"The emphasis in this book is on the Union campaigns against the Confederates and the Indians who sought to take advantage of the confusion of the Civil War. Yet it is also shown that the Western Territories came of age as a result of the conflict. When the Confederate invasion had been repelled, the Union leaders undertook vigorous campaigns for extermination or settlement of the Indians on reservations. Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Utah all acquired their present boundaries and patterns of state government during the Civil War period"-- Page 4 of cover.

War clouds over the West -- Confederate invasion -- Colorado to the rescue -- Glorieta, the Gettysburg of the West -- Confederates in retreat -- California to the Río Grande -- Indian Campaigns -- Political developments.