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Life Of A Soldier On The Western Frontier
Guess since I started this group, I should kick it off.
Just finished this book.
It was written by Jerely Agnew
Published by Mountain Press Publishing Company
266 pages.
This book covers the life, duties, and equipment used by soldiers in the major western Army posts from just after the Civil War up until the turn of the century.
There is some repetition, repeating of some of the data, but overall a pretty good account.
The only major problem I see in the book is the beginning, where the author attempts to cover the reasons behind the Indian wars, with simply explantions to what was a complicated issue.
An interesting tidbit; soldiers at the western forts were far more likly to die from disease or accident that by indian fighting.
From the back cover:
"they had to endure a life of tedious drills, bad meals, uncomfortable quarters, and ill fitting uniforms,, working hard seven days a week in all kinds of weather, soldiers frequently found themselves lonely and bored, with little opportunity for advancement but many ways to be punished,,,, all for $13 a month"
Overall, worth the read.
Just finished this book.
It was written by Jerely Agnew
Published by Mountain Press Publishing Company
266 pages.
This book covers the life, duties, and equipment used by soldiers in the major western Army posts from just after the Civil War up until the turn of the century.
There is some repetition, repeating of some of the data, but overall a pretty good account.
The only major problem I see in the book is the beginning, where the author attempts to cover the reasons behind the Indian wars, with simply explantions to what was a complicated issue.
An interesting tidbit; soldiers at the western forts were far more likly to die from disease or accident that by indian fighting.
From the back cover:
"they had to endure a life of tedious drills, bad meals, uncomfortable quarters, and ill fitting uniforms,, working hard seven days a week in all kinds of weather, soldiers frequently found themselves lonely and bored, with little opportunity for advancement but many ways to be punished,,,, all for $13 a month"
Overall, worth the read.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Becky Coffield on -
I wonder if guys went to being soldiers because there just weren't a lot of "job" opportunities like we have nowadays. At least they got 3 hots and a cot, more or less. think about it though - there was cattle driving, being a clerk/store type person, and there wasn't a plethora of stores; or you could be a rancher if you had $$; ranch hand; lawman; outlaw...I mean they didn't have lots of jobs that we have now.
I agree about the Indian Wars. You want a GREAT account of that, read Paul Wellman's "Death in the Desert" and "Death on the Plains." It has recently dawned on me, however, that it is really the nature of men to fight. Honestly, I've never given this too much thought, but men have been fighting since the beginning of time. It's got to be in the DNA. Every tribe, country, group has had battles for land, women, power, whatever. What's up with you guys, anyway? -
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