This volume is a first edition which was published at the start of the Civil War in 1861 as a training manual for the Army. The introductory page reads, “WAR DEPARTMENT, MAY 1, 1861. THIS SYSTEM OF UNITED STATES INFANTRY TACTICS, PREPARED UNDER THE DIRECTION OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT, HAVING BEEN APPROVED BY THE PRESIDENT, IS ADOPTED FOR THE INSTRUCTION OF THE TROOPS AND FOR THE OBSERVANCE OF THE MILITIA WHEN SO EMPLOYED. SIMON CAMERON, SECTRETARY OF WAR.”. This is followed by a preface explaining how these drills are based on the latest improvements in French military tactics and are a more efficient way of training both heavy and light infantry. Book contains many illustrations and several fold-out pages of formations and drills.

Book has a dark green cloth cover with an embossed eagle in the center of the front cover and a gold embossed eagle and lettering on the spine which reads, “BY AUTHORITY OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT MAY 1861, U.S. INFANTRY & RIFLE TACTICS”. The cloth cover is worn on the corners and spine and some surface dirt is present. Pages have yellowed with age but binding is tight and none are loose or missing. Book measures 5 3/8” x 3 ¾” x 1 ¼”. Text contains 450 pages and then is followed by several pages of military ads.

Book is hand-inscribed inside of front cover with the words, “DONNELLY- 107^TH N.Y.VOLS. WITH BEST REGARDS, THE ADJUTANT, MARYLAND HEIGHTS, WV. OCTOBER 25,1862  “. Just across on the next page is hand inscribed, “PRESENTED TO EDWIN WELLAR BY CAPT. H.D. DONNELLY FORMERLY OF 107^TH N.Y. VOLS”.

Henry D. Donnelly enlisted at the age of 22 on 8/10/62 at Elmira, NY as a 1^st Lt.   On that date he was commissioned into Co. H, 107^th New York Infantry. Promoted to Captain 12/25/62. Discharged 5/23/63. Donnelly died on May 28, 1923 in Brooklyn, NY, leaving behind his wife Abigail and daughter Emily. He is buried in Hector Union Cemetery, Burdett, Schuyler County, NY.

Edwin Weller was 22 years old when he enlisted at 7/25/62 at Havana, NY as a Private. Promoted to 1^st Lt. 9/14/63. Mustered out on 6/5/65 at Washington, DC.

July 18, 1862, Gen. Robert B. Van Valkenburgh was authorized, as Colonel, to recruit this regiment in the counties of Chemung, Schuyler and Steuben; it was organized at Elmira, and there mustered in the service of the United States for three years August 13, 1862. On December 9, 1863, Companies B, C, I, and K of the 145th Infantry were transferred to the regiment. The men not entitled to be mustered out with the regiment were, June 5, 1865, transferred to the 60th Infantry.  The companies were recruited principally: A, B, C, D and E at Elmira; F at Addison, Cameron and Campbell; G at Elmira, Bath and Hammondsport; H at Havana and Elmira; I at Corning, Wayland and West Union; and K at Hornellsville, Howard, Elmira and Canisteo.

The regiment left the State August 13, 1862; served in Whipple’s Division, Defenses of Washington, D. C., from August, 1862; in 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 12th Corps, Army of the Potomac, from September 12, 1862; in 2d Brigade, same division and corps, from August, 1863; in same brigade and division, 20th Corps, Army of the Cumberland, from April, 1864; and it was honorably discharged and mustered out, under Col. Nirom M. Crane, June 5, 1865, near Washington, D. C.

During its service the regiment lost by death, killed in action, 2 officers, 50 enlisted men; of wounds received in action, a officers, 36 enlisted men ; of disease and other causes, 131 enlisted men; tota1, 4 officers, 217 enlisted men; aggregate, 221; of whom 5 enlisted men died in the hands of the enemy.

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