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

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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

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).

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.

UNIFORMS, ARMS, AND EQUIPMENT: THE U.S. ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER, 1880-1892 (2-VOLUME SET)
DOUGLAS C. MCCHRISTIAN
UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA PRESS, 2007
HARDCOVER, $95.00, 330 PAGES, APPENDICES, PHOTOGRAPHS, ILLUSTRATIONS-VOLUME 1
HARDCOVER, $95.00, 297 PAGES, APPENDICES, PHOTOGRAPHS, ILLUSTRATIONS-VOLUME II


Restricted budgets and a vast supply of aging Civil War-era weapons and equipment plagued the U.S. Army throughout the duration of the Plains Indian Wars. The Ordnance Department did introduce new weapons (such as the Gatling Gun) and modify old weapons to incorporate new technology, but this was painfully slow. Warehouses filled with surplusmweapons provided a mountain of spare parts that flooded the system and influenced a cost-saving Congress. The U.S. Army's use of particular weapons certainly affected the way soldiers deployed and fought. The U.S. Army was at a disadvantage with this inflexible system that inhibited the acquisition of modern rifles, such as repeating ones.

The main weapon for infantrymen in this period was the shoulder rifle. The Union Army had used Springfield rifled muskets during the War Between the States, which was relatively slow to reload and accurate at only short ranges. The rifled musket used a paper cartridge that contained a Minie ball (a shaped bullet) and powder charge. A percussion cap under the weapon's hammer ignited the paper cartridge.

The U.S. Army did experiment with modified Springfield weapons that were breech-loading and accepted a .58-caliber metal cartridge, but the cartridge was underpowered and its extractor proved deficient. However, these experiments showed promise. The metallic cartridge allowed soldiers to store and use ammunition in damp conditions and it was sturdier than the paper cartridge. The Ordnance Department converted several Springfield rifled muskets into the Models 1865 and 1866 as experiments, and these modified rifles became the standard weapon used by the typical infantryman up to 1873. The U.S. Army would use this rifle and the Model 1873 Springfield version throughout the Plains Indians Wars until a magazine-fed Krag-Jorgensen Rifle replaced it in 1892.

The U.S. Army started to equip infantry units with the new Springfield Rifle, but some units continued to employ the rifled musket and some seven-shot Spencer and Sharps .52 caliber percussion rifles. The Spencer was very popular with the cavalry in its carbine version. Unfortunately, it used a .50/70 caliber round. The U.S. Army's drive to standardize weapons forced infantry units to accept the Springfield Rifle: it started to issue the Springfield to all units when the Model 1868 was in full production.

Cavalrymen used three primary weapons: a carbine, a revolver, and a saber. Like the infantry, the cavalry suffered from post-War Between the States economy drives that forced it to use stocks of surplus weapons. Cavalry troopers debated many of the same issues heard in the War Department. A major question revolved around whether the U.S. Army should equip its cavalry with repeating rifles or not. The War Department had included issues regarding the cavalry's carbine and revolver in the small-arms boards used to determine the best infantry weapons. Congress' and the War Department's desire for standardization and cost savings drove officers to experiment with various firearms.

After the War Between the States, cavalry units operated with two radically different carbines. The U.S. Army equipped several regiments as well as the infantry, with the Spencer Repeating Carbine. This War Between the States veteran was popular among soldiers because of its ability to produce a high rate of fire. The Spencer's relatively short range, 200 yards, would operate well in the forests or woods of Virginia. However, fighting on the Plains required a longer-range weapon; it also didn't use the same ammunition as the infantry's Springfield Rifle.

Some cavalrymen used a single-shot Sharps .52 caliber breech-loading percussion carbine. In late-1867, the U.S. Army had ordered the Sharps Arms Company to modify its carbines to accept a .50/70 cartridge. The U.S. Army wanted 31,098 Sharps Carbines converted and would then replace the popular Spencer with these.

Just after the War Between the States, the standard U.S. Army revolvers were the cap and ball Model 1860 Colt and 1858 New Model Remington Arms Company pistols. These weapons used a cartridge that a soldier had to change using a front-loading lever and each round was primed with a percussion cap. Both revolvers had six rounds, but the firing and reloading the weapons was extremely slow. Because of these shortcomings, the saber retained its value for close-in, mounted combat.

The saber defined the cavalry, and the U.S. Army regulations continued to authorize its use well into the 20th Century and after the elimination of the horse cavalry. Light artillery soldiers could also carry cavalry sabers. Other personnel such as infantry NCOs and commissioned officers used swords for parades, and musicians were allowed to carry a shortened sword.

The Plains Indian Wars was one of the most controversial conflicts in American military history, as the U.S. Army faced a tough opponent that challenged it for decades following the end of the War Between the States. The U.S. Army leadership endured a severe lack of resources, political constraints, an indifferent public, tough environmental conditions, and other problems of the frontier. U.S. Army officers and men had to adapt to these constraints, and this period also proved to be a trial of the ability and endurance of the common soldier.

UNIFORMS, ARMS, AND EQUIPMENT: THE U.S. ARMY ON THE WESTERN FRONTIER, 1880-1892 (2-VOLUME SET) is lavishly illustrated with more than 400 photographs and provides historians, collectors, and just about anyone interested in the frontier U.S. Army with a wealth of highly-detailed and valuable information. McChristian's account 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 account by explaining the problems that faced both military and civilian decision makers who were desperately attempting 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 expertly describes the U.S. Army on the eve of a war with Spain, the conflict that made the U.S. a world power. Divided into fifteen chapters and five appendices, McChristian's books are an outstanding reference and represent the "must have" books on America's frontier U.S. Army and deserve a place on every military enthusiast's library.



Lt. Colonel Robert A. Lynn, Florida Guard
Orlando, Florida