The Evolution of Men and Battle: How the Civil War Influenced the Indian Wars of the American West

Abstract

The Civil War affected the battle tactics and psychology of men who fought on in the Indian Plains Wars. Those that fought in the Civil War brought with them the battle strategy of total warfare and implemented it with continual battles against the enemy, terrorizing and demoralizing the enemy, and destroying the enemies’ supplies as well as economy. The Civil War affected the psychology by creating battle-hardened veterans, psychologically unstable soldiers, and insubordinate officers who were egotistical and who ruined old friendships. The Civil War began a new era of war which would be continued throughout World War I and World War II. The Civil War had an everlasting impact on the world.