J. Lucius Davis. The Trooper’s Manual: Or, Tactics for Light Dragoons and Mounted Riflemen. Richmond, Virginia: A. Morris, 1861. 

12mo, 284 + 19 pags. Near-contemporary marbled boards with black morocco smooth spine gilt-lettered. FIRST EDITION. Parrish & Willingham 4796 & 4797; Sabin 18857.

Provenance: W.P. Moore, Clay County, N.C. (pencil ownership inscription to rear endpaper); David E. Sullivan, Hendersonville, North Carolina (ownership inscription to front free endpaper).

A very scarce Confederate printed dragoon manual enhanced further by a soldier’s inscription. 

James Lucius Davis (1812-1871) was a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, but resigned his commission after only a few months, preferring the life of a farmer in Virginia. His military training would not go to waste; he served as a captain in the Republic of Texas Rangers (1839-1841) and extensively in militiae, rising to the rank of Lt. Colonel of the 4th Virginia Cavalry Militia. In 1860, he was a wealthy planter in the Richmond area, enslaving over 30 individuals. 

At the outbreak of war, he was given command of the First Regiment, Wise Legion Cavalry, until at least March 1862. He also held leadership positions with the 46th Virginia Infantry (also in the Wise Legion) and the 8th Battalion Virginia Cavalry, composed of former Wise Legion cavalry companies. On 24 June 1862, he was assigned Colonel of the 10th Virginia Cavalry. He was wounded at Gettysburg and captured by Federal cavalry at Hagerstown, Maryland, during the retreat. He was ultimately confined at Johnson’s Island before being exchanged at Point Lookout on 9 March 1864. 

This copy was owned by William Patton Moore of Clay County, who enlisted as a captain on 5 July 1862 and was mustered into Company B of the 7th North Carolina Battalion Cavalry. The regiment skirmished in Tennessee and Kentucky until August 1863, when it merged into the 6th Regiment, North Carolina Cavalry.  This cavalry manual would have been extremely useful for the captain new to cavalry command. 

VERY RARE. No copies have sold at auction since 1977. 

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