This revised review includes some minor additional information for the potential reader, as follows: This reader/reviewer came upon this book, namely: “Killing Crazy Horse: The Merciless Indian Wars in America” (Bill O'Reilly's Killing Series) by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard when actually searching for a similar book recommended by a friend. The book by O’Reilly & Dugard was on the New York Times best seller list and easily downloadable on Kindle or a Kindle app, both features were attractive to this reviewer as well as being part of a successful series of books. For completeness, the book has some highly explicit descriptions of brutality and violence committed again Indians by settlers and visa versa, that might make the book inappropriate for children.
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.
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Popular Highlights in this book
Tribes such as the Cherokee and Seminole in the southeast have owned black slaves for decades and align themselves with the Confederates.Highlighted by 368 Kindle readers- “Monroe Doctrine,” as it will be labeled in 1850. That doctrine will shape America for centuries to come.Highlighted by 339 Kindle readers
- The Creek coexisted peacefully with the British, but they regularly raided other Indian tribes in Florida to capture slaves.Highlighted by 302 Kindle readers
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The Best Non-Fiction Book of 2020
This reader has long been impressed with the historical series of books by authors Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard. They are exceptionally well-researched and well-written. Having now finished their recently released “Killing Crazy Horse”, this book is in a class by itself and for this reader the top non-fiction book of 2020.What makes the O’Reilly & Dugard book special, is that in 288 pages, one is left with an incredible concise knowledge of that era. Most certainly will reading this book make one want to continue the study of these tribes and events. Interest in Native Americans began for this reader as a young boy, standing with his parents and siblings on the battlefield of Little Bighorn in Montana, where George Armstrong Custer’s 7th Cavalry Regiment were defeated by the forces of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. 268 Americans died that day in June, 1876. “Killing Crazy Horse” provides an excellent examination of that battle, especially in what went wrong.This reader was fortunate to have read “Killing Crazy Horse” on the back verandah of his mountain home in Navajo County, Arizona. Within minutes he can be at the Pinetop Safeway or at Eddie’s Country Store in Lakeside shopping with Apaches, Navajo’s and locals. In 50-minutes he can be having lunch at Arrowhead Café on the Fort Apache Indian Reservation. What a difference it is from those days in the late 1800s described in this book.At the end of this book, in the Sources section, the authors wisely advise visiting the many landmarks of Native American history, that is so helpful when doing historical research. This reader and his wife have been to many of the locations mentioned in this book, and are especially fond of visiting Apache Pass in Cochise County, Arizona. To stand where Cochise and Geronimo stood and traveled with their warriors is powerful. To stand on the site where the Butterfield Overland Mail Company had their building handling the stage coaches that passed through the Apache Pass, allows one to visualize what it must have been like.The water from a stream that Cochise drank from in the Apache Pass, and later used by the soldiers at Fort Bowie, is still there. The graveyard where Geronimo buried his son is still there. You can enter a wickiup (teepee) that is similar to those used by the Chiricahua Indians. One county over from Cochise County are the ruins of Fort Buchanan, from which Cochise had escaped. This reader’s land is but a short few minutes away, land that it is believed that Cochise had crossed. Fort Buchanan is not opened to the public, as it is on private land, but Fort Bowie is open, although mostly ruins.When finishing this book, one reflects on so many issues from the 1800s. Taking land owned by Native Americans. The constant wars. The federal government going back on agreements. Excessive killing of Native Americans by the federal government (Wounded Knee).Thank you, Mr. O’Reilly. Thank you, Mr. Dugard. I wish this book was required reading in our high schools. It is needed.
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Reviewed in Canada on February 16, 2024
