The officers and ladies of the Old Army were an elite if exiled group in the Trans-Mississippi West during the period of the Indian Wars from 1865 to 1890. In, but seldom of, Western communities, and often isolated far in advance of homesteaders, they maintained a stylized code of conduct shaping the life and manners of many frontier posts, often under formidable circumstances. Their isolation - social, psychological, and physical - gave them a sense of unity not easily to be found elsewhere in the American society of their time. To bring us a truer picture of their milieu is the purpose of this book. -- Amazon.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 263-269) and index.

Social history in the army novels of Captain Charles King -- The ladies of the regiment -- Cavaliers and Blackguards -- The garrison as family -- The army post -- War parties -- Soldier and citizen -- Conclusions.