Compare and contrast these FOUR works. Millett & Maslowski’s

REVIEW OF THE ROUGH RIDERS, THE CRUCIBLE OF EMPIRE, WINDOLPH’S BOOK, FOR THE COMMON DEFENCE AND AMERICAN REVOLUTION
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Summary and Thesis
The author of the book the Rough Riders Roosevelt talks about the whole activities that were undertaken to form the squadrons that were involved in fighting. The war in the Rough Riders is between the American and the Spanish over Cuba. The group comprised of people from different states following applications sent for consideration. Roosevelt then talks about how they proceeded in the battlefields and what had transpired during the cold nights where several lieutenants could meet outside their tents and talk about some events of the war. The author goes ahead and tells us how one night he had slept without his clothes only to fall into the water. The book also offers vivid description how the soldiers had the zeal and dedication of fighting and winning the battle. Some of them were injured, but they could still hold on and give commands until the minute they became so weak to do so. At the end of the Rough Riders book, we are told that the US flag was hoisted as a symbol of victory. The squadrons that survived then prepare going back to the US in the last chapters of the book. When they reach, they disperse back to their families taking the belongings of those who perished during the war especially the weapons.
On the other hand, the book of Charles Windolph talks about the events Sergeant Charles goes through in the battle of Little Big Horn.

Before the war, the book describes that he had experience of almost six years serving in the Seventh Troop. The unfolding of the shooting event is clearly described. We learn that he managed to survive the whole war stuff, but sustained several wounds. From the explanation, the guy served in the military for 12 years, and the 12 years he was there gave him the experience that helped him to survive in the war. Charles is described as a dedicated man to his family and also at war, and that gave him an upper hand. Additionally, we are told by the author that he had the zeal and humility to go to the battlefield and fight focusing on winning. He was vigorous in fighting and very dependable in the battlefield. He later becomes the lone survivor of the war and was awarded several prizes.
In the book written by Joseph Plumb Martin, he tells us about the urge he had for joining the military force inspired by the revolutionary war that took place in America. The war happened between the year 1976, and it triggered most of the interest from both Martin and the boys whose age to join a Rebel Infantry. Martin went through harsh experiences and trials that build a strong man who later then became a private person by rising through the ranks. Some of the harsh conditions Martin talks about include; Coldness that exposed them to illnesses that could kill and also the phobia on how they went in battles seeing people die. The revolutionary soldier has gone through several publications hence once was called Private Yankee Doodle. The revolutionary war according to Martin it was dominated by the issues of racism and empiricism. The first chapter talks about the importance of Martin’s influence to the memoir, whereas the second one is about how he distrusted the authority. The third one is about racism and how it dominated, and this drove the author’s motive behind his narration. In the fourth chapter is all about the Americans perception towards medicine and its competence. The fifth chapter is about the problems witnessed during the war. He clearly brings out the problems observed in the revolutionary army which are a contraction according to how other people had praised the troops. After the war, the soldiers are extremely honored not knowing that these soldiers suffered a great deal since they were not even offered clothes during cold in the war. For the author here he entirely focuses on the pointing out the hardships the revolutionary army went through.
Lastly, in the book For the Common Defense, the author reworks the period from the Korean War going forward. The author talks about the Vietnam, Balkan, Somali, Iraq and many other wars. Authors insist that the following things shape the U.S military history: One we have values that are political and social which greatly influenced the military policies. Second, is that defense rules and regulations are based on mixtures of different professionals and citizen- soldiers. Third, the preparations for the US military has been successful. Fourth, is that the US is a more developed country and it relies on its technology to outshine the opponents and reduce the number of victims for them. Lastly, the US military has become more nationalized and professional since the American Revolution.
Opinions
Both the books and the film the authors are trying to give us a clear picture on the unfolding of the events and the essential character the soldiers had for them to be able to win the battles. The aspect of humility and dedication have been given high attention, with these two characters the soldiers were able to defeat their enemies despite the harsh situations in the battlefield. Some Colonels kept on fighting to the last breath since they were injured but never gave up they gave their squadrons commands. Windolph survives the war alone with some wounds though he was determined to take the victory.
Second, we are told in both fights experience played a critical role since Roosevelt had served in the army before and also had good relation with people, and that is why a lot of people applied to be in the squadrons. Windolph also had a good social life with his family and this brought about the focus on the war and having been in the army for twelve years was an added advantage for him to survive the war. The experience during the American Revolutionary helped Martin a great deal by exposing him to harsh conditions that made him strong to fight. All these is an indication that tactics were involved to be able to win the war. The same is observed in the film.
Own assessment
The authors are very successful in bringing out the events of the war in both the four books and the movie. The curiosity of the readers of the books is hence satisfied. The description that led to the survival of the authors has been outlined clearly in the books and the film. Though the authors are wrong that survival of the soldiers like Roosevelt, Windolph, Maslowski and Martin was based on their efforts in the war. Moreover, in a war, we can’t have a clear prediction of the events unfolding before and after the attack. Hence, we conclude that the authors are favored by the elements of both luck and experience in their survival.
In the four books, the troops attack based on experience that existed. Hence the blame of other people dying should be bestowed on other Colonels and Sergeants for underestimating the opponents. It resulted in a lot of soldiers dying in both the books and the film. The authors have done excellent work by bringing out a clear layout that vividly tells us what took place during the different wars. For Maslowski work, there are different wars characterized by different events. However, to a greater extend both the Soldiers Units had people who possessed different experiences since they involved all the citizens.
