Osprey Fortress 28 : Forts of the American Frontier 1820-1891 : Central and Northern Plains

Osprey Fortress 28 : Forts of the American Frontier 1820-1891 : Central and Northern Plains

A major period of westward expansion took place in the United States during the first half of the 19th century. Fur trading, the coast-to-coast railroad, the California gold rush and the removal of Native American tribes both facilitated and encouraged America's 'manifest destiny' to become a transcontinental nation. The task of protecting the settlers from the tribes that inhabited the Great Plains fell to the US Army, and to do this an extensive network of permanent forts was created via construction and acquisition. This book examines why the forts were built, their design, defensive features and the role they played in the settlement of the American West. The daily lives of the garrison soldiers and fort inhabitants are also covered, together with the fighting witnessed at key sites. Text by Ron Field with illustrations by Adam Hook.

Contents

• Introduction
• Chronology
• Development of the Forts on the Central and Northern Plains
• The Types of Military Forts
• The Principle of Elements of Defense
• Life in a Frontier Fort
• The Forts at War
• The Fate of the Plains Forts
• The Forts Today
• Bibliography
• Index