The report presents the results of a survey conducted to determine the opinions of a sample of U.S. Army personnel regarding the present bayonet/knife. The survey indicated that the present weapon was considered to be a satisfactory bayonet but an unsatisfactory knife; bayonet training contributes to physical conditioning, and to the instilling of motivation and discipline, but other combative training could achieve the same or greater results. (Author).

Based on letters and diaries of more than a thousand soldiers, political scientist Joseph Allan Frank describes how political considerations were central to the development of the armies of the North and South--motivating soldiers, shaping officers, and assuring military cohesion. Illustrations.

"In a style that is clear, unhurried and . . . vigorous, Francis P. Prucha has written a definitive study of [the] frontier army that was itself a pioneer. It pushed the line of occupation far beyond settlements. It raised crops, herded cattle, cut timber, quarried stone, built sawmills and performed the manifold duties of pioneers. It restrained lawless traders, pursued fugitives, ejected squatters, maintained order during peace negotiations and guarded Indians who came to receive annuities."--New York Times Book Review. "A work of original research which stands almost alone in relating the Army's work to the peaceful processes of territorial expansion and social development. Studying the thirteen army posts established in Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and northern Illinois, the author demonstrates their importance for Indian and land policy administration, as cash markets for the early settlers, and as centers of exploration, road-building, and cultural developments."--A Guide to the Study of the United States of America. "Well-written. . . . a significant contribution to the study of . . . both the westward movement and our military establishment."--Mississippi Valley Historical Review. Known for his books about American Indian government policy and the frontier army, Francis Paul Prucha, S.J., is an emeritus professor of history at Marquette University. Introducing this edition is Edward M. Coffman, a professor of history at the University of Wisconsin, Madison, and the author of The Old Army: A Portrait of the American Army in Peacetime, 1784?1898.

Focusing on a wide range of poetry written between 1941 and 1945, this work explores Soviet poets' response to World War II. It also traces the influence of Stalinist culture, and departures from literary conventions established in the pre-war years. In a chronological survey, the poets' immediate reaction to the events of the war is placed in its historical and literary-political context.

How did technical advances in weaponry alter the battlefield during the reign of Queen Victoria? In 1845, in the first Anglo-Sikh War, the outcome was decided by the bayonet; just over fifty years later, in the second Boer War, the combatants were many miles apart. How did this transformation come about, and what impact did it have on the experience of the soldiers of the period? Stephen Manning, in this meticulously researched and vividly written study, describes the developments in firepower and, using the first-hand accounts of the soldiers, shows how their perception of battle changed. Innovations like the percussion and breech-loading rifle influenced the fighting in the Crimean War of the 1850s and the colonial campaigns of the 1870s and 1880s, in particular in the Anglo-Zulu War and the wars in Egypt and Sudan. The machine gun was used to deadly effect at the Battle of Omdurman in 1898, and equally dramatic advances in artillery took warfare into a new era of tactics and organisation. Stephen Manning’s work provides the reader with an accurate and fascinating insight into a key aspect of nineteenth-century military history.

Although muskets delivered devastating projectiles at comparatively long ranges, their slow rate of fire left the soldier very vulnerable while reloading, and early muskets were useless for close-quarter fighting. Consequently, European infantry regiments of the 17th century were composed of both musketeers and pikemen, who protected the musketeers while loading but also formed the shock component for close-quarter combat. The development of the flintlock musket produced a much less cumbersome and faster-firing firearm. When a short knife was stuck into its muzzle, every soldier could be armed with a missile weapon as well as one that could be used for close combat. The only disadvantage was that the musket could not be loaded or fired while the plug bayonet was in place. The socket bayonet solved this problem and the musket/bayonet combination became the universal infantry weapon from c.1700 to c.1870. The advent of shorter rifled firearms saw the attachment of short swords to rifle barrels. Their longer blades still gave the infantryman the 'reach' that contemporaries believed he needed to fend off cavalry attacks. The perfection of the small-bore magazine rifle in the 1890s saw the bayonet lose its tactical importance, becoming smaller and more knife-like, a trend that continued in the world wars. When assault rifles predominated from the 1950s onwards, the bayonet became a weapon of last resort. Its potential usefulness continued to be recognized, but its blade was often combined with an item with some additional function, most notably a wire-cutter. Ultimately, for all its fearsome reputation as a visceral, close-quarter fighting weapon, the bayonet's greatest impact was actually as a psychological weapon. Featuring full-colour artwork as well as archive and close-up photographs, this is the absorbing story of the complementary weapon to every soldier's firearm from the army of Louis XIV to modern-day forces in all global theatres of conflict.

Reproduction of the original: At the Point of the Bayonet by G.A. Henty

In 'Elements of Trench Warfare: Bayonet Training,' William H. Waldron meticulously explores the intricate tactics and techniques of trench warfare during World War I, focusing particularly on the crucial aspect of bayonet training. Waldron's writing style is concise and informative, providing readers with a comprehensive understanding of the physical and psychological demands of combat in the trenches. This book serves as a valuable resource for military historians and scholars seeking to delve deeper into the gritty reality of warfare in the early 20th century. Waldron's attention to detail and his ability to contextualize the importance of bayonet training within the broader scope of trench warfare make this book a compelling read for anyone interested in military history or strategy. As a noted expert in military history, Waldron brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to his writing, shedding light on the often overlooked aspects of war. 'Elements of Trench Warfare: Bayonet Training' is a must-read for those looking to gain insight into the brutal realities of combat during World War I.

Trapped by Malays: A Tale of Bayonet and Kris by George Manville Fenn is about incorrigible soldier Archibald Maine and the mischief he gets up to in Malaysia. Excerpt: "Oh, bother!" The utterer of these two impatient words threw down a sheet of notepaper from which he had been reading, carefully smoothed out the folds to make it flat, and then, balanced it upon one finger as he sat back in a cane chair with his heels upon the table, gave the paper a flip with his nail and sent it skimming out of the window of his military quarters at Campong Dang, the station on the Ruah River, far up the west coast of the Malay Peninsula."