Very rare first and only edition of a manual for cavalry and dragoons by Major General Francisco Joseph Sarmento, governor of the province of Tras-os-Montes in northeastern Portugal. It includes instructions for various ranks, explanations of weaponry, marches and drills, as well as advice on approaching the enemy in battle formation. The plate shows the proper layout of a military camp with the positions of flags and tents for captains and soldiers, as well as those for the surgeon and priest.
No other copy in auction records, only five copies located in libraries worldwide (2 in Portugal, 1 in Spain, 2 in the United States).
From the collection of Thomas Fremantle, 3rd Baron Cottesloe (1862-1956), commander of the Territorial Army and president of the Society for Army History Research. Insignificant worming to margin of the first few pages; the plate with a tiny tear (not touching the image), otherwise in fine condition. Nijhoff, A collection of mostly old books on the history of battles, 135: "très peu d'exx"; Porbase (2 copies); WorldCat 23620032 (3 copies).