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Until the 1830s, China was scarcely known to the outside world. When Europeans began to arrive in number in that decade, demanding of the Ching dynasty's rulers access to raw materials and to China's huge domestic markets alike, the Chinese resisted, but, in the end, unsuccessfully. England in particular sought a market for the opium, a crown monopoly produced in India, and it waged a brief war to press its claim--a war that won it that market, the ownership of Hong Kong, and entry into cities like Shanghai and Guangdong. The war also contributed to the eventual collapse of Ching rule. Really a footnote in history, the Opium War, then, had major consequences that color Sino-Western relations even today. Peter Ward Fay tells the story in this well-written, vigorous narrative. --Gregory McNamee
Book Description
This book tells the fascinating story of the war between England and China that delivered Hong Kong to the English, forced the imperial Chinese government to add four ports to Canton as places in which foreigners could live and trade, and rendered irreversible the process that for almost a century thereafter distinguished western relations with this quarter of the globe—the process that is loosely termed the "opening of China."
Originally published by UNC Press in 1975, Peter Ward Fay's study was the first to treat extensively the opium trade from the point of production in India to the point of consumption in China and the first to give both Protestant and Catholic missionaries their due; it remains the most comprehensive account of the first Opium War through western eyes. In a new preface, Fay reflects on the relationship between the events described in the book and Hong Kong's more recent history.
Customer Reviews:
An epic and fascinating read.......2004-01-17
While there are regrettably few definitive one-volume accounts of the imperialist foreign rape of China (and anyone seeking a balanced and fair account is forced by this dearth of material to digest the information contained across vastly differing accounts from both the Chinese and foreign side), Fay's study is easily one of the most engaging. It is not a dry history, nor a polemic. It is beautiful, fresh and literary writing that reads like a novel, packed with ground-level observations, much gathered from the journals of the Western participants themselves. Fay also does a better job than many others in dissecting the psychologies behind the politics and clashing cultures. Fay also succeeds by never straying from the bottom line: the opium and opium trafficking.
Authoritative and Elegant.......2000-11-21
Nearly three decades after it was first published, Fay's book remains the best single volume on the Opium War, and one of the best books on China in the 19th century. It is easy to read, but is scholarly enough for the most fastidious. Unlike the other reviewer I had no particular difficulties with the timeline, although that can be a problem with any historical narrative. Be advised that this is a narrative history and can be read with joy by those who find social or economic histories tedious, but the background of the war is covered in particular detail as well. Fay is not a professional sinologist, and came to this book through his studies of the East India Company, but the book seems none the worse for his wide knowledge. It was recommended to me by some very distinguished historians of China, and their enthusiasm was justified. It is not a weighty tome, like those of Mary Wright or Vincent Shih on China in the 19th century, but it is authoritative on its subject, and like the best of Fairbank, it is great fun to read. Can one say better things about a book? If you are interested in the Opium War, Qin dynasty history, imperialism, or just like reading a good narrative about a war, please indulge yourself-- and read this book.
This is one of the most frustrating books I've ever read........1998-11-27
Peter Fay's book on the Opium War is one of the most detailed studies of the period between 1838-1842 one can find at anything like the price, and would be a valuable resource except for one major flaw--there is no time-line given, and dates are provided, at most, with day and month, not year. This may seem like an insignificant thing, but given that correspondence took at least six months in one direction from China to England, and that the war was taking place with sailing ships up and down most of China's coast, it quickly becomes impossible to tell, either from the footnotes or the text, what year precisely specific events happened. Since so few dates are given at all, it is impossible to get a good sense of the exact sequence of events, particularly as the fighting part of the war heated up. When the book is next released, it should have a time line!
