Customer Reviews

Forts of the American Frontier 1820-91: Central and Northern Plains (Fortress)

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Do not be discouraged by the small size of this book. The author does an excellent job in covering the forts of the Great Plains describing their construction, history and the human element. Of course, not every fort can be covered, but this book does cover the key forts and provides a good sampling from the fully stockaded forts to those open posts that usually had nothing more than a blockhouse. Like most Osprey books, this one is well illustrated. This book is a must for anyone really interested in the American West in the 19th century.

A nice introduction to the forts built in the American West during the 18th century. Detailed sections on fort types, defensive features, and construction methods (depending on distance from resources and labor available) follow the section on evolution of fortifications.
A snapshot of life in the forts reveals privation, exhausting labor, severe weather effects, and long periods of isolation broken (rarely) by Indian attack or forces staging from the fort to attack Indian settlements.

The section on forts under seige or attack is neccessarily brief but isn't really the focus of the book. As with most Fortress series books this volume finishes with a look at surviving examples, somewhat rare in this case.

Where this book really shines is in the detail drawaings and plates. The illustrations are easily comparable to a larger book, which generally has more information, but at several times the cost.

Highly recommended as an introduction or general reference to the 19th century American West.

Book had much more information than expected regarding military strategy and fort/base design in the West. Great illustrations too.

This product was delivered on time, and was in the condition as described. I bought this book for my husband (history buff). Didn't really hold his interest. Was looking for something with more depth.

I bought this book because I had visited a couple of forts during a recent vacation. Wish I had bought this book before touring the forts but it is very informative and one of the better books on this subject that I've seen.