The Old Army: A Portrait of the American Army in Peacetime, 1784-1898 [Paperback]

Edward M. Coffman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: December 8, 1988 | ISBN-10: 0195045556 | ISBN-13: 978-0195045550

One of the most important works of military history published in the last decade, The Old Army is the only comprehensive study of the people who made up the "garrison world" in the peacetime intervals between the War for Independence and the Spanish-American War. Drawing on diaries, letters, and other primary documents, Edward M. Coffman vividly recreates the harsh, often lonely life of men, collected mostly from the streets of Northern cities, for whom enlistment was "a leap in the dark...a choice of evils." He pays special attention to the roles of women and children, as well as black Americans, and to the development of military professionalism. From the testimony of those who lived it, Coffman traces the evolution of the American Army from "the days of small things"--of limited resources and downright hardship--to the modern military age that began at the turn of the century.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Defining "the Old Army" as that insti tution in existence before any last war, Coffman tells the story of the women, children, officers, and men of the peacetime American army. Covering the time period from the end of the Rev olution to the Spanish-American War, he explores the development of profes sionalism as well as the social aspects of military life. The skillful use of pri mary sources and the emphasis on the army in the larger society make for a scholarly and interesting social as well as military history. Highly recommend ed. George F. Scheck, Naval War Coll. Lib., Newport, R.I.
Copyright 1986 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"An excellent review of the American army in the nineteenth century."--Capt. William E. Fischer, Jr., United States Air Force Academy

"There is not a page that does not have a gem of information and interest for both specialist and general reader. For military history 'buffs' or scholars the book is a must."--Richard H. Bradford, West Virginia Institute of Technology

"A splendid work. Fully up to Coffman's high standard....Will definitely appear on my recommended reading list."--George P. Winston, University of South Carolina

"An excellent book. Informative, entertaining, and provocative. An essential work for any student of U.S. military history."--Brian M. Linn, Old Dominion University

"I am awed by the quantity, quality, and diversity of the sources that Coffman used and by the superb control he exercised over the mass of information to write a fascinating history....A very interesting book that is also an encyclopedia of useful information....An original contribution to our knowledge of American society."--American Historical Review

"A major contribution to the social history of the United States and of its army."--Journal of Southern History

"[Coffman] has gleaned interesting and often entertaining tidbits and anecdotes from a host of letters, diaries, and memoirs to produce an enlivening history that is as enjoyable to read as it is edifying....The author's initial chapter is...by far the best overview of the Federalist military, with insightful generalizations on background, training, and experiences, available anywhere....The Old Army is highly recommended as must reading for virtually any U.S. military historian."--Ohio History

"The definitive study. [Coffman's] scrupulously detailed chronicle of the activities and frustrations of officers and enlisted men, and his hundred pages of footnote references, should stimulate others to follow what until recently was a sort of overlooked attic in history's mansion."--American Studies International

"A labor of love."--Choice

"The skillful use of primary sources and the emphasis on the army in larger society make for a scholarly and interesting social as well as military history. Highly recommended."--Library Journal

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 560 pages
• Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA (December 8, 1988)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0195045556
• ISBN-13: 978-0195045550
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.4 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #771,526 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fills a gaping hole in American military history., April 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Old Army: A Portrait of the American Army in Peacetime, 1784-1898 (Paperback)

"The Old Army" is a successful attempt to explore the men, the officers, the families, the training and the way of life of the peacetime Army from America's inception to the Spanish-American War. Volumes have been written about the Army during various wars and how volunteer forces contributed to the victories. Here, Edward Coffman discusses the the so-called caretaker Army that manned the lonely frontier outposts, and how it progressed to the organized machine it is today. Although it's a natural progression, it's not easy to see it without the strength of Coffman's narrative and his ability to balance deeply personal views of soldiers in the field with the major policies issued by the powers-that-be. Much reviled, maligned, and distrusted by the American public, the peacetime Army is truely the grandfather of today's modern military. Although many people credit the temporary wartime armies with that distinction, Coffman traces the struggles that the civilian and military leaders had to endure in order to produce an effective military. This excellent work contains revealing excerpts from personal journals that provide a clear view into this forgotten way of life ranging from reasons why people joined, deserted, and came back again. Coffman devotes a great deal of time to minorities, in the military, and wives and children of the soldiers to give us a well-rounded view of what garrison life was like. Coffman also discusses the real, but overlooked work of the early army: the building of forts, buildings, and public roads. Long considered a haven for misfits and incompetents, the Old Army deserves a deeper scruitiny. Coffman provides the kind of indepth study that has long been lacking. Coffman's ability to focus on the larger history of the Army while still providing illuminating anecdotes makes this fascinating reading.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Best Fusion of Social and Military History to Date, January 19, 2005

