Abstract

In spite of romantic notions of the taming of the “Wild West,” a realistic picture of the frontier Army provides a more insightful understanding of its seminal role in the development of the American West.

Keywords:

• wild west,
• pioneer,
• prairie,
• grassland,
• adventure,
• travel,
• westward,
• army,
• military,
• territory,
• Native American,
• Indian,
• people,
• tribe,
• Great Plains,
• explore,
• Santa Fe Trail,
• Oregon Trail,
• wagon,
• frontier,
• Cheyenne Indians,
• Union Pacific Railroad,
• attack,
• Fossil Creek,
• Mexican Comancheros,
• Mormon separatists,
• Kansas Jayhawkers,
• Missouri Border Ruffians,
• Fort Leavenworth,
• Civil War,
• Bleeding Kansas,
• expansion