Manual for Noncommissioned Officers and Privates of Infantry of the Army of the…

(1 User reviews)   5280
By Ava Marino Posted on Dec 26, 2025
In Category - Expedition Notes
United States. War Department United States. War Department
English
Ever wonder what it was actually like to be a foot soldier in the early 20th century? Forget the sweeping battle scenes—this book is the real deal. It's the exact manual handed to new recruits, telling them everything from how to salute to how to survive in a trench. It's a raw, unvarnished look at the daily grind and brutal expectations of war, straight from the source. Reading it feels like finding a time capsule, offering a perspective you won't get from any history book or novel.
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manner are you meeting all the requirements of your profession. For an order is but the will of your superior, however it may be expressed. Loyalty means that you are for your organization and its officers and noncommissioned officers--not against them; that you always extend your most earnest and hearty support to those in authority. No soldier is a loyal soldier who is a knocker or a grumbler or a shirker. Just one man of this class in a company breeds discontent and dissatisfaction among many others. You should, therefore, not only guard against doing such things yourself but should discourage such actions among any of your comrades. SECTION 4. DISCIPLINE. "1. All persons in the military service are required to obey strictly and to execute promptly the lawful orders of their superiors. "2. Military authority will be exercised with firmness, kindness, and justice. Punishments must conform to law and follow offenses as promptly as circumstances will permit. "3. Superiors are forbidden to injure those under their authority by tyrannical or capricious conduct or by abusive language. While maintaining discipline and the thorough and prompt performance of military duty, all officers, in dealing with enlisted men, will bear in mind the absolute necessity of so treating them as to preserve their self-respect. Officers will keep in as close touch as possible with the men under their command and will strive to build up such relations of confidence and sympathy as will insure the free approach of their men to them for counsel and assistance. This relationship may be gained and maintained without relaxation of the bonds of discipline and with great benefit to the service as a whole. "4. Courtesy among military men is indispensable to discipline; respect to superiors will not be confined to obedience on duty, but will be extended on all occasions. "5. Deliberations or discussions among military men conveying praise or censure, or any mark of approbation, toward others in the military service, and all publications relating to private or personal transactions between officers are prohibited. Efforts to influence legislation affecting the Army or to procure personal favor or consideration should never be made except through regular military channels; the adoption of any other method by any officer or enlisted man will be noted in the military record of those concerned," (_Army_Regulations_.) "The discipline which makes the soldier of a free country reliable in battle is not to be gained by harsh or tyrannical treatment. On the contrary, such treatment is far more likely to destroy than to make an army. It is possible to import instruction and give commands in such manner and in such tone of voice as to inspire in the soldier no feeling but an intense desire to obey, while the opposite manner and tone of voice can not fall to excite strong resentment and a desire to disobey. The one mode or the other of dealing with subordinates springs from a corresponding spirit in the breast of the commander. He who feels the respect which is due to others can not fail to inspire in them regard for himself, while he who feels, and hence manifests, disrespect toward others, especially his inferiors, can not fail to inspire hatred against himself," (_Address_of_Maj._Gen._John_M._Schofield_ _to_the_United_States_Corps_of_Cadets,_Aug,_11,_1879._) When, by long-continued drill and subordination, you have learned your duties, and obedience becomes second nature, you have acquired discipline. It call not be acquired in a day or a month. It is a growth. It is the habit of obedience. To teach this habit of obedience is the main object of the close-order drill, and, if good results...

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The Story

This isn't a story in the traditional sense. There's no main character or plot twist. Instead, it's a complete instruction book for soldiers in the U.S. Army Infantry from the early 1900s. It covers everything: the proper way to fold a blanket, how to march in formation, the mechanics of rifle care, and the grim procedures for guard duty and basic combat. The manual walks you through a soldier's entire world, from the mundane chores of camp life to the high-stakes rules of engagement.

Why You Should Read It

Its power is in its stark simplicity. You're not reading a historian's analysis or a veteran's memoir. You're reading the cold, direct orders. The language is clear and commanding, which makes the content even more striking. It turns the romantic idea of soldiering on its head, showing the immense focus on discipline, routine, and tiny details that could mean the difference between life and death. It’s a humbling reminder of what was asked of ordinary people.

Final Verdict

Perfect for history buffs who want to go beyond dates and generals, or for writers looking for authentic period detail. It's also fascinating for anyone curious about military life or organizational culture. This isn't a page-turner for entertainment, but it's an incredibly insightful primary source. You'll come away with a much deeper, more personal understanding of the era and the weight of the uniform.



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Ethan Anderson
1 year ago

Surprisingly enough, the atmosphere created is totally immersive. Worth every second.

5
5 out of 5 (1 User reviews )

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