The full title is “ABSTRACT OF INFANTRY TACTICS; INCLUDING EXERCISES AND MANEUVRES OF LIGHT-INFANTRY AND RIFLEMEN; FOR THE USE OF THE MILITIA OF THE UNITED STATES. Manual was printed in Boston in 1830. Book has plain leather covers that exhibit moderate wear. Corners are bumped and the top of the spine is chipped. Inside front signature is solid as is the back signature. The pages have edge wear and light discoloration as well as light foxing. All together there are 30 plates. Two are fold out. 29 of the 30 plates are present. Plate 2 is missing. The book is tightly bound except for the first 26 pages. Of these one is loose. All have bumped corners and a few are dog-eared. Book is still bound strongly enough to be read. From the Bill Gavin collection.

This item is from the collection of the late William G. "Bill" Gavin (1924 - 2010), who was one of the nation's most prominent and esteemed Civil War relic collectors. Following graduation from West Point [Class of 1946], Gavin became a pioneer in applying WWII mine-detector technology to relic hunting. Along the way, he became an avid historian whose collection, with its origins dating back to the 1930's, was enhanced by his acute knowledge of battlefield troop movements. His service to his country included six years in the U.S. Army, followed by a seven year period in which he was a member of the U.S. Army (Ready) Reserve.Mr. Gavin shared his Civil War knowledge via the publication of four books and several magazine articles. In 1963 he authored one of the earliest books on relic buckles (Accoutrement Plates North and South, 1861-65), and in the 1970s established the Rectory Museum in Harper's Ferry, while becoming owner of The Cliffside Inn. He was also the owner of Happy Retreat, the 18th century home of Charles Washington, youngest brother of George Washington, located in Charles Town, WV. The Horse Soldier joins the national Civil War community in mourning Bill Gavin's passing, and is proud to be able to offer items from his exceptional collection.