There is a firm commitment within CSI that the relevance of the Indian Wars to today's Army is even more evident than it was in the recent past. The Indian campaigns are replete with valuable lessons for the professional soldier. Today's soldiers find themselves, as did the frontier regulars of the 19th century, on an asymmetric battlefield with an enemy whose culture and fighting styles are vastly different from their own. A study of the Indian Wars offers the opportunity to compare, contrast, and discover the threads of continuity linking the Indian campaigns with the unconventional warfare of the 21st century. A serious study of the period also allows today's professionals to examine the importance of military commanders addressing cultural awareness as a key operational planning factor. Frontier Army commanders frequently failed to address cultural awareness as an important operational planning factor which lead, at times, to unforeseen consequences on the battlefield.

Background -- Hancock's war -- Sheridan's summer war -- The fight at the Washita -- The fight at Soldier Spring -- The Republican Rive Expedition -- Appendix A: the 7th US Cavalry -- Appendix B: Army logistics.