Buffalo Calf Road Woman: The Story of a Warrior of the Little Bighorn [Paperback]

Rosemary Agonito (Author), Joseph Agonito (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2005

Winner of the Western Heritage Award for "Outstanding Western Novel" 2005

 

As the Cheyenne fought that June day in 1876, warrior Comes in Sight faced grave danger. His horse had been shot out from under him, and he was left stranded on the battlefield. Suddenly, a rider galloped through enemy fire, pulled Comes in Sight onto the back of her horse, and spirited him to safety. It was Buffalo Calf Road Woman—the warrior’s own sister.

While white men refer to this clash as the Battle of the Rosebud, the Cheyenne know it as the battle, “Where the Girl Saved Her Brother.” Days later, Buffalo Calf fought at the Battle of Little Bighorn—the only woman to do so. And now a controversy is brewing over her role in that battle: Did Buffalo Calf strike the fatal blow that killed Custer?

In this award-winning novel, authors Rosemary Agonito and Joseph Agonito depict the life and times of this brave young woman and the devastating effects of white man’s westward migration. Based on true events, this epic tale of love and war is an inspiring journey through one of history’s most moving sagas.

Editorial Reviews

Review

" . . . gripping and tragic, inspiring and true." -- True West Magazine, December, 2006

"Beautifully written narrative . . . perfect gift for Into the West junkies and all admirers of Native American culture and women's history." -- Cowboys and Indians Magazine, October, 2005

"Tremendously moving...hypnotic language...a truly wonderful book....Few books have moved me so deeply." -- Mimi Kennedy, Actor, Hollywood, CA, October 14, 2005

Won the prestigious 2006 Western Heritage Award for The Outstanding Western Novel. -- National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum, April 22, 2006

From the Back Cover

“Winner of the 2005 Western Heritage Award”

 

On a fateful June day in 1876, Cheyenne warrior Comes in Sight faced grave danger. His horse had been shot out from under him, and he was left stranded on the battlefield. Suddenly, a rider galloped through enemy fire, pulled Comes in Sight onto the back of her horse, and spirited him to safety. It was Buffalo Calf Road Woman—the warrior’s own sister. While white men refer to that clash between the U.S. Cavalry and the Cheyenne as the Battle of the Rosebud, the Cheyenne know it as the battle “Where the Girl Saved Her Brother.”

Days later, Buffalo Calf also fought at the Battle of Little Bighorn—the only woman to do so. Today, a controversy is brewing over her role in that battle: Is it possible that she was the warrior who struck the blow that killed General George Armstrong Custer?

In this award-winning novel, authors Rosemary Agonito and Joseph Agonito depict the life and times of this brave young woman and the devastating effects of white man’s westward migration. Based on true events, this epic tale of love and war is an inspiring journey through one of history’s most moving sagas.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: TwoDot; 1st edition (October 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0762738170
• ISBN-13: 978-0762738175
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #709,898 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Simply a Fine Read, May 11, 2006

By 

Janice Friebaum (Boca Raton, FL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Buffalo Calf Road Woman: The Story of a Warrior of the Little Bighorn (Paperback)

I have no way to gauge the accuracy of the history recounted in Buffalo Calf Road Woman. I am neither a descendent of the Northern Cheyenne nor an historian of Native American peoples. A couple of reviewers take issue with the presentation of some "facts" in this book. While there is no fair way to resolve those issues in this online book review forum, I do offer this perspective:

There were ample caveats in the book's preface to advise readers of the inherent limitations of retrieving comprehensive and indisputable facts about plains Indians history. Therefore, what I expected and hoped for in reading Buffalo Calf Road Woman were to learn about general themes in Northern Cheyenne history, to be inspired by the life of a courageous and strong-willed woman, and to enjoy the experience along the way.

My expectations were more than met. The Agonitos' writing is easy, effective, and filled with a cadence that evokes images of life and travel in the open plains country. The only "agenda" I detected on the part of the authors was to help inform more people of the complex and heart-wrenching struggle for life and dignity inflicted upon Native Americans in "white man's" pursuit of land and resources. All of the characters in the book (including the protagonist) were shown in their multi-dimensional humanity, with their flaws, heroism, and conflicts.

I was transported from my life as I turned the pages of this well written, plainly interesting story. Unlike some other reviewers who hold the success of this book - a work of Native American History/Fiction - hostage to some perceived agenda on the part of the authors, I found it simply a fine read.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Amazing Tribute and a Great Love Story, April 11, 2006

By 

L. Bergan "Teouwya - St. Regis Mohawk" (Syracuse, NY) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Buffalo Calf Road Woman: The Story of a Warrior of the Little Bighorn (Paperback)

I am a St. Regis Mohawk born off the reservation. Much of all of the history of the sovereign nations residing inside the borders of the United States is oral history. As such, even my own family's history is difficult to obtain and has as many versions as the people who tell it. This book is remarkable in that it attempts a balance of those truths, as indeed each person who tells the history is telling his or her own truth, while creating for the reader an image of the brave struggle of Native Peoples in those times and of a remarkable woman. I am astounded each time I meet a sister or a brother from any sovereign nation who does not think the telling of such a story by anyone is in any way corrupting our peoples. It is a tribute to the sensitivity of these writers that they chose to write about us at all, so dismissed have we always been by history. I do not pretend to be a scholar. I tend to find most of them a boring lot of preachers who care only for their own point of view and who interpret history according to their own agenda. I saw no agenda in this book. I saw only beauty, truth, and love. This book will move you. It is a book you will recommend to friends and family. Yes, the writers are white but they speak with a straight tongue.

Teouwya - St. Regis Mohawk

6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A MOVING, WELL RESEARCHED AND FINELY WRITTEN STORY, March 24, 2006

By 

FRANK LEDERLE "FRANKL" (NYC, NY) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Buffalo Calf Road Woman: The Story of a Warrior of the Little Bighorn (Paperback)

In my judgment, Buffalo Calf Road Woman is a moving, well researched and finely written tribute to the courage and dignity of an extraordinary Northern Cheyenne woman and her people. I would urge anyone interested in Native American history to read it. That judgment clearly runs counter to another review recently posted on this site, a review which I feel disregards the principles of sound intellectual argument and valid literary criticism. With not a single example to substantiate his point of view, the reviewer indicts the Agonitos of denigrating the Northern Cheyenne and ignoring or manipulating the historical facts. The Authors' Note and Bibliography in the book, as well as the testimonies on their website (some from Native Americans), amply attest the extent and depth of the research that went into this book. The authors treat their subject matter with a respect that borders on reverence. All of that should not be summarily negated by invidious and totally unsubstantiated generalizations.