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Rumours of Wars: Civil Conflict in Nineteenth-Century Latin America (ILAS History)
Manufacturer: Nineteenth Century Latin America Series, Inst
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ASIN: 1900039338 |
Book Description
A century after the Cuban war for independence was fought, Louis Pérez examines the meaning of the war of 1898 as represented in one hundred years of American historical writing. Offering both a critique of the conventional historiography and an alternate history of the war informed by Cuban sources, Pérez explores the assumptions that have shaped our understanding of the "Spanish-American War"—a construct, he argues, that denies the Cubans' participation in their own struggle for liberation from Spanish rule.
Pérez examines historical accounts of the destruction of the battleship Maine, the representation of public opinion as a precipitant of war, and the treatment of the military campaign in Cuba. Equally important, he shows how historical narratives have helped sustain notions of America's national purpose and policy, many of which were first articulated in 1898. Cuba insinuated itself into one of the most important chapters of U.S. history, and what happened on the island in the final decade of the nineteenth century—and the way in which what happened was subsequently represented—has had far-reaching implications, many of which continue to resonate today.
Customer Reviews:
An account of the war that discounts the idealism.......2004-10-16
The easy American victory over Spain in 1898 is generally considered to be a watershed event in American history. It is treated as the point where a nation content in its' isolationist introversion became an imperialist nation. In the United States, the war is considered to have been a noble venture, where the United States was "forced" to intervene and rescue the Cuban people from their vicious Spanish oppressors.
The historical reality is much more complex and does not match the general perception. In the years before the American Civil war, there were several attempts to annex Cuba, bringing it into the Union as a slave state. Unauthorized, armed expeditions to do exactly this were thwarted several times. Immediately after Abraham Lincoln was elected President, Secretary of State William Seward suggested that Lincoln provoke a war with Spain over Cuba in the hopes that the exterior crisis would keep the nation together. After the Civil war, the interest in Cuba remained. As it became clear that there would be a canal in Central America connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, there were some serious attempts to buy the island from Spain. The argument was that it was needed to control the eastern approaches to the canal.
It is also not true that before 1898 the United States was isolationist. Hawaii and Alaska were acquired in the later half of the nineteenth century and it was United States vessels that sailed to Japan, making it clear to the Japanese that they could no longer maintain their isolationist position. In the years between the Civil War and 1898, the United States was involved in many places around the world, from Korea to the Congo.
Perez understands this and uses an extensive number of quotes to justify his position that the political machine in the United States chose to intervene militarily in Cuba at the time when it seemed that the Cuban insurgency was about to defeat the Spanish forces. The Cuban liberation forces had been fighting the Spanish for three years and the Spanish forces were on the verge of collapse. It was the Cuban forces that secured the beaches where the American troops landed, allowing them to land unopposed. However, when the Spanish forces were defeated, the Cuban forces were not allowed to enter the cities and were shut out of all negotiations. The United States then took control of the island, considering the Cubans to be incapable of self-government. When the Cubans voiced objections, they were criticized for their lack of appreciation for their liberation.
This book is a revelation of how the war in 1898 really took place, it goes beyond the jingoistic hype and presents the political and social backdrop of the war as it really was. While many idealistic justifications were stated in support of the United States going to war with Spain, the reality was rooted in long-standing imperialistic ambitions in the United States. Perez uses the statements of U.S. leaders at the time to support his positions and explains how there were consequences sixty years later when the rebellion led by Fidel Castro was victorious.
Conspiracy theories abound!.......2000-05-29
This book is a mess. In the name of revising old truisms that have been discarded a long time ago - historians have known for decades that the Spanish-American War was hardly the crusade it was pitched as - this book creates William McKinley the Extraordinary Supervillain as an explanation to US policy. There is no mention of the fact that he tried to keep the US out of war, or of the fact that the country and congress basically went crazy after a certain ship called the Maine blew up. He can't disprove theories about the Maine - he can't challenge the evidence of others - so he just writes snidely about how every other historian is a dope.
Discarding the old jingoistic Rough Riders stories (which were forgotten a long time ago) doesn't oblige one to embrace bizarre conspiracy theories. Ernest May's "Imperial Democracy", John Offner's "An Unwanted War", and David Trask's "The War of 1898" are far better at explaining this event.
