Educating the U.S. Army: Arthur L. Wagner and Reform, 1875-1905

Author, educator, and reformer, Arthur L. Wagner was instrumental in pushing the U.S. Army into the twentieth century. From a lackluster beginning at West Point, Wagner went on to become one of the most influential officers of his day; and through his prolific writing, he was nearly a household name to his colleagues.

Wagner’s pioneering work for the army came at a time when many officers preferred the school of experience to formal education. Against the opposition of the army’s “old guard,” Wagner succeeded in turning the army toward a professional ethic that required diligent study and reflection. In this well-written and thoughtful biography, T. R. Brereton traces the life of a remarkable soldier who played a central role in the introduction of new tactics, maneuvers, and army lesson learning.