THE SWORD OF THE REPUBLIC: THE UNITED STATES ARMY ON THE FRONTIER, 1783-1846. by Prucha, Francis Paul - 1969

Toronto: Macmillan, 1969. 442 pp, large 8vo (9 9/16" H). Map endpapers, b&w maps, plates. "(The) story of federal troops called up to enforce paper possession with physical occupation when treaty and purchase opened up the region from the Appalachians west to the Mississippi and the vast new frontiers in the Louisiana Territory. The duties of these soldiers were to protect the settlers and to establish a military presence that maintained American rights with honor in the face of Indian intransigence and British and Spanish scheming. These soldiers, in accomplishing their mission, became farmers, roadbuilders, scientists, and lumbermen: pioneers of the new West. At Fallen Timbers, Tippecanoe, and the Thames, the federal military forces met the early challenge from the Indian nations and their British allies. Military control of strategic points on the Great Lakes and western rivers enforced American control of the fur trade. Army endeavors shored up crumbling territorial edges where Spanish and British officials or traders weakened American power. (This book) recounts vividly the Blackhawk War and the Florida War. It details the construction of western forts and tells the tragic story of the removal of Indians from the East. It is a chronicle of the transition from wilderness to hard-core settlement." Two imprints of previous owner's stamp on free front endpaper, light browning to fore-edge of textblock, light wrinkling at top/bottom of spine, light waviness in cloth at top edge of rear board. Dust jacket is price clipped, has very light edgewear, light to moderate edge wrinkling, small tear with creases at top of rear panel, tiny tear at top of spine, small closed puncture on front hinge, crease down rear flap, light rubbing.. Hard Cover. Very Good/Good+.