Starting with defiance: Nineteenth century Arizona military posts (Historical monograph / Arizona Historical Society)

In 1848 after the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo closed the Mexican War, the Army divided jurisdiction over the newly acquired lands. That act provided the beginnings for a series of United States outposts scattered across present-day Arizona. In the early years the Army was primarily responsible for providing protection to the growing American population, fighting a guerilla war for almost 4 decades against hostile Indians. This, however was not their only responsibility. Throughout the years, soldiers acted as policemen, sometimes as civil judges, and often as Indian agents and pacifiers. The Army also brought the trappings of civilization to an inhospitable land, and the posts themselves often resembled villages rather than fortifications. Includes descriptions of these forts as well as some vintage photographs.