Agents of Empire - The First Oregon Cavalry and the Opening of the Interior Pacific Northwest during the Civil War

Named a Top Ten Book of 2023 by Civil War Books and Authors Agents of Empire expands the historiographical scope of Civil War studies to include the war's intersection with the history of the American West, demonstrating how the war was transcontinental in scope. Much more than a traditional Civil War regimental history, James Robbins Jewell's work delves into the operational and social conditions under which the First Oregon Cavalry Regiment was formed. In response to ongoing tensions and violent interactions with Native peoples determined to protect their way of life and lands, Colonel George Wright, head of the military's District of Oregon, asked the governor of Oregon to form a voluntary cavalry unit to protect white settlers and farmers. By using local volunteers, and later two additional regiments of infantry from the region, the federal government was able to draw from the majority of Regular Army troops stationed in the Pacific Northwest, who were eventually sent to fight Confederate forces east of the Mississippi River. Had the First Oregon Cavalry failed to fulfill its responsibilities, the federal government would have had to recall Union forces from other threatened areas and send them to Oregon and Washington Territory to quell secessionist unrest and Indigenous resistance to land theft, resource appropriation, and murder. The First Oregon Cavalry ensured settlers' security in the Union's farthest northwest corner, thereby contributing to the Union cause. Agents of Empire expands the historiographical scope ofCivil War studies to include the war's intersection with thehistory of the American West, demonstrating how the war wastranscontinental in scope. Much more than a traditional Civil Warregimental history, James Robbins Jewell's work delves into theoperational and social conditions under which the First OregonCavalry Regiment was formed. In response to ongoing tensions andviolent interactions with Native peoples determined to protecttheir way of life and lands, Colonel George Wright, head of themilitary's District of Oregon, asked the governor of Oregon to forma voluntary cavalry unit to protect white settlers and farmers. Byusing local volunteers, and later two additional regiments ofinfantry from the region, the federal government was able to drawfrom the majority of Regular Army troops stationed in the PacificNorthwest, who were eventually sent to fight Confederate forceseast of the Mississippi River. Had the First Oregon Cavalry failedto fulfill its responsibilities, the federal government would havehad to recall Union forces from other threatened areas and sendthem to Oregon and Washington Territory to quell secessionistunrest and Indigenous resistance to land theft, resourceappropriation, and murder. The First Oregon Cavalry ensuredsettlers' security in the Union's farthest northwest corner,thereby contributing to the Union cause "Jewell's study examines the First Oregon Calvary regiment's role in protecting and policing the Pacific Northwest during the Civil War"-- Provided by publisher James Robbins Jewell examines the First Oregon Cavalry Regiment's role in protecting and policing the Pacific Northwest during the Civil War.