Examines the development of warfare in Europe and the United States from the professional mercenary armies of 1800 to the beginnings of the total warfare that was to dominate the next century. The author attempts to incorporate social, technological, bureaucratic, political, and economic analyses into the text hoping to show not only what affected the conduct of war, but also how war affected the European and American society as a whole. Also of importance to the author is how military theoriticians of the time looked at war and its conduct. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)