Comparison
Comparison between these books along with the documentary reveals the similarities that exist and the differences. There exists a lot of similarity between the four books and the documentary. In both, we are offered the details why the soldiers who won the battles did. Most for those who won the battles were dedicated, and they had the zeal. We see in both books and the film the author like Roosevelt talks about having experience which helped in the war. Windolph also had a twelve-year expertise in the military, and this helped him to survive in the war. On the other hand, we see Martin who was previously exposed to loud moments gave him an upper hand in the American Revolution war. Maslowski talks about tactics that were being used guerrilla skirmishes to attack. It showed that they had the experience of using the guerrilla tactics during the war. The film also talks about having different people of races fighting for the Americans, and this is an indication which shows they combined different tactics for them to outdoor their opponents.
Another similarity is that both authors have given a detailed description. Just by reading the books there is a clear picture of the events of the war and their outcomes. At the same time upon watching the film The Crucible of Empire, we have movie adoption of events. Both of them have narrowed down to Roosevelt, Windolph, and Martin whereby they are glorifying their traits elements for the survival. For Maslowski, we see the US military forces won many battles because they believed they had traits needed to fight and come out victorious in those wars.
The authors also in the four books and the documentary have indicated that soldiers went through a lot of troubles like the terrain could not favor them at times. In the Maslowski work, he tells us of soldiers having trouble with how they communicated since there was poor communication, the conditions the soldiers fought in were not of good sanitation, and the weather could not favor them. They were also not provided with clothing for the cold seasons. They fall sick due to inclement weather. Others could go bare feet, march with blood, got exposed to stinging cold since they lacked socks, no coats, and pants. However, the authors survived the ordeals that made them adamant people at the end of the wars.
In both books and the film, there is a vivid explanation on the massive killings that happened to other soldiers. Unfortunately, most of the soldiers died while fighting just to win. Colonels and other sergeants were brought down. The battlefields were soaked with gunpowder and smoke in the air. Colonels were injured, but they could not let those from behind lines to help them but continued leading their squadrons till they could become unable to bear their pain and feel dizzy. There is also massive property destruction in both the books and the documentary. Vegetation cover in the battlefields was damaged, and several crops were burned down. Cutting down of trees was inevitable when the soldiers tried to come up with shelter materials for themselves.
The formation of the squadrons involved in the battlefields comprised of different people. According to author Roosevelt, we see applications coming from all over the states. We see even those ex-military and inmates involved in the Rough Riders crew. For the Windolph also different people are selected to go in the war. The same happens with Martin where different soldiers are selected by experience in the battlefields. According to Maslowki work, the soldiers comprised of different professional citizens who were involved in the battlefields during the wars.
Lastly, in both books and the documentary we see that soldier relying much on the terrain. The description is clear on how they could hide in the dense, thick bushes as they waited to attack. Even Martin highlights the same that they could ambush their enemies along valleys. Author Roosevelt also talks about the valleys helping them a great deal to be able to march forward towards their enemies.
Contrast
However, some differences are clear between the film and the books. In the cast, the main focus lies primarily on Custer. Despite having some show off other soldiers including both Martin, Roosevelt, and Windolph, the primary focus is on Custer and majorly based on the failures that led to his army to fall under attacks by the Indians. They have had a lot of emphasis on the wrong calculations that he made during the attacks of the Indians and kept the same old usual defensive tactics that cost him massive deaths of his soldiers. While the books have the focus on their authors and the traits that led to their survival when the rest of the war troops and squadrons came down. Maslowski also has a blame to the commander of the units since the soldiers were divided into units that were involved in fighting but here the blame does not go to one person but unit leaders for the death of other soldiers due to underestimation of their opponents.
In the book the Rough Riders, we have been told that when the Squadron had claimed victory, there was hoisting of the US flag. It symbolized a sign of victory and conquered. In Wandolph’s book, it has not been discussed anywhere, but we just see a lone survivor. Martin the author also in the American Revolution does not tell us what happens after conquering and winning the battle. In the Rough Riders we have many of survivors who fly back to their hometowns and disperse while in the other two books we only have lone survivors. The experience they had helped them survive. The cast also clearly describes that we had some soldiers who survived and they took the weapons for the fallen soldiers back with them, which has not been indicated elsewhere in the books.
The documentary also portrays panic and chaos that befall the Custer’s troop during the act of attacking. The confusion has been clearly described in the cast than the books. There exist a great inclination on Custer’s positive sides towards leadership of the troop which is contrary to the three other books, where there is a lot of the blame pointing at him and at the same time on both Roosevelt, Windolph, and Martin are being glorified of their traits that helped them survive the war. Custer is, therefore, being held responsible for not using other tactics but instead of using miscalculated ones landing him into trouble this unlike for the Maslowski work whereby few whites used to be hunters hence they could bring in their hunting skills and ended up risking lives of others and could be blamed for that.
Footnotes
Roosevelt, Theodore. The Rough Riders, Surgeon, Architect of American Imperialism. (New York. P.F COLLIER & SON PUBLISHERS, 1989), 3.
Ibid.,180
Ibid.,172
Ibid.,84
Ibid.,191
I Fought With Custer: The Story of Sergeant Windolph, Last Survivor of The Battle of the Little Big Horn as told to Frazier and Robert Hunt, 1987: 208
Ibid.,151
Ibid., 194
Martin, Joseph. 2001. A Narrative Of A Revolutionary Soldier: Some Of The Adventures, Dangers, And Sufferings Of Joseph Plumb Martin.. 2nd ed. New York: Signet Classic.
Libd., 37.
Libd., 38.
Libd., 39.
www.crucibleofempire.com (2007)
Millett, Allan R., and Peter Maslowski. For the Common Defense. Simon and Schuster, 2012.