Instructions and Standing Orders

For the

Royal Engineer Department

Serving with

The Army upon the Continent

By

James Carmichael Smyth

Printed by J. Smith, Paris, 1815, first edition.  Bound in its original blue paper-covered boards.

This is an extremely rare book, published in the year of the Battle of Waterloo.

The book begins with a Memorandum 'Colonel Carmichael Smyth has availed himself of the present leisure, to have the different Orders and Regulations that have from time to time been issued for the guidance of the Engineer Department with this Army, carefully reconsidered. They are now brought into one point of view, and re-issued with such additions and alterations as experience has shewn to be necessary.  Each Officer will be furnished with a Copy; and it is hoped that, by carefully adhering to the spirit of the Orders, whatever duties may be required of the Corps will continue to be performed with that promptitude so essential in all military matters, and at the same time with as much regularity as circumstances will admit.

Head-Quarters, Paris, August 8, 1815.'

The book is illustrated with many charts showing how records should be kept, including one folding chart entitled Return of the Pontoon Train Attached to the Army under the Orders of His Grace the Duke of Wellington, etc., etc., etc., Commanded by _____ Royal Engineers.

There is also a section detailing the equipping of a pontoon train and how to calculate its requirements.

A most interesting book, illustrating the origins of the modern professional army.  Rare, none listed in Copac, one only in the National Archive at Kew.

The book is in very good condition.  The backstrip is torn with a piece missing from the foot, corners bumped.  Internally some brief notes on the front endpapers, very occasional light marks, otherwise crisp and clean.  The blank page before the title page has been cut out, leaving a stub with the remains of an inscription. The book is tightly bound with no loose pages.

Small octavo, 19cm, 7.5 inches, tall, 67 pages, plus 26 blank pages for notes, unused, complete.

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