America's First Battles 1776 1965 Author:Charles E. Heller, William A. Stofft This volume, a collection of eleven original essays by many of the foremost U.S. military historians, focuses on the transition of the Army from parade ground to battleground in each of nine wars the United States has fought. Through careful analysis of organization, training, and tactical doctrine, each essay seeks to explain the strengths and ... more »weaknesses evidenced by the outcome of the first significant engagement or campaign of the war. The concluding essay sets out to synthesize the findings and to discover whether or not American first battles manifest a characteristic "rhythm."
America's First Battles provides a novel and intellectually challenging view of how America has prepared for war and how operations and tactics have changed over time. The thrust of the book--the emphasis on operational history--is at the forefront of scholarly activity in military history.
This book is part of the Modern War Studies series.
America's first battle: Long Island, 27 August 1776 / Ira D. Gruber
The Battle of Queenston Heights, 13 October 1812 / Theodore J. Crackel
The battles on the Rio Grande: Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma, 8-9 May 1846 / K. Jack Bauer
First Bull Run, 19 July 1861 / W. Glenn Robertson
San Juan Hill and El Caney, 1-2 July 1898 / Graham A. Cosmas
Cantigny, 28-31 May 1918 / Allan R. Millett
Buna, 19 November 1942-2 January 1943: a "Leavenworth nightmare" / Jay Luvaas
Kasserine Pass, 30 January-22 February 1943 / Martin Blumenson
Task Force Smith and the 24th Division: delay and withdrawal, 5-19 July 1950 / Roy K. Flint
The 1st Cavalry and the Ia Drang Valley, 18 october-24 November 1965 / George C. Herring