A small band of native people holding off a force with superior numbers and technology. Fighting  in a dense jungle and swamp environment for what seems like forever. Sounds familiar? Well, that is one of the lessons taken from this book. John K. Mahon lays out the events of the Second Seminole War in a way that really lays out what was at stake.

Now to be honest, most people were never taught about the Seminole War, let alone the Second Seminole War and that is a shame as it sets the stage for the major conflicts that the US would be involved in for the next 100 plus years. This one dragged on for over seven years and was by no means a guaranteed US victory.

In his book Mahon breaks down the combatants of both sides trying to show what they were fighting for, but at the same time he engages in a level of military history that truly brings the war into a very keen focus. Mahon does not shy away from the atrocities that were committed by both sides or even the politics that exacerbated the conflict.

It would be cliché to say that this book brings to light a little known aspect of American history, but it is true nevertheless. Conflict between the Americans and the Natives was nothing new, but this conflict would become a template in the future. This book is well worth the read and could open up an entire new world to the reader.