In peacekeepers and conquerors samuel j watson defines the professionalization of the us army in the decades leading to the mexican war 1846 1848 in contrast to the self aggrandizing and insubordinate nature of the officer corps during the war of 1812 era the resignation of older officers to pursue more remunerative economic and political ventures and the inclusive promotion process of the reduced peacetime army ensured that virtually every officer after 1820 was a graduate of the . In this follow on to his jacksons sword the army officer corps on the american frontier 1810 1821 modern war studies prof watson usma examines the increasing professionalization of the us army officer corps in an era generally neglected by historians the period 1821 1846 found the army and particularly its senior officers more often called upon to police white settlers or undertake diplomatic missions then to engage in hostile action. Peacekeepers and conquerors the army officer corps on the american frontier 1821 1846 by samuel j watson 420 rating details 5 ratings 3 reviews in jacksons sword samuel watson showed how the us army officer corps played a crucial role in stabilizing the frontiers of a rapidly expanding nation. Stanford libraries official online search tool for books media journals databases government documents and more. Free online library peacekeepers and conquerors the army officer corps on the american frontier 1821 1846brief article book review by reference research book news publishing industry library and information science armies officials and employees army officers books book reviews peacekeeping forces