CROSSING THE DEADLY GROUND: US Army Tactics 1865-99

2-39140

The first manual to emphasize on both offense and defense using small-unit tactics, b/w illust, maps, biblio, index.

Jamieson, et al. have done a very good job of trying to come to grips with the one of the hottest topics in military history - the way that armies in the late 19th Century attempted to cope with technological innovation and newer, more destructive weapons. Additionally they cover that most peculiarly American of all military campaigns, the Indian Wars, with an intelligence and incisiveness not seen anywhere else - forget about the glorious charges of the Saturday matinee! Sometimes, this book relies too heavily on letting the factual material speak for itself instead of analysis.

Overall, it is a welcome addition to the growing literature on the revolution in military affairs which was taking place at the time, and it serves as a reminder at our own 'fin de siecle', about the continuing need for new ideas in military tactics.