By 

Gregory Canellis "Student of military history... (Tuckerton, NJ USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Old Army: A Portrait of the American Army in Peacetime, 1784-1898 (Paperback)

America's abhorrence of a large standing army in peacetime, and the officers, men, and camp followers who comprised the small constabulary Army of the nineteenth century, is the theme of Edward M. Coffman's excellent social history. Coffman's engaging chapters delve into the lives of "Officers," "Women and Children" and "Enlisted men." The book is arranged chronologically from 1784-1860 and 1865-1898 with those three themes revolving throughout. Since the focus here is the peacetime army, the author deliberately skips the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. The result is undoubtedly the best fusion of social and military history to date. Coffman points out, throughout its fledgling early history of administrative changes and budget cutbacks, living conditions within the institution remained deplorable. Supplies, uniforms and rations were inadequate. Likewise, living quarters and proper sanitation were always poor. The author cites a typical example where one bathtub was shared by 100 men. Predictively, drunkenness and desertion were a constant problem, however, Coffman shows that neither officers nor enlisted men were under paid for any significant length of time throughout the nineteenth century. The author injects facts, statistics, and demographics into an engaging and fast-paced narrative, that is difficult to put down. In his discussion of officers, Coffman covers many essential topics. These areas include: officer-rank & file relations, personal rivalries and career anxiety, as well as line-staff tensions and the emergence of professionalism within the officer corps. The role of West Point, education, and racism towards African-American soldiers are also adequately discussed. The most informative chapters are devoted to Women and children, and the vital role they played in the early peacetime army. The author describes the intricacies and significance of courtship and marriage, raising children in remote out-posts, and, the often forgotten role of other camp followers, such as laundresses and servants. Coffman also selectively incorporates the methods of comparative history, balancing the United States frontier army with its British and European counterparts. The author offers some insights into the correlation of pay scales, health standards, discipline, recruitment, and education. Accenting his plethora of sources arranged in copious notes, are the diaries and memoirs of several foreign observers who recorded their impressions of life within the scattered American Army. The author concludes that by the 1890's, however, living conditions across the board had improved, and the US Army was becoming a desirable career alternative just in time for its debut on the world stage. "Mac" Coffman destroys the notion that social historians make poor military historians and visa-versa. This classic is required reading for anyone seriously interested in American military history. Five-stars, Bravo!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How the west was really won, December 12, 2008

By 

Michael A Neulander "Political Philosophy" (VA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Old Army: A Portrait of the American Army in Peacetime, 1784-1898 (Paperback)

This was required reading for a graduate course in the history of American military affairs. Edward Coffman's The Old Army: A Portrait of the Army in Peacetime, 1784-1898 focuses on the nineteenth-century army's peacetime activities. His work is different from other works on the Army in the west because he emphasizes the notion of the nineteenth-century frontier as predominately peaceful. Coffman is one of the pioneers in this field, particularly because of his emphasis on the idea that the army did not cease to exist when frontier soldiers were not fighting Native Americans. In fact, Coffman maintains, "[T]he army does not cease to exist between the treaty ending one conflict and the opening guns of the next," and he highlights the actions of the frontier army during these "intervals of peace." Chapter four, entitled "`Wanderers in the Land:' Enlisted Men, 1815-1860," is dedicated to the mundane tasks enlisted men participated in to keep themselves occupied during such periods of peace. These activities included farming, attending church, interacting peacefully with Indians, training, and even recruiting new enlistees. Coffman's research provides the reader with several examples of enlisted soldiers who were totally dissatisfied with life on the western frontier.

Recommended reading for anyone interested in military history, and American history.