Covering the period between the War of 1812 and the Mexican War, this sequel to the author's Jackson's Sword describes the Army Officer Corps's role in the expansion of US control in the Southwest. Watson (history, U.S. Military Academy) examines actions against various Indian tribes and details the Corps's role in helping to quell rebellion against the British at the Canadian border. The author also analyzes how the Corps solved internal problems and increased its accountability to civilian authority. Because Jackson's Sword and this title were originally written as a single book, much of the social, political, cultural, and institutional context for the era covered in this book is laid out in the introduction and conclusion to Jackson's Sword. The book contains b&w historical illustrations and photos. Annotation ©2013 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)