Soldiering On The Frontier

According to Eli Paul, the editor of The Frontier Army: Episodes from Dakota and the West (South Dakota Historical Society Press, $28.70), a slim, but densely packed collection of short essays, the book is intended to present new sources and a fresh look at familiar topics pertaining to the history and culture of the frontier army, especially in the Dakotas. The authors, historians of frontier history, joined in producing this work as a memorial to Thomas R. Buecker and John D. McDermott, beloved colleagues who recently passed away. The contributors have admirably succeeded in fulfilling both objectives. Besides exploring an array of fascinating topics, most of the essays, whether advertently or otherwise, shed light on the influence of race and class on the behavior of the frontier army.

—Paul Magid, author of The Gray Fox: George Crook and the Indian Wars