For another review of this book check out Theodore Draper's article in the 1998 volume of the New York Review of Books.
Important perspective of the war in Cuban 1898.......2000-05-23
In this well researched work, Mr. Perez examines the Cuban chapter of the War of 1898. (Historians now prefer 'War of 1898' instead of 'Spanish-American War' to avoid confussing the issues in Cuba and Philippeans which led to war.) He does this from a Cuba-centric point of view; a breath of fresh air for those sick of American ethonocentric views of history. Historically documents show the U.S.'s prime motive was preventing another European power from assuming colonial control of Cuba; hence having a power base close to America. History also clearly shows Cuba defeating the Spanish-- until the U.S. stormed in to 'help.'
Those who like to live with blinders over their eyes and believe legends and myths about US Glory (i.e. the Rough Riders etc.) will not like this book. However, those who want the truth to be preserved instead of propaganda will enjoy. The book can be read quickly, but offers more than enough detailed information to be used as reference in scholarly writings.
In light of a previous review I must add the book sticks to the revelant subject; not propaganda for Castro. Castro only gets mentioned on 3 of the last few pages. His revolution was against elites placed into power by the US in 1904. Perez simply restates that fact after explaing the process that turned control of Cuba to Cuba. Perez also leaves the Maine incident as mystery because IT IS A MYSTERY! There is nothing worse than a historian claiming unknowns as 100% fact-- it degrades the intellectual integerty of historial research. Perez explores each theory but leaves the final question unanswered.
This book raised the standard for research into US involvement in Cuba from 1898-1904.
Thorough . . . and yet quite disappointing.......2000-01-20
Louis Perez can hardly be faulted for not doing his reading. He leaves scarcely a stone unturned in his survey of the historiography of 1898. Yet this book falls far short of its potential.
I suspect the reason for this is both political and methodological. Perez writes from the left and he focuses on Cuba. Nothing is wrong with either, however, taken together these produce a skewed and inaccurate description of American policy in 1898. Perez criticizes his predecessors for thinking that they can write about Cuba from an American perspective. He makes the same mistake, however, in thinking that his command of Cuban history gives him some kind of special insight into McKinley's motivations.
The academic left has generally had little to offer studies of the Spanish-American War. Julius Pratt's Expansionists of 1898 blew their argument out of the water by arguing that American businesses did not want war with Spain. That hasn't kept authors like Perez from trying to cast McKinley as some kind of scheming imperialist.
One does not have to be a fan of McKinley to find this characterization inaccurate. It is underpinned by entirely circumstantial evidence. Worse, it is contradicted by McKinley's biographers, and by accounts which emphasize the extraordinary pressure that the President faced in March of 1898. Perez writes snidely and dismissively of the impact of the explosion of the U.S.S. Maine, while refusing to offer his own theory of the impact of the event. He never directly refutes the accounts emphasizing the Maine, he just makes it clear that he really dislikes them.
Perez' conclusion - which makes Fidel Castro one of the few heroes of the book - does little to redeem this overly political, snidely written, and surprisingly incomplete text.
Book Description
The definitive one-volume reference to the armies, arms, and actions of the century that defined modern warfare. The Napoleonic Wars opened the century; the American Civil War punctuated its midpoint. Throughout, conflict seldom abated, whether between the European powers on their own continent or between their colonial proxies around the world. Byron Farwell, an authoritative and engaging chronicler of military history, illuminates here all aspects of this colorful, horrifying, compelling century of war. Global in reach, the encyclopedia covers Latin American rebellions; African, Indian, and Southeast Asian conflicts; Chinese and Japanese actions; and the Indian wars of North America. It is comprehensive, with coverage of weapons development, battles and campaigns, military leaders, and more. Farwell's treatment of military medicine and wartime journalism is unmatched, and his interpretive essays relate events and people to one another and to the century's technological and scientific trends. Including nearly 1,000 illustrations reproduced from period sources, this groundbreaking encyclopedia is destined to become a much-used and desired reference. Nearly 1000 black-and-white illustrations and maps throughout.
