Hell With the Fire Out: A History of the Modoc War [Paperback]

Arthur Quinn (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1998

The newest book from the critically-acclaimed author of "A New World" and "The Rivals" brings to vivid life a violent and all-too-human chapter in the history of the American West. In 1869, Federal Indian Agent Alfred B. Meacham traveled to northern California to convince a band of Modoc Indians to return to the reservation. A bloody war ensued that lasted until 1873 and paved the way for more famous, but equally bloody, battles at Little Bighorn and Wounded Knee.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

The American war against the Modoc people of northern California and southern Oregon, fought in 1869-72, has long been overshadowed by other campaigns in the Indian Wars. Crazy Horse, Sitting Bull, and Cochise made the standard history books, but Captain Jack of the Modoc did not, although his contributions as a leader of his people were as great as those of his more famous peers. Arthur Quinn rectifies this oversight by writing a vivid history of the Modoc War. He notes that the campaign against the Modocs was not universally popular among white residents of the region, that it split the Modoc people into opposing camps, and that it was fought in a difficult landscape of mountains and lava beds. It had, that is, all the hallmarks of classic guerrilla wars. As in other guerrilla wars, Quinn notes, the Americans suffered heavy losses, while Modoc deaths were few in battle but heavy in the aftermath of military and vigilante atrocities. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Quinn's title for his history of the Modoc War of 1870 refers to a description of the lava beds of northern California, in which the Modocs took refuge during the war and from which they were expelled only by starvation and at the cost of many U.S. Army casualties, including a brigadier general. The root cause of the war was the relegation of the Modocs to a reservation that they had to share with the Klamath Indians, whose slaves they had once been and whose enemies they were. This forced marriage quickly dissolved, and eventually the abortive Modoc resistance ended with the hanging of four tribal leaders. Quinn has researched thoroughly and written well, although with occasional overdoses of sentimentality; he also represents as authentic many passages of conversation, which are literarily useful although some sound like byplay between the Lone Ranger and Tonto. Overall, a balanced and worthwhile effort as well as the most recent thorough study of its subject. Roland Green --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (February 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571199372
• ISBN-13: 978-0571199372
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #967,024 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A realistic and balanced depiction of the Modoc War, September 25, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Hell With the Fire Out: A History of the Modoc War (Hardcover)

While not a traditional history text, this book deals very plainly with the people and events of the Modoc War. Graphic depictions of the causes leading to the conflict and the battles themselves lead you to to able to imagine yourself as being there.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Objective and balanced account of a tragedy, December 14, 1999

By 

"dmanoak" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hell With the Fire Out: A History of the Modoc War (Paperback)

Arthur Quinn treats with respect both perspcetives of one the Modoc War. The extreme brutality of both the American Government and the Modoc Warriors is reflected in a suprisingly unbiased manner.

5 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Really Good, March 27, 2002

By 

rex gunnell (California, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Hell With the Fire Out: A History of the Modoc War (Hardcover)

This book is very, very good for anybody interested in 1870 era American Indian conflicts, especially in Northern California. Story easy to follow, no unecessary words, facts etc., unless they're relevant to the story.
Reads as if it were a movie, but is all true, as judged on what I know of California frontier history.
Book is worth getting.