Technique of Modern Tactics: a Study of Troop Leading Methods in the Operations of Detachments of All Arms

"Technique Of Modern Tactics: A Study Of Troop Leading Methods In The Operations Of Detachments Of All Arms" by P. S. Bond; M. J. McDonough. This early 20th-century U.S. Army field manual serves as a compact training reference that combines a glossary of tactics terms with an extensive index. Prepared for Army Service Schools at Fort Leavenworth, it targets officers and noncommissioned officers, offering practical tools for problem solving, lesson planning, and drafting field orders. The text advocates an applicatory, problem-driven approach to learning: map problems, terrain exercises, war games, and field maneuvers are used to develop decision-making, initiative, and concise orders. Core content spans tactical terms across deployment, formations, reconnaissance, fortifications, logistics, and combined-arms operations; it emphasizes diagrammatic analysis, five-paragraph field orders, and the disciplined solution of problems before issuing orders. The manual also details command roles, organization, and staff responsibilities, and discusses offensive and defensive actions, river-line actions, night operations, and the use of reserves and mobility. Supplemental material includes sample orders, problem sets, and an extensive index, reflecting early-20th-century efforts to professionalize leadership and national preparedness.