The Military Policy Of The United States

A review and history of United States military policy.

2006 Scholar's Bookshelf reprint edition. First published in 1917 by the U.S. Government Printing Office, this was a surprisingly critical Official War Department Document presenting a historical and statistical account of U.S. military policy "and to show the enormous and unnecessary sacrifice of life and treasure, which has attended all our armed struggles." The work presents detailed histories of the campaigns of the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Indian and Mexican wars, and on through the Civil War, containing the author's critical accounts of military actions, and military policy that employed militia and undisciplined troops, was historically disinclined to maintain a large, professional army, relied on voluntary enlistments, and had many other defects because, as Upton concluded, "we have rejected the practice of European nations and, with little variation, have thus far pursued the policy of China" with the result that "all of our wars have been prolonged for want of judicious and economical preparation, and often when the people have impatiently awaited the tidings of victory, those of humiliating defeat have plunged the nation into mourning."

A review and history of United States military policy.

Tracing the evolution of the U.S. Army throughout American history, the authors of this four-volume series show that there is no such thing as a “traditional” U.S. military policy. Rather, the laws that authorize, empower, and govern the U.S. armed forces emerged from long-standing debates and a series of legislative compromises between 1903 and 1940. Volume II focuses on the laws enacted in the early 20th century that transformed the Army.

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1912 edition. Excerpt: ...of the War of the Rebellion, vol. 1, pp. xxxvii-xl. CHAPTER XVIII. MILITARY POLICY OF THE UNITED STATES DURING THE REBELLION (CONTINUED). MILITARY LEGISLATION IN 1861. The military system under which, in two campaigns of seven weeks each, Prussia humiliated Austria, in 1866, and subverted the French Empire in 1870, was the joint product of soldiers and statesmen, who began their laborers (in 1806) immediately after the disastrous battle of Jena. The military system under which we subdued the Rebellion was established by Congress in less than four weeks. The energy and haste with which the new Congress set to work to repair the neglect of its predecessors, may be inferred from the number and character of the bills and the joint resolution introduced in the Senate on the 6th of July, two days after the opening of the session, which bills were as follows: A bill to authorize the employment of volunteers to aid in enforcing the laws and protecting public property; a bill to increase the present military establishment of the United States; a bill providing for the better organization of the military establishment; a bill for the organization of a volunteer militia force, to be called the National Guardof the United States; also a joint resolution to ratify and confirm certain acts of the President for the suppression of insurrection and rebellion." In providing for the national defense, no false notions of economy--a political virtue paraded only in time of peace--were permitted to delay Congressional action. The first bill, in conformity with the recommendation of the President, proposed to authorize a force of 400,000 volunteers, and to appropriate $400,000,000, a sum greater than the total cost of the wars of the Revolution and 1812....

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