Customer Reviews:
Magnificent!.......2003-11-20
The magnum opus of the late Byron Farwell, a retired British officer and historian. If you want to know anything about land nineteenth century land warfare, this is the book for you. Written in an unadorned flowing style the book is a pleasure to read and not simply to use as a reference work. A valuable work that should serve to give background information in the development of the military art in the nineteenth cenury for the student of any particular conflict, be it the Napoleonic Wars, the Civil War, etc. The production quality of the book is quite high, with the pages being printed on heavy, high quality paper and with an excellent binding. In an age of shoddy publishing I was pleasantly surprised by this book.
An Inexhaustable Treasure Trove of 19th Century History........2002-08-19
I came to this book as a retired lawyer with a life long interest in history, particularly as to its military aspects. No longer required by profession to spend most of my reading time in case books, I realized that compromised health has at least one benefit, namely to pursue knowledge for its own sake. I have always believed that next to reading and basic math, the most important subject in our schools should be history, but as my sons wended their way through the educational process, I realized that this wasn't so. And where history was offered, it became disassociated with the truth, largely because of academic championing of plain wrong philosophies such as political correctness, multiculturalsim and nonjudgmental ethics. This, I found, was most concentrated at the college level. So what has that got to do with whether or not you should buy this book? A lot. If you do no more than accept what occurs on the world stage as a spectator, then pass on. But if you, like me, frequently wonder, "why?", then I recommend this very comprehensive book without reservation. For example, do you think that the extremely militant form of Islam called "Wahhabianism" is a recent thing? Farwell shows that it was the cause of the Arabian Wars of 1801 -1842. Vietnam a 1960's thing? The French waged war there about the same time that America was engaged in its Civil War. Afghanistan a today event? The British fought two wars there. War dominated the 19th Century, and a reading of this book makes it clear that the fallout from those wars are with us yet. If the French saying (translated) that, "The more things change, the more they remain the same." has any truth to it, it is exemplified time and again in this excellent work. Yes, it's big and costs a bit, but it was worth every dollar to me. It's accurate, and in being so, it is very judgmental on such matters as how the Americans dealt with the "Indian Issue", British, French and US colonialism, centuries old Islamic militarism and the frequent failure of the use of force to solve political issues. As I noted in another review, as we continue as a nation to wage war on terrorism, there is a growing need for informed Americans, both in the positions of leadership, and of those who elect them. There is much to be learned from this excellent work, and it is beautifully well-organized to permit quick access to subject matter. Of course, Farwell's writing skill is outstanding. And just think of the questions that your friends may be hesitant to ask when they see THIS book on the coffee table!
A Most Bellicose Century.......2002-05-11
By John McCaughey
One comes away from Byron Farwell's huge book on 19th century warfare* with the rather dismal reflection that there was not one single day in those one hundred years when wars small or large were not being waged somewhere on the globe and thousands of people were being killed daily--often with barbarism. The soldiers, naturally, did the rough work, but civilian inventors and technicians toiled tirelessly behind the scenes to invent and manufacture ever more efficient and cost-effective ways to kill people. Far from the firing lines, politicians fomented wars. Very many of those wars were instigated for asinine reasons.
Ambitiously, Farwell paints his huge canvas for both the scholar and the general reader of military history. It is, he says, a tale of wars, revolutions, battles, sieges, spies, soldiers, technical military terms, weapons, armies, military awards, camp followers and other aspects of 19th century wars and military life. Nor does he neglect that other factor that caused more deaths than all the weapons combined: diseases, including venereal disease which filled the military hospitals.
