Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee: An Indian History of the American West Review

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(More customer reviews)Be prepared to be affected by this book. I guarantee that you can not read it without being emotionally touched and moved by this account of the loss of a beautiful land, the demise of a conscientious and spiritual way of life and finally the extirpation of a nation of people; or at least their ceasing to exist as free, independent, proud and noble individuals.
The book had a profound impact on readers when it was first published in 1971 for a couple of reasons. Firstly, it took a unique perspective. Reports of Treaty meetings, tribal histories, Congressional findings and interview transcripts have all been distilled to provide the Indian point of view. Indeed the books' subtitle is 'An Indian History of the American West'. The second factor has to do with when the book was published. Interest in environmental issues was growing and the accounts of the destruction by the settlers of the Eastern forests, the soiling of the rivers and the slaughter of the Buffalo herds struck a chord, especially when contrasted with the practices of the Indians. Readers began to see Indians in a different light, as the first conservationists.
The period of history covered is short. From about 1860 to 1890. The first chapter briefly sketches the interactions between Eupopean and Indians from the formers' arrival in Massachusetts in 1620 up to the setting up of the 'permanent indian frontier' west of the Mississippi in 1847.
The 'frontier' lasted no time at all. Gold was discovered, land was sought and settlers flocked west. To cover this in legitimacy it was necessary to invent 'Manifest Destiny'. The Indians were now doomed as history has shown that this policy made it manifest that the Indians were destined to be swept aside by the white man. All that we have left is their legends, their magical placenames and some works like this book that provides insights into how the West was really lost.

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American Indian Removal and the Trail to Wounded Knee (Defining Moments) Review

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(More customer reviews)Defining Moments: American Indian Removal and the Trail to Wounded Knee is the latest installment in the "Defining Moments" series of invaluable resources chronicling important events in America's history. Like all volumes in the series, American Indian Removal and the Trail to Wounded Knee is divided into three sections: the Narrative Overview section, summarizing the events of the governmental policy that ultimately led to an infamous massacre; the Biographies section which concentrates information about key historical figures (along with a list of resources for further information on various individuals); and the Primary Sources section offering a wide assortment of original references and documents - letters, memoirs, official records, and much more. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this detailed, practical, user-friendly historical compendium, highly recommended for public and college library reference shelves.


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One of the introductory volumes in a series designed to provide authoritative, useful resources on American History, Defining Moments: American Indian Removal and the Trail to Wounded Knee provides readers with a detailed overview of the 1890 massacre of more than 250 Native American men, women, and children by the United States Cavalry at Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. The authors analyze the conditions that led to this horrific event and its effect on the country's political, cultural, and social landscape, then and now. The research presented here is arranged in three distinct sections: narrative overview; biographies, which includes background on principal figures involved in the massacre; and primary sources. This unique and comprehensive volume also includes a glossary of important people, places, and terms, as well as a chronology of events, a subject index, and an annotated list of sources for further study. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Eyewitness at Wounded Knee (Great Plains Photography) Review

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(More customer reviews)Was so inspired by the photographs in this book, I took it with me on one of my visits to Wounded Knee, to compare and photograph pictures from on or near the same place the photographer(s) did at that time, at the massacre site as well as the town itself.There are many pictures that I had not seen anywhere else in this book, and anyone interested in this place in history has got to have it. Textually very good as well.

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On a wintry day in December 1890, near a creek named Wounded Knee on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, the Seventh Cavalry of the U.S. Army opened fire on an encampment of Sioux Indians. This assault claimed more than 250 lives, including those of many Indian women and children. The tragedy at Wounded Knee has often been written about, but the existing photographs have received little attention until now.Eyewitness at Wounded Knee brings together and assesses for the first time some 150 photographs that were made before and immediately after the massacre. Present at the scene were two itinerant photographers, George Trager and Clarence Grant Morelodge, whose work has never before been published. Accompanying commentaries focus on both the Indian and the military sides of the story. Richard E. Jensen analyzes the political and economic quagmire in which the Sioux found themselves after 1877. R. Eli Paul considers the army's role at Wounded Knee. John E. Carter discusses the photographers and also the reporters and relic hunters who were looking to profit from the misfortune of others.
For this Bison Books edition each image has been digitally enhanced and restored, making the photographs as compelling as the event itself. Heather Cox Richardson tells the story behind the endeavor to present a meaningful account of this significant historical event.

