Military Field Manuals (1900–1913)

Description

Early 20th Century US Army Doctrine and Authors

This timeline focuses on the publication of significant military manuals and the corresponding advancements or established practices they describe within the United States Army leading up to World War I.

1904

• Artillery in Attack by Captain Robert H.C. Kelton is published.
• Cavalry in Defense by Captain Ewing E. Booth is published.
• Cavalry on the Offensive by Captain Malin Craig (publication continues into 1905).
• Firing Regulations for Small Arms for the United States Army and the Organized Militia of the United States is published, outlining standardized practices for small arms use.
• Infantry Drill Regulations, United States Army is published, detailing fundamental instruction for soldiers with and without arms, including manual of arms, skirmisher tactics, and squad movements.
• Method of Determining Visibility from a Contoured Map is published.
• The Army at a Halt in Cantonment, Camp and Bivouac by 1LT George E. Thorne is published.

1905

• 2nd Lecture on Field Signal Communications by CPT William “Billy” Mitchell is delivered/published.
• Cavalry on the Offensive by Captain Malin Craig’s publication concludes (began in 1904).
• Field Service Regulations 1905 is published, providing comprehensive standards for military existence, covering organization, orders, security, combat, logistics, and medical services, as well as rules of war, prisoners, and insurrection.
• New Field Artillery Material, It’s Characteristics and Powers by Captain Oliver L. Spaulding, Jr. is published, detailing the adoption of “rapid firer” field artillery with significant improvements in loading, firing, and aiming mechanisms compared to older models. This marks a major technological upgrade in U.S. Army artillery.
• Notes on Rangefinders, Compasses and on Contouring with the Scale of Horizontal Equivalents is published.
• Orders by MAJ Eben Swift is published.
• Tactics of Field Artillery by Captain Oliver L. Spaulding Jr. is published.

1907

• Field Orders is published.
• Fire Control and Direction for Coast Artillery by Captain Clint C. Hearn is published.
• Provisional Drill Regulations for Signal Corps Troops is published.
• Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part I by CPT Charles Crawford is published.
• Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part II by CPT John P. Ryan is published.
• Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part III by CPT Oliver L. Spaulding is published.
• Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part IV by MAJ Charles McK. Saltzman is published.
• Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part V by MAJ George O. Squier is published.

1908

• Law of Negotiable Instruments by MAJ Daniel H. Boughton is published.
• Lines of Information as Illustrated by an Outpost Problem by CPT Palmer E. Pierce is published.
• Soldier’s Handbook is published.
• The Rifle in War by CPT Henry E. Eames is published, focusing on the effects of small arms fire and achieving fire superiority.
• Use of the Signal Corps as an Aid to Maneuvers by CPT J.B. Allison is published.
• Weapons and Munitions of War, Field Equipment for Signal Troops by MAJ Edgar Russel is published.

1909

• Manual for Privates of Infantry of the Organized Militia of the United States is published, covering fundamental aspects of military life for privates, including obedience, discipline, courtesy, uniform, rations, drill, and first aid.
• Preparation for Defence by CPT William Glassford is published.
• The Buzzer and other Devices for Induction Telegraphy by MAJ Edgar Russel is published.

1910

• A Study in Camp Sanitation by MAJ Edward L. Munson is published.
• Field Service Regulations, United States Army is published, indicating an updated version of the 1905 regulations.
• Lectures on Patrols, Advance Guards and Outposts by MAJ John F. Morrison is published.
• The Army Horseshoer is published.

Cast of Characters

This list includes principle people mentioned as authors of the military manuals and lectures.

• Allison, CPT J.B.: Author of “Use of the Signal Corps as an Aid to Maneuvers” (1908).
• Booth, Captain Ewing E.: Author of “Cavalry in Defense” (1904).
• Boughton, MAJ Daniel H.: Author of “Law of Negotiable Instruments” (1908).
• Cole, CPT Edwin T.: Co-author of “Field Fortification,” which discusses preparing positions for specific duties against superior forces for limited times.
• Craig, Captain Malin: Author of “Cavalry on the Offensive” (1904-1905).
• Crawford, CPT Charles: Author of “Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part I” (1907).
• Eames, CPT Henry E.: Author of “The Rifle in War” (1908), focusing on small arms fire effects and superiority.
• Glassford, CPT William: Author of “Preparation for Defence” (1909).
• Hearn, Captain Clint C.: Author of “Fire Control and Direction for Coast Artillery” (1907).
• Kelton, Captain Robert H.C.: Author of “Artillery in Attack” (1904).
• Mitchell, CPT William “Billy”: Author of “2nd Lecture on Field Signal Communications” (1905).
• Morrison, MAJ John F.: Author of “Lectures on Patrols, Advance Guards and Outposts” (1910).
• Munson, MAJ Edward L.: Author of “A Study in Camp Sanitation” (1910).
• Pierce, CPT Palmer E.: Author of “Lines of Information as Illustrated by an Outpost Problem” (1908).
• Russel, MAJ Edgar: Author of “The Buzzer and other Devices for Induction Telegraphy” (1909) and “Weapons and Munitions of War, Field Equipment for Signal Troops” (1908).
• Ryan, CPT John P.: Author of “Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part II” (1907).
• Saltzman, MAJ Charles McK.: Author of “Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part IV” (1907).
• Spaulding, Captain Oliver L., Jr.: Author of “New Field Artillery Material, It’s Characteristics and Powers” (1905), which detailed the significant upgrade to “rapid firer” artillery, and “Tactics of Field Artillery” (1905). Also author of “Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part III” (1907).
• Squier, MAJ George O.: Author of “Weapons and Munitions of War, 1907 Part V” (1907).
• Swift, MAJ Eben: Author of “Orders” (1905).
• Thorne, 1LT George E.: Author of “The Army at a Halt in Cantonment, Camp and Bivouac” (1904).
• Woodruff, CPT James A.: Co-author of “Field Fortification” and author of “Modern Method of Fortifying a Position.”