The book takes us into a far different world to today's high-tech warfare, sketching feats of almost unbelievable courage, stoicism and unshakeable devotion to duty. There was, for example, Henry Havelock (1795-1857) who, learning of the massacre of the garrison at Cawnpore in India led 2,000 infantry, some volunteer cavalry and six guns to defeat the rebels. By forced marches at the hottest time of the year he traversed 126 miles in nine days (14 miles a day through rough country for redcoats carrying heavy kit).
Defeating a rebel force, he entered Cawnpore and then--despite dwindling ammunition and supplies and a plague of cholera and dysentery that was killing off many of his men--he marched on to try to relieve the beseiged Lucknow, defeating two forces of mutineers on the way.
In an armchair, it is comfortable to read about all this, but it requires little imagination to envision what Havelock and his soldiers must have endured--driven on by their sense of duty, their faith in the British Raj and the iron discipline of the army.
Farwell (sadly, he died several years ago) was a veteran military historian, author of more than a dozen histories and a notable biography of Stonewall Jackson. Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher is one of his many fans. Much of his success is due to his eye for the odd or quixotic, which makes this book more readable than most other encyclopedias.
At random, then, we learn that:
#A U.S. marine called Jonathan Goble, stationed in China, in 1855 invented the rickshaw;
#The British office of "Gold Stick in Waiting" goes back to 1678 (the author is adept at describing orders of chivalry and ceremonial posts);
#The notorious Nazi "Goose Step" straight-legged, stiff-kneed march (George Orwell called it "one of the most horrible sights in the world") derived from a drill in which recruits were taught balance by standing on one leg and swinging the other backward and forward;
A thousand other such intriguing factoids sprinkle this book like confetti. Farwell's disquisition, for example, on the somewhat odd preoccupation of all armies throughout history with the hairstyles of soldiers and officers alike is a masterpiece of dry humor.
Nor does Farwell shrink from the ugly side of war--noting, for example, with considerable imagery, that at the conclusion of the Siege of Verona in the Peninsular War on 11 December 1809 "some 3,000 walking skeletons surrendered."
The real joy of this book, though, is in the arcania. How the dickens did Farwell find out so much about the Ghost Dance of the Oglala Sioux? Or the story of Rollo Gillespie, a small man who assailed in his quarters one night in the West Indies by a gang of desperados grabbed his sword and killed six of them. Word of the feat preceded him to England, where, some years later, upon being presented to King George III at a levee, the royal personage remarked: "Eh, eh? What, what! Is this the little man that killed the brigands?" One might almost be in the room with the dotty monarch and the little man.
And always, like the sun about to break through the thunderclouds of war, lurks Farwell's characteristic dry humor. Of one British officer he writes: "He was a decisive man, perhaps too decisive. One of his colleagues spoke of 'One of those long conferences he held on grave issues. They generally lasted from two to five minutes'."
Lord knows how long it is, but at 900 pages the encyclopedia can scarcely be less than half a million words. Such books are not intended for narrative reading, but a daily dip into this one will invariably reward the readers with some quixotic, historical or amusing anecdote. The U.S. military could do a lot worse than to issue a copy to all ranks.
All in all, the book is an extraordinary display of erudition and of awesome industry. In no small way, it is Byron Farwell's monument.
But this reviewer's favorite entry is on the "Gunner's Chant." Explains Farwell:
"Sometimes called the gunner's doxology. Before watches became common, this was a chant used by artillery noncommissioned officers when firing salutes in order to time the intervals between rounds and keep them uniform. It began:
"Fire!
If I had good sense I wouldn't be here.
Fire!
I'd like to slip off for a pail of beer.
Fire!"
--------
*The Encyclopedia of Nineteenth-Century Land Warfare by Byron Farwell. W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., New York. ISBN 0-393-04770-9. [$]
A good read and well researched.......2001-11-25
This is a great book. It covers every aspect of 19th Century warfare from technology, equipment, battles and personalities. Each entry is well structured and written in a clear and understanding manner and most importantly, it is short and to the point. A great reference book for anyone who enjoys military history.