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Trail to Wounded Knee: The Last Stand of the Plains Indians 1860-1890 (National Geographic) Review

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(More customer reviews)When I first looked at this book I thought it would be either a white man's history of the American west or an apologists view of our failed Indian policies of the 19th century. But as I delved into it deeper, I was impressed with Herman Viola's knowledge and writing style. He is director of a Smithsonian division and uses his skills to write a history that is neither pro-imperialism nor apologetic. The Indian wars were a disgrace to American "foreign" policy but those of us living in the 21st century need an accurate account of them to allow us to come to terms with our own history.
Since National Geographic published the book there are plenty of maps and photographs to add life to the book. This is not a dry old history book but is meant to be read and used as reference for further research into the subject. It is a good companion to the Dee Brown classic "Bury my Heart at Wounded Knee" though I doubt the author really tried to dispell any points Dee Brown may have made. The Trail to Wounded Knee is an important book that provides insight into our past. For this reason anyone interested in Indian policy or 19th century American history should seriously consider reading this book.

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A meticulously researched, richly illustrated study chronicles the decimation of the Plains Indians and their culture over the course of a single generation, spanning three decades of warfare from 1860 to 1890, leading to the final massacre at Wounded Knee.

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The Wild Frontier: Atrocities During the American-Indian War from Jamestown Colony to Wounded Knee Review

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The other reviewers did a good job synopsizing the content of this very good book. I don't want to repeat them so I will note a few things that stood out for me in an effort to not be repetitive
First of all, I found "Wild Frontiers" to be a very interesting compendium of the subject matter which is documented cases of murder in the 300 years of conflict between the Native American and the encroaching stream of immigrants seeking greener pastures.
These new arrivals had goods the Native Americans were interested in after being stuck in 5000 B.C. for 6000 years. The immigrants were able to capitalize on competitions and animosities that had existed for eons between tribes. The Native Americans never seemed to unify to a point where they could effectively stop the onslaught of expansionism. So they killed, often brutally. The settlers did too but the Native Americans culture seemed to hold torture in high regard. Lots of examples are held within. No disrespect meant for the Native Americans, the torture was simply part of the culture, good or bad. Yes I know the Settlers broke every treaty ever made, and I further know it is not fair to judge the past by the mores of today. But slowly burning someone to death over the course of 4 days or cutting someones lower intestine out and tying it to a tree while you beat them so they are made to walk around the tree while they slowly unravel their large and small intestine must have hurt. It's hard not to wince a little.
I decided to read this book after reading Eckert's most excellent "Frontiersmen". It reaffirmed some of the brutality laid out in that amazing story of the Kentucky and Ohio Frontier.
I think scholars would have a hard time debunking any of the reports from this well researched book
I gave this book 4 stars because at times the writing was choppy especially when attempting to segway (sp) into a new story.
Very informative and mostly well written book that I read quickly. I recommend this book to all interested.


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Wounded Knee 1973: A Personal Account (Modern Scandinavian Literature in Transl) Review

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(More customer reviews)Stanley Lyman, longtime BIA employee, offers us his posthumous journal which covers the occupation of Wounded Knee in 1973. Whether one agress or disagrees with Lyman, this book is definately an important addition to the overall literature surrounding this event. This was written in 1973, Lyman died in 1979, and the book was first published in 1993.
We have copious works on the AIM point of view, the Lakota point of view, biographies on Banks, Means, and Crow Dog, but this is the first account that I have read which gives a detailed look at the BIA side along with looks at the U.S. Marshall's and the Oglala tribal government under Dick Wilson.
Lyman states over and over that whites can not understand the Lakota, or their ways, or the things they do. He comes across as a man who means well and wants to do what is best for the tribe, but his lack of understanding is blatantly obvious. He comments that Leonard Crow Dog (Brule Lakota medicine man) has no place or purpose in visiting Pine Ridge because Crow Dog is from Rosebud (that is Lyman's arguement. he should have just said he didn't want Crow Dog to be there as AIM's medicine man). I wonder if the Crazy Horse, Red Cloud, and the other Oglalas turned away Sitting Bull based on the fact that he was a Hunkpapa medicine man and not Oglala.
There was obviously great tension on the reservation during this whole affair, but Lyman plays it cool and comes across as a man who is unafraid to stand up for his thoughts. He has very interesting views of both Dick Wilson's group and the AIM group. He felt victorious seeing Russell Means handcuffed and taken away and he felt disparaged to learn that Means was out on bail 2 days later. We get to see hints of conversations with government officials and Dick Wilson. He speaks often of people (mostly full-bloods) whose friendships he has lost over time - we were once friends, now we are not. It is sometimes hard to understand why he remained at Pine Ridge as long as he did.
If you are overtly interested in Wounded Knee II, I would say that this is a book that should be added to your library. As with any touchy subject, you may not agree with a thing Lyman says, but it is nice to see what was going on on that side of the bunkers. Give it a read and see what you think.

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