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published until 1904, long years after Upton’s death in 1881, but it endured as one of the most influential books ever written by a U.S. Army officer, a book that helped contribute to major changes in the raising of troops and the fighting of wars in the 20th century.
Many of Upton’s ideas became the basis for the famous Root Reforms. Under Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt, Root served as the United States Secretary of War 1899–1904. He reformed the organization of the War Department. He enlarged West Point. He established the U.S. Army War College, as well as the General Staff. He changed the procedures for promotions and organized schools for the special branches of the service. He also devised the principle of rotating officers from staff to line and recommended changes to
the organizations of State Militias and National Guard that allowed them to smoothly meld into the regular Army when needed.
All of these accomplishments were based singularly on the ideas and writings of Emory Upton.
Of all the men who fought at Gettysburg, it was the now-obscure Colonel Emory Upton who is the father of the modern U.S. Army. It is sad that he never
lived to see it.
Upton was easily the most significant figure in the United States Military
reforms in the late 19th century and indeed in all of American military history. His legacy lives on with us today. He was one of the key proponents of the professionalization and federalization of the U.S. military and decreasing the country’s reliance on poorly trained and less reliable state militia units that had been the standard source of military manpower in American wars since the colonial era. He was focused on reforms based on research both at home and abroad to ensure the U.S. could defend itself from major foreign powers in an uncertain world. He is still held in the highest regard among military scholars, in fact being highlighted in a recent grand report by the Rand Corporation entitled, “History of U.S. Military Policy” in which Upton takes center stage in Volume One of the publication.
Upton may not be well known to the general public today,
but he is not forgotten.
CONDITION: Excellent plus, exhibiting an exquisite, untouched appearance with finish loss reserved to flaking on the cylinder. 98% of the extremely deluxe, special order high-polish blue finish on the barrel, ejector housing, back-strap and trigger-guard. 40% blue remains on the cylinder; the loss of which is due
to flaking, not age or use, and its balance exhibits an attractive gray and light brown patina. 99% bright and extremely vivid case colors remain on the hammer and frame; the best we have ever seen on any Colt Single Action. Beautiful, strong niter blue on minty screws and trigger. The gun was handled very little and shows only a few minimal light spots mainly on the barrel at the breech
end and a few lightest scratches and marks. The grip is also near mint and has beautiful burl figure and retains virtually all of its deluxe piano varnish finish, so perfect that the grips appear to be coated in glass with the most minor edge and handling wear. The gun has the visual appearance of a piece of fine jewelry. Mechanically excellent. The bore is like a mirror. The case is very fine and has mild age and storage related wear including from contact with the cylinder and hammer. The interior of the case is excellent. Ammunition from the case is fine with mellow aged patina. The cartridge box is very fine with a bright label with clear markings, some open seams on the lid, and mild wear and is extremely valuable in its own right. Ominously, the cartridge block in the case holds 50 cartridges, with just one is missing.
This is an absolutely stunning early Colt Single Action Army presented by the most famous handgun maker in the world to one of the most important figures in American Military history. Carpe Diem!
Estimate: 250,000 - 450,000