Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment: The U.S. Army on the Western Frontier 1880-1892 (2-Volume Set) [Hardcover]

Douglas C. McChristian (Author), Jerome A. Greene (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 2007 | ISBN-10: 080619961X | ISBN-13: 978-0806199610

Volume 1: Headgear, Clothing, and Footwear

Volume 2: Weapons and Accouterments

The definitive two-volume survey of military clothing and equipment during the final years of the U.S.-Indian wars

Building on the success of his best-selling The U.S. Army in the West, 1870-1880:Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment, Douglas C. McChristian here presents a two-volume comprehensive account of the evolution of military arms and equipment during the years 1880–1892. The volumes are set against the backdrop of the final decade of the Indian campaigns—a key period of transition in United States military history.

In Volume 1, McChristian shows how the Quartermaster Department modified the design and manufacturing of uniforms and other clothing to meet the developing needs of troops in the American West. In Volume 2, he focuses on weapons and other accouterments, recounting in detail the army’s quest to find a repeating rifle that would serve the needs of both cavalry and infantry across the plains.

Drawing on extensive research in public and private collections throughout the United States and lavishly illustrated with more than four hundred color and black-and-white illustrations, these volumes will serve as invaluable references for collectors, curators, and students of militaria and of the frontier era.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Douglas C. McChristian is a retired research historian for the National Park Service in the Santa Fe regional office and a former National Park Service field historian at Fort Davis and Fort Laramie national historic sites and at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. A resident of Tucson, Arizona, he is the author of Fort Bowie, Arizona:Combat Post of the Southwest, 1858-1894.

Jerome A. Greene is retired as Research Historian for the National Park Service. He is the author of numerous books, including Stricken Field: The Little Bighorn since 1876, Battles and Skirmishes of the Great Sioux War, 1876-1877: The Military View; Lakota and Cheyenne: Indian Views of the Great Sioux War, 1876-1877; and Morning Star Dawn: The Powder River Expedition and the Northern Cheyennes, 1876, all published by the University of Oklahoma Press.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 664 pages
• Publisher: University of Oklahoma Press (May 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080619961X
• ISBN-13: 978-0806199610
• Product Dimensions: 11.3 x 8.8 x 1.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,184,405 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent treatise on material culture of the late Indian Wars Army, October 11, 2007

By 

justafellow - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment: The U.S. Army on the Western Frontier 1880-1892 (2-Volume Set) (Hardcover)

This set is even more grand than Dr. McChristian's previous work on the earlier (1870's) Indian War army. This time he literally doubled the size of the work and went into even greater detail on the subject. He includes plenty of examples of my favorite part of this type of research, that is, soldier modified and soldier fabricated items. There are numerous photos that I had never seen before, and I have studied this subject as an enthusiastic amateur for over three decades. See also the links below:

The U. S. Army In The West 1870-1880 Uniforms, Weapons, and Equipment

The U.s. Army in the West, 1870-1880: Uniforms, Weapons, And Equipment

ARMING & EQUIPPING THE UNITED STATES CAVALRY 1865-1902

The Horse Soldier, 1776-1943, Volume II The Frontier, The Mexican War, The Civil War, The Indian Wars 1851-1880

The Horse Soldier, 1776-1943: The United States Cavalryman : His Uniforms, Arms, Accoutrements, and Equipments : The Last of the Indian Wars, the Sp

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding Look at America's "Frontier Army", August 19, 2007

By 

Jerry D. Morelock "Editor in Chief, Armchair ... (Fulton, MO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment: The U.S. Army on the Western Frontier 1880-1892 (2-Volume Set) (Hardcover)

Doug McChristian's magnificent new two-volume history of the uniforms, arms and equipment of America's army in the West is another brilliant example of how comfortably the mantle of the late Don Rickey as our foremost authority on that subject fits McChristian's shoulders. This two-volume follow up to his outstanding 1995 book, The U. S. Army in the West, 1870-1880: Uniforms, Arms and Equipment, expands McChristian's detailed coverage of the subject from where that book left off. At over 600 pages in two well-organized, beautifully-produced, over-sized volumes, the latter era of the frontier army (1880-92) is exceptionally well covered. Eight full color images and 433 black & white photographs provide historians, collectors and just about anyone interested in the frontier army with a wealth of highly-detailed and valuable information. McChristian's narrative is superb, and goes well beyond merely describing in depth the uniforms, arms and accoutrements of the troops. He sets the stage for his coverage of the era and propels his narrative by explaining the problems that faced military and civilian decision-makers who were desperately trying to come to grips with a "frontier constabulary" force that would soon be forced to emerge on the world stage as the guardians of America's global interests. McChristian's book describes an army on the eve of the War with Spain, the conflict that made the United States a world power.
Divided into 15 chapters and 5 appendices, McChristian's book is an outstanding reference for collectors and museum curators, as well as being a fascinating account for anyone interested in the history of America's frontier army. My recommendation: Buy this new 2-volume set and McChristian's earlier The U. S. Army in the West, 1870-1880. They represent the "must have" references on America's frontier army and deserve a place in any military history enthusiast's library. And while you're at it, pick up a copy of McChristian's outstanding book, Fort Bowie, Arizona: Combat Post of the Southwest, 1858-1894 (all available on amazon).

5.0 out of 5 stars western frontier army equipment, January 22, 2012

By 

sydney - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Uniforms, Arms, and Equipment: The U.S. Army on the Western Frontier 1880-1892 (2-Volume Set) (Hardcover)

This book is excellent! The author has thoroughly researched this the subject. The many pictures are very helpful to understand what is being explained in the text. The two volume set is well worth the money if you want a thorough review of this period of army history.