Diary of the Instructor in Swordsmanship

Before he became a general, he was “Master of the Sword.”
In this rare and revealing training journal, a young George S. Patton Jr. records his thoughts, methods, and fencing philosophy during his time as both student and instructor at the Mounted Service School in Fort Riley, Kansas. Written in 1915, Diary of the Instructor in Swordsmanship offers a more informal, behind-the-scenes look at Patton’s teaching style and tactical thinking—designed to supplement his official 1914 manual, Saber Exercise.

This facsimile edition includes:

• Both parts of Patton’s original text:

  • “Courses and Methods of Instruction in Swordsmanship,” teaching saber technique from the ground up

  • “Diary of the Master of the Sword,” focusing on point fencing and advanced tactics

• Original photographs and diagrams featuring Patton himself demonstrating key moves

• Preserved boldface emphasis and formatting exactly as it appeared in 1915

• Commentary on why fencing instruction differed for officers vs. enlisted men, and how swordsmanship shaped battlefield aggression

Written after Patton’s Olympic fencing triumph and elite European training, this diary captures the early brilliance and martial passion of the man who would become one of America’s most famous wartime commanders.

Less rigid than his official manual, this is Patton in his own words—precise, passionate, and already sharpening his legacy.

A general’s mind in formation. A swordsman’s heart on every page.
This isn’t just a training diary—it’s Patton writing his origin story.