The Old West: The Soldiers (1974)

This volume follows the usual Time-Life pattern of incorporating many paintings, maps, photos, combined with historical analysis and excerpts from memoirs and contemporary sources to tell the story. The soldier described in this book is the poor sod who signed up with the U.S Army to be sent out West during and after the Civil War to control the Indians. Poorly paid and equipped, he faced a frustrating and dangerous task looking for hostiles who fought as guerrillas, a war technique that hisofficers were not prepared in training to fight.
The author describes life in the primitive forts that were built on the frontier during this period. Life on the trail was even more harsh especially if one was on a winter campaign where it could be weeks or months in snow and cold before one returned to the fort. Some of the officers were glory seeking incompetents who thought little of their men's requirements and led them on long marches with little or no food and water. George Custer being the most famous of these glory seekers rates a lot of coverage here. His last campaign receives a full chapter with pros and cons on what occurred.
Some of the Army's most famous atrocities against women and children are examined and the background to how such a policy of extermination was developed. The editors also included photos of mutilated soldiers who had the misfortune to be captured by Indians. Sombre reading.
The photographs of the soldiers on the trail and at the post reveal a much different uniform then we are used to seeing in John Wayne movies. This is a good overview of life on the frontier during the Indian Wars. ( )