls, Returns And Accounts Required Of Regimental And Company Commanders, And Pertaining To The SUBSISTENCE AND QUARTERMASTER’ DEPARTMENTS…..By George Patten (Late Of The U.S. Army).  New York: J.W. Fortune, New York, 1861.  Embossed leather bound, 268 pages, plates. Contains advertisements of Patten’s other manuals on rear flyleaves.

A most useful manual for officers in this era, as officers in command of companies, and larger units were responsible for maintaining accurate records for their commands; all manner of documents, invoices, muster rolls, descriptive rolls, and on and on….  Inaccurate returns could put an officer into serious problems with the various departments he made returns to, such as the subsistence, quartermaster, treasury, etc.

This manual provided a good assortment of forms with instruction on how to use and complete the. There was far more than just fighting during the Civil War, and paper work in triplicate was almost as hazardous.

This manual was used by two officers in the 23rd Independent Battery of Light Artillery, or Rocket Battalion of Artillery.  Battery A of the Rock Bn became the 23rd Battery of LA in November of 1861, but not approved until February of 1863.  The battalion was ordered to Washington, and remained there until April of 63 when they were sent to North Carolina with the 18th AC, until May of 1863.  Then joined Sherman’s forces in April of 1865.

The two officers who’s names appear opposite the title page with an inscription, “Headquarters Rocket Battalion Camp Duncan, Washington, 18 Dec’r. 1861, T. W. Lion /  Major Commanding Rocket Battalion.   /   Transferred to 1st Lieut. H.W. Dodge, Acting Adjutant.”

Thomas W. Lion enlisted in Dec. of 1861 and commissioned a major at Albany; He resigned on June 28, 1862.

Henry White Dodge enlisted at the same time, and was commissioned a 1st Lieutenant at Albany; he resigned in April of 1862.

Condition is very good being used for the purposes for which it was made. All plates are present.