Book Description
In the second half of the 19th century, European-led columns began to fan out across the African continent from their coastal footholds, smashing whatever forces could be brought against them, no matter how brave or determined the latter were. The process began at different dates in different parts of the continent, but much of the main activity was concentrated into the two decades between 1881 and 1902, subsequently but accurately nicknamed the 'Scramble for Africa'.
By 1914 the Europeans had overrun the greater part of the continent, and, remarkably, had managed to do so without clashing with each other in the process: conflict between them only occurred after 1914 because what was essentially a European power-struggle was inevitably projected on to the African landscape. The armies responsible for this extraordinary period of expansion have seldom been surveyed as a whole, and never in the organisational detail attempted here.
As well as including an outline of the principal campaigns of the period, military historian Peter Abbott examines in detail the structure, dress and armament of the colonial armies fielded by the Congo Free State, the Belgian Congo, Great Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and Spain, and includes in his text an unprecedented amount of order of battle material. Illustrations include 229 drawings of soldiers, 58 other illustrations, and two maps.
Book Description
Warfare in the Nineteenth Century not only covers warfare as it evolved throughout the century, but also explores its connection with, and effect on, technical, social, economic, political, and cultural change. The book discusses specific battles and campaigns in order to highlight the turning points in the development of the way in which military operations were conducted. David Gates places war during the 1800's in its wider historical context in a way that is thoughtful, wide-ranging, and informed.
Book Description
The Civil War was the bloodiest war in American history and a defining moment of the nineteenth century. In this concise and authoritative volume, Brian Holden Reid -- a leading expert on the subject -- reveals how industrialization and emerging methods of mass production gave birth to a new age of warfare, most dramatically represented in the unprecedented destruction and mass casualties of the American Civil War.
- Detailed, chronological history of the strategic and operational dimensions of both the Northern and Southern campaigns
- Strengths and weaknesses of the opposing sides
- Fresh perspectives on the war's global context
- Culmination of the war, peace negotiations, and their ramifications for the future
Customer Reviews:
The Civil War and the evolution of modern warfare.......2007-09-23
Brian Holden Reid's goal in this book, as he states in the introduction, is to place the Civil War in context with two other major conflicts of the mid-19th century, the Crimean War and the wars of German unification. Contrary to many traditional accounts of the warfare of the era, he sees the three as reflecting the evolution of large-scale industrialized warfare during those decades, with the different struggles nevertheless demonstrating commonalities in the impact of new technologies and the changing scale of war.
This is evident beginning with the Crimean War. Fought in the shadow of the Napoleonic wars (the British commander had been Wellington's secretary), Reid nonetheless demonstrates, in a very British-centric account, that the expedition to the Crimea would have been impossible without the steam-powered ships which sustained the forces. Yet while he challenges the notion of the British military as being "a museum piece", he does note that the reforms introduced hardly addressed the challenges of the new warfare that commanders like Lord Raglan faced.
Similar limitations emerged at the command level during the Civil War. Reid's analysis of the conflict dominates the book, taking up three of its five chapters. His analysis if primarily operational and strategic, and it reveals how unready - and in many cases, unadaptable - commanders on both sides were to the new scale of warfare. Grant emerges as the dominant commander, Reid argues, not because of his ability as a field commander (which he sees as inferior to Lee's), but because of his grasp of "what was important in the higher level of the conduct of war." In this Reid ranks Grant with Helmuth von Moltke as the first masters of industrialized warfare, as the Prussian general demonstrated similar attributes in his successful pursuit of victory against Denmark (which is only briefly addressed), Austria, and France.
All of this Reid presents with a generous seasoning of his sharp observations which leave little doubt as to his opinion on matters (his assessment of the staff of Austrian general Ludwig Benedek is that they "made for an entertaining dining club" is one of the more amusing among many) and make for a lively text. By comparing the three wars, he demonstrates clearly how industrialization transformed warfare, while his operational narrative shows how slowly commanders adapted to these changes. Heavily illustrated with photographs and maps, it is a quick read, and serves as an excellent introduction to the Civil War while putting it in the context of the evolution of modern warfare.
