Tratado de Campamentos y Marchas, Seguido de Una Instruccion para el Servicio Campal de las Tropas Destacadas en las Fronteras Amagadas por los Salvajes
Nueva York: Imprenta del Novo Mundo y la America Ilustrada, [1874]. [4],142,[1]pp., plus three plates. Small quarto. Contemporary quarter calf and purple marbled boards, spine gilt. Rubbing and wear to spine ends and corners. Minor soiling to title page, but otherwise clean and fresh internally. Very good. Item #3939
An introduction to the construction of military encampments and fortifications, and the conduct of army maneuvers by Rafael Benavides, the Mexican general who led the siege of Veracruz in the last days of the reign of Maximilian. Benavides' republican forces broke the loyalist resistance in 1867, but the general was wounded in the battle and was afterwards allowed a long convalescence and sabbatical by the restored government. During a span of seven years, he lived in New York, and traveled widely in the United States and Europe, and authored several military manuals, including this one. In his introduction to this text, Benavides boasts of his discussion of tribal warfare ("incursiones de los salvajes"), "cuyo carácter especial requiere la aplicación de pricipios del todo diferentes á los conocidos en la guerra ordinaria." Three plates show the proper arrangement of infantry and cavalry camps, and designs for proper trench work. A rare work, we locate copies in three U.S. institutions, at NYPL, the University of Texas, and UTSA.
Price: $1,500.00