Reference Guide to United States Military History, 1607-1815.

Provides information on military organization, accounts of battles and events, biographies of military and civilian leaders, locations of military bases, and descriptions of military awards from colonization to the 1980s

The first of a series of five volumes, this book aims to describe the organization, equipment, and doctrine of the United States, its allies, and opponents for the period from the Jamestown settlement to the War of 1812. It also presents an extended discussion of events and biographical profiles. Readers will, presumably, want for little in the way of introduction, but that which promises all normally fails in detail, and this is no exception. After an initial precis of the military history of the period, the ensuing detailed discussion of each event lacks the promised analysis of organization and equipment, though doctrine receives a fuller treatment. Moreover, the bibliography consists of sparse references provided at the end of the biographic/battle entries. Readers are advised to consult individual "Wars of the U.S." bibliographic series published by Garland for additional references. Although author identification is given for the shorter entries, there is no indication whether Schrader composed the remaining material alone. Still, this is an impressive bit of research. Despite its flaws, this should be welcomed by new students of the history of military art. Its overview of a whole period could be used for high school reports, as an outline for undergraduates, and as a quick reference source for specialists.
- J.K. Sweeney, South Dakota State Univ., Brookings
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.