Book Description
Of all the military campaigns fought by the British during the 19th century, no area saw more conflict than the subcontinent of India. Dozens of encounters, both great and small, involved many of its races as either friends or foes of Britain - indeed, it was not unusual for an area to furnish both ally and enemy at the same time! This volume covers the British, Indian and Anglo-Indian troops who fought for The Honourable East India Company and Britain over the varied landscape of what is present day Afghanistan, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, between the years 1826 and 1859.
The vast array of uniforms and dress worn by soldiers serving in India during this period is examined in detail, and extensive information is also provided on regimental Colours. The book's nine chapters cover the campaign in Bhurtpore (1825-26); the Coorg campaign (1834); the First Afghan War (1839-42); the conquest of Sind (1843); the campaign against Gwalior (1843); the Sikh Wars (1845-46 and 1848-49); actions on the North-West Frontier (1849-58); the Santhal Rebellion (1855-56); and the Indian Mutiny (1857-59).
Each of these chapters includes uniform information specific to the campaign covered, while that on the Indian Mutiny also includes details of Mutineer dress. Many orders of battle and battle-plans are also included. Illustrations comprise 199 drawings of troop types and flags, and 27 other illustrations and maps
Average customer rating:
- A superb resource for quick reference
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The Old Army in Texas: A Research Guide to the U.S. Army in Nineteenth-Century Texas
Thomas T. Smith
Manufacturer: Texas State Historical Association
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Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0876111703 |
Book Description
A comprehensive and authoritative single-source reference for the activities of the regular army in the Lone Star State in the latter half of the nineteenth century. Beginning with a series of maps that sketch the evolution of fort and camp locations on the frontier, Smith furnishes an overview essay, and includes in the guide sections on the departmental commanders and the military organization of the state, a dictionary of two hundred and thirty-three posts, forts, and camps in Texas, provides a year by year snapshot of total army strength in the state, the regiments assigned, and the garrisons and commanders of each major fort and camp. Supplying the only such synopsis of its kind, Part V, offers a chronological description of two hundred twenty-four U.S. Army combat actions in the Texas Indian Wars with vital details of each engagement. The nine hundred entries in the selected bibliography are divided topically into sections on biographical sources and regimental histories, histories of forts, garrison life, civil-military relations, The Mexican War, and frontier operations taken from a wide range of government records, primary and secondary sources, as well as, archeological reports.
Customer Reviews:
A superb resource for quick reference.......2003-01-11
The Old Army in Texas: A Research Guide To The U.S. Army In Nineteenth-Century Texas by Texas historian Thomas T. Smith, is an encyclopedia-style research tool containing a wealth of information about the United States Army in nineteenth-century Texas. An informative introduction succinctly summarizes U.S. Army operations; then different sections follow which collaboratively present maps of the changing Texas military frontier during the 1800s, army commanders and organizations in Texas, post garrisons 1836-1900. Enhanced with a selected bibliography, a summary of combat actions during the Indian Wars of Texas 1849-1881, and much, much more, The Old Army In Texas is a superb resource for quick reference and a highly recommended addition to American History, Western Frontier, and Military History academic reference collections and supplemental reading lists.
Books:
- Regional Landscapes of the United States and Canada
- Sailor Jerrys Tattoo Stencils
- Sight, Sound, Motion with infotrac: Applied Media Aesthetics
- Signs of Life in the USA: Readings on Popular Culture for Writers
- Singing: The Mechanism and the Technic
- Smoke Your Firefighter Interview
- Something in the Air: Radio, Rock, and the Revolution That Shaped a Generation
- Sundown Towns: A Hidden Dimension of American Racism
- Surnames of Scotland : Their Origin, Meaning and History
- Teaching to Transgress: Education as the Practice of Freedom
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