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Killing Crazy Horse: The Merciless Indian Wars in America (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series) Hardcover – September 8, 2020
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The latest installment of the multimillion-selling Killing series is a gripping journey through the American West and the historic clashes between Native Americans and settlers.
The bloody Battle of Tippecanoe was only the beginning. It’s 1811 and President James Madison has ordered the destruction of Shawnee warrior chief Tecumseh’s alliance of tribes in the Great Lakes region. But while General William Henry Harrison would win this fight, the armed conflict between Native Americans and the newly formed United States would rage on for decades.
Bestselling authors Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard venture through the fraught history of our country’s founding on already occupied lands, from General Andrew Jackson’s brutal battles with the Creek Nation to President James Monroe’s epic “sea to shining sea” policy, to President Martin Van Buren’s cruel enforcement of a “treaty” that forced the Cherokee Nation out of their homelands along what would be called the Trail of Tears. O’Reilly and Dugard take readers behind the legends to reveal never-before-told historical moments in the fascinating creation story of America.
This fast-paced, wild ride through the American frontier will shock readers and impart unexpected lessons that reverberate to this day.
- Print length320 pages
- LanguageEnglish
- PublisherHenry Holt and Co.
- Publication dateSeptember 8, 2020
- Dimensions6.62 x 1.19 x 9.53 inches
- ISBN-101627797041
- ISBN-13978-1627797047
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Editorial Reviews
About the Author
MARTIN DUGARD is the New York Times bestselling author of several books of history, among them the Killing series, Into Africa, and The Explorers. He and his wife live in Southern California with their three sons.
Product details
- Publisher : Henry Holt and Co.; Illustrated edition (September 8, 2020)
- Language : English
- Hardcover : 320 pages
- ISBN-10 : 1627797041
- ISBN-13 : 978-1627797047
- Item Weight : 1.13 pounds
- Dimensions : 6.62 x 1.19 x 9.53 inches
- Best Sellers Rank: #18,609 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #5 in Native American Biographies
- #33 in Native American History (Books)
- #166 in United States Biographies
- Customer Reviews:
About the author
Bill O'Reilly is a trailblazing TV journalist who has experienced unprecedented success on cable news and in writing fifteen national number-one bestselling nonfiction books. There are currently more than 17 million books in the Killing series in print. He currently hosts the ‘No Spin News’ on BillOReilly.com. He lives on Long Island.
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As previously posted, this reviewer greatly enjoyed reading the extensive and detailed history of Native Americans in the United States as part of Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series. As a reader it is not possible to know what is contributed by each co-author but the finished product is well-written, informative and entertaining and provides incredible details about Native Americans in a larger context how Americans settled the country fulfilling our “manifest destiny” albeit with waging numerous battles often in a cycle of escalating violence.
Most of the book focuses on the 1800’s and while Crazy Horse is the focus, many other Indian tribes are discussed. Indeed, the authors note that: “Writing a book of history about Native Americans is an arduous task. There were literally thousands of tribes throughout North America, more than five hundred of which still exist.”
Leading up to one major battle, the authors explain: “One is destined for a forty-six-year-old major general in the Tennessee militia named Andrew Jackson, a volatile plantation owner whose renown for personal toughness has led his troops to give him the nickname Old Hickory. …Thus begins a new chapter of warfare between Indians and settlers. No longer will hostile tribes face isolated enemies—now, they will be challenging the vast and growing power of the United States of America. It is a challenge they will soon regret.” Moreover, as one of the early, antagonists of the Indians is Andrew Jackson; the authors explain one of the early battles in the 1814 timeframe as follows: “Jackson’s army stands at the ready, two regiments of Tennessee volunteers and another of U.S. Army regulars. Combined with the mounted cavalry led by John Coffee, now a general, and the renegade Cherokee warriors who have chosen to help Jackson annihilate the Creek nation, the general commands almost four thousand men—heavily outnumbering the Creeks.”
As conflicts develop the authors report: “The Tennesseans have succeeded through sheer ruthlessness. … “Shot them like dogs,” is how Tennessee militia volunteer Davy Crockett will describe the battle.”
Following the election of Monroe as president, the authors state that: “Throughout America, Jackson has risen to the status of a hero. In 1815, he defeated the British Army at the Battle of New Orleans, thus putting an emphatic end to the War of 1812. … In the Adams-Onis Treaty of 1819, Spain ceded Florida to the United States outright because it could no longer defend the territory from American intrusion.
Eventually, James Monroe and Andrew Jackson will forge a U.S. government philosophy dictating that the Seminoles, Creeks, and every single other Native American tribe are not sovereign nations and thus are not entitled to own land within the borders of the United States. It makes no difference that the Indians disagree.
