The scarce training manual for Colored Troops in the Civil War, signed by a Major of a U.S.C.T. Regiment

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Rare Books, Autographs & Maps

By Doyle

Nov 25, 2025

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• Lot Description
  [CIVIL WAR] U.S. Infantry Tactics, for the Instruction, Exercise, and Manoeuvers of the Soldier, a Company, Line of Skirmishers, and Battalion; for the Use of Colored Troops of the United States Infantry. Washington: Government Printing Office, 1863. First edition, signed on the title page "Wm. A Hatch/Major 3rd. Regt. U.S. Vols./Congo Guards." Original purple cloth, the covers stamped in blind, the spine lettered in gilt. 5 1/4 x 3 1/2 inches (13 x 9 cm); 370 pp. (including 48 pages of printed music), with 63 inserted lithographed plates (many folding, with erroneous plate numbers). Spine and extremities faded to brown, some light staining to covers, pencil notations to endpaper, slight lean, some spotting to edges and foxing and offsetting within, a fine copy despite these faults. The scarce 1863 edition of the military manual issued specifically for the training of African-American soldiers during the Civil War, this copy with the provenance of William A. Hatch, Major in the 80th Regiment of the United States Colored Infantry. The volumes are believed to be a reprint of Hardee's Rifle and Light Infantry Tactics, the standard practice manual for infantry that had been reissued in 1861 at the outbreak of the war, here re-issued with an updated title page and binding. The volume was likely issued to higher-ranking officers who conducted the training and carried it into the field and potentially into battle, resulting in a low survival rate. Also added to this edition is a notice at front reading "This system of United States Infantry Tactics, prepared under the direction of the War Department for the use of the colored troops of the United States Infantry, having been approved by the President, is adopted for the instruction of such troops. Edwin M. Stanton, Secretary of War." Also, while difficult to decipher, the notes to the front free endpaper are presumed to be in Major Hatch's hand and do mention that this is a "rehash of Hardee... for the Colored Troops in the U.S. Service..." The title page is here signed by William A. Hatch, originally attached to the 3rd Maine Infantry, who mustered out in 1863-64 but was recommissioned Major in the 80th Regiment of Colored Troops. The regiment had first been organized at Port Hudson, Louisiana in September 1863 as the 8th Regiment Corps d'Afrique and was changed to the 80th Regiment U.S. Colored Troops in April 1864. Hatch has here signed the title page as "Major ... Congo Guards," which may be an inside name for the regiment, but this name is not traced elsewhere. The regiment saw action during the siege of Port Hudson. We trace just four copies at auction in the last forty years. This edition not in Sabin.

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