ID’D GILHAM’S MANUAL FOR VOLUNTEERS & MIITIA – BRIGADIER GENERAL THOMAS BUTLER, 9th BRIGADE, ALABAMA MILITIA

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Item Code: 1268-049

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After John Brown's raid on Harper's Ferry, Governor Wise, of Virginia, ordered Major William Gilham to write a manual to train volunteers and militia. Finished in the fall of 1860, it was entitled Manual of Instruction for the Volunteers and Militia of the United States.

This copy was published in 1861 by WEST & JOHNSTON, 145 MAIN STREET, RICHMOND, VA. The cover is fabric of a color shade between French and Royal Blue.  A gilt embossment on the front cover shows mounted officers and the loading of a field artillery piece. The spine features a gilt title and publishing logo, but has faded significantly.  The edges and corners of the boards show wear and some minor fabric loss.  The wear and fading along the spine have partially obscured the title and publishing logo and has given to an overall color more closely matching the natural fabric (tan-lighter brown with areas of dyed blue). Spots of color loss are present on the front cover with a few spots of color loss on the back.  A pasted period tag on the front cover reads “Thomas J. Butler”.

The inside of the front cover is signed “T J Butler 1861” while the flyleaf is penciled “H???/From Byron/Rebel Tactics/Pollard Ala.”  The title page is also signed “TJ Butler” at the top in period ink. All pages are complete with some scattered foxing and a light water stain at the upper left corner in the center section of the book.  All leaf edges are crisp and the corners are sharp, save for a miniscule tear to the rear flyleaf.  The inside of the back cover and the rear flyleaf are marked with penciled equations, apparently relating to pay. The handwritten numbers match examples of TJ’s numerical notations found on wartime forms.

According to available records, Thomas J. Butler was a Brigadier General of the 9th Brigade of Alabama Militia.  Though little biographical information is available, the 9th Brigade was formed in the early war period and tasked with duties in and around Mobile.  Their existence continued until the close of the war, with units being transferred in and out of the brigade depending on the draft as well as the needs of the command and war effort at large.  The scant available records indicate the brigade was used for labor, garrison duty, and guarding the Gulf area - including the important Mobile Bay.  Thomas was often in close contact with the Governor of Alabama and several pieces of military correspondence can be found amongst the digital archive of the State of Alabama.

An uncommon and important book in its original form with a neat identification.  Surely a worthy addition to any Civil War collection.   [cm/L][ph:L]

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