This policy of “Indian Removal” formally begins in 1825, when James Monroe bows to demands from the state of Georgia that Cherokee Indians be banished.”
Writing about the impact of horses on the Indians and foreign countries on the westward expansion, the authors state: “Once a band of nomads who traveled on foot in search of food, the Comanche soon learned to ride the horses the Spaniards first introduced to North America in the late 1600s. It is impossible to overestimate the profound change these animals made to the Comanche and to every other tribe west of the Mississippi. … Because of the horse, and then the rifle, there is nothing that now stops the Comanche from reigning over the entire southwestern plains. They live in tepees made of buffalo hide, supported by as many as eighteen poles, that can be taken down and reassembled quickly. The Comanche will forage for nuts and berries if necessary, but their primary source of food is buffalo, for which they roam hundreds of miles to hunt. … France had designs on pushing west of the Mississippi from its stronghold in Louisiana. So, too, the Spanish, with their hope of connecting territorial claims in the Pacific Northwest with their large holdings in Mexico. Despite a century of attempts to pacify, evangelize, or crush the Comanche outright, both nations failed to expand their empires. … After the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 by the United States, followed by Mexican independence in 1821, Spain and France abandoned any claim to the Southern Plains. In their place came the Americans.”
In terms of the demonstrated skill of one of the Indian tribes, the authors report that in about 1834: “ … By then, Cheis will be the leader of his tribe. He will also be known by another name: Cochise. And until the day he dies, Cochise will never suffer defeat in battle.
As a reminder of the history of the U.S., circa, 1836, the authors state: “It was two years ago when Congress passed a law making it illegal for white men to settle west of the Mississippi River. … But settlers like Parker, who treat the Indians with contempt and believe the land is theirs as a gift from God, do not respect the U.S. government or any laws that may inhibit their ambitions. … Parker no longer resides in the United States of America but in the Republic of Texas, a sovereign nation that declared its independence from Mexico just two months ago. … because Parker no longer resides in the USA, he does not enjoy the protection of the U.S. Army.”
The authors provide details of history of the U.S. removal of Cherokee Indians, and in particular, state: “Cherokee Indians will be force-marched a thousand miles west to forge a new life in lands north of Texas. … Georgia responded by passing laws stripping the tribe of their farms, then held lotteries granting those properties to the new white arrivals. … the U.S. Senate ratified the accord in May 1836, setting in motion the removal of every single Cherokee living in Georgia, Texas, Tennessee, Alabama, and North Carolina. … So it is that on May 26, 1838, under the supervision of U.S. Army general Winfield Scott, four thousand members of the Georgia State Militia descend upon New Echota to arrest any and all members of the Cherokee nation. The “Trail of Tears” has begun—and in a most violent fashion. … But the Georgia militia are rabble. Scott is powerless to stop the mostly illiterate soldiers from abusing the Cherokee nation. These men have long despised the Cherokee culture and coveted their vast acres of prime farmland.”
Happening during the civil war in about 1863, the authors report: “The land west of the Mississippi once considered “Indian Territory,” an inviolable place where no whites were to be allowed, is completely disrespected by the new settlers.
Tribes such as the Cherokee and Seminole in the southeast have owned black slaves for decades and align themselves with the Confederates.”
There is a detailed discussion of all tactical aspects of Custer’s attack on Indians, including decisions to split his forces and attack a much larger size; one of the details of part of the battle includes: “Crazy Horse orders his warriors to dismount. They walk their horses as the war chief assesses the battlefield. … Crazy Horse sees several white soldiers sitting tall in the saddle, so focused on the action that they are unaware that a major Indian force has crept behind them. Crazy Horse takes careful aim. “He shot them as fast as he could load his gun,… ””
In addition to many other fascinating tactical details the conclusion is summarized by the authors as: “General George Custer is thirty-six at the time of his death. His battlefield opponent, Crazy Horse, is the same age. The American loss on this day is 268 dead and 55 wounded, but every man in Custer’s direct command dies—all 210 of them. The Indian numbers are not known, but in later years Sitting Bull stated that 138 Native Americans were killed or wounded. However, some historians estimate that as many as 300 warriors perished.”
This book is recommended reading for those interested in a well-written, easy to read summary of Indian Wars in the U.S. in the 1800’s.
In "Killing Crazy Horse," O'Reilly and Dugard focus on the period between the Creek War (1813-1814) and the 1877 surrender of Chief Joseph and the Nez Perce tribe in the Montana Territory. Interspersing battlefield accounts of the most significant engagements, the authors ensure an eminently readable book. The result of thorough research is a no-holds-barred chronicle of what happened in the American Frontier Wars.
