Published in 1859, when the rifle was replacing the musket as the standard infantry weapon, this guide was written by a respected military expert who himself was a First Lieutenant in the Victoria RIfles, one of the many volunteer units that sprang up in the mid-Victorian period. Written in a plain prose style, it gives sound advice and instruction on how to organise a volunteer regiment; rules for manual and platoon exercises; musketry instruction; as well as handling light infantry manouevres; and it is plentifully illustrated with drawings and diagrams.