What draws me to the "Killing" series is the authors' aim to demystify a period of history experiencing a renewed interest in contemporary American society. In their quest to separate fact from fiction in 19th century America, a period of significant growth and change, they ensure informative, exciting reading. But their ability to "go the extra mile" makes all the difference. Indeed, O'Reilly and Dugard include little fact nuggets, often in the book's footnotes, that make the reader inwardly exclaim, "Oh, I see, this is what that means!" Or "Oh, that is why we call it that!" Or "Oh, that is where that tradition comes from!" As well, by humanizing such prominent Native American tribal leaders as Chiefs Blackhawk, Geronimo, Crazy Horse, and Sitting Bull, they offer readers another perspective on an exceedingly fraught period in our nation's history.
Exploring the reasons for the storied battles between the settlers, U.S. Army troops – both professionals and volunteers – and Indian tribes such as the Blackhawk, Cherokee, Chiricahua Apache, and Sioux as the nation realizes its "manifest destiny" is also where the authors excel. Just as with their previous works, I found myself unable to put "Killing Crazy Horse" down. The final chapters of the book, in particular, drew me in. To mine and I suspect others' reading satisfaction, the authors save the best for last. Combining the series of events leading to the controversial Battle of the Little Bighorn with descriptions of the antagonists' personalities enables the reader to understand better, even anticipate, the outcome.
Beyond the enjoyment "Killing Crazy Horse" brought me, the book struck an emotional chord. It exposed the poignant eviction of the Native American from his tribal lands. As the United States annexed land in its inexorable territorial expansion, conflict was inevitable. Indigenous peoples inhabiting those lands for centuries would not give them up quickly or easily. A sort of pathos permeates much of "Killing Crazy Horse." The authors often describe slaughter in vivid detail, including atrocities committed on both sides.
Additionally, O'Reilly and Dugard document the U.S. government's sometimes feeble attempts at negotiation. More often than not, America finds itself relentlessly waging war against the Plains tribes anyway. While their battlefield depictions can be gruesome, the authors are generally even-handed in their treatment of U.S. Army soldiers and Native American warriors. They portray both as determined and courageous but often brutal in their methods, for example, routinely taking the scalps of their adversary.
In depicting the lives of white settlers and the actions of the U.S. government, O’Reilly's and Dugard's writing is especially compelling. Intent on surviving both the Indians' savagery and harsh conditions, the bold and adventurous settlers eke out an existence on the frontier while fighting for their lives. Along with their Mexican counterparts, American politicians sanction merciless raids into Native American lands, revenge seemingly the only motive in U.S. Army attacks on encampments of tribes and sub-tribes. In some cases, government officials justify U.S. Cavalry depredations with a "commitment" to securing their adversary's safety on reservations.
Covering a period of American history that extends from the late 18th century to the early 20th century in only 281 pages inevitably exposes O’Reilly and Dugard to criticism. But, as they perhaps have with the authors' previous works, the critics miss the point of "Killing Crazy Horse." The authors zero in on what they believe are the most momentous (and interesting) events of the American Frontier Wars and reveal what happened and why. By so doing, they popularize history. They take a bland subject and bring it to life, thus inspiring a generation of readers to understand better and embrace our nation's past.
With O'Reilly's and Dugard's books, those who found high school U.S. history boring can have another bite at the apple!
I am anxiously awaiting the next installment of the "Killing" series.
Illuminating facts while popularizing history is what the authors do best!
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Pour ceux qui voudrait un apercu plus detaille et plus complet de la vie et mort de ce grand et fantastique guerrier, je recommenderais les livres suivants:
- Thomas Powers: The Killing of Crazy Horse
- Kadlecek: To Kill An Eagle
- Joseph Marshall III: The Journey of Crazy Horse (ecrit par an auteur Lakota)
- Mary Sandoz: Crazy Horse, The Strange Man of the Oglalas (ce dernier, ecrit comme un magnifique roman, tres apprecie et reconnu aussi par les Indiens eux-memes)
take their land because they believed that they were entitled as White Christians. It is shamefully appalling, and set a standard for the way Indigenous peoples were viewed and treated throughout history up to and including present day. This account shook me to the core of my being, and my emotions ran the gamut of shock, disgust, empathy for both sides to be fair, and shame. It exposed my soul to the point of being raw, it brought me to tears, yet I was in awe of the resilience of the tribes .That resilience is still thriving today. I could go on but I don’t wish to revisit the emotional turmoil that this book stirred in me; however, I will say that even though I married into a FN , live and work there, I am painfully and shamefully aware of what my White face will always represent to them, and that’s okay because, “it is what it is”, and I can live with that.