Indian Wars (American Heritage Library) [Paperback]

Robert M. Utley (Author)

Book Description

Series: American Heritage Library | Publication Date: November 15, 1985

Indian Wars recounts the conflicts between Native Americans and white settlers that lasted 400 years. The authors examine both small battles and major wars, from the native rebellion of 1492 to the massacre at Wounded Knee.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Robert M. Utley is a former chief historian of the National Park Service and the author of many books and articles on western history, including biographies of General Custer and Sitting Bull.

Product Details

• Paperback: 352 pages
• Publisher: Mariner Books; Revised edition (November 15, 1985)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0828102023
• ISBN-13: 978-0828102025
• Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,112,762 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great narrative history of English/American Indian War, October 16, 2005

By 

R. W. Levesque (Colorado) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Indian Wars (Paperback)

This is a straight forward narrative history of the Indian Wars on the North American continent from the time English colonists arrived in the New World until the final confrontation between the US Government and the Sioux at Wounded Knee in 1890. As can be seen throughout the book the conflicts were almost inevitable. The perspective presented by the authors is that, "...both Indians and whites were products of their time and place, responding to the values, attitudes, and beliefs of their time and place, not ours....If war resulted, it was the collision of two ways of life, not the malevolent determination of one to overcome and victimize the other." (p. vi) As the authors point out, in the end the European strategy the Indians couldn't overcome, and one the Europeans couldn't control, was the overwhelming movement of Europeans and Americans onto and throughout the continent. It was the sheer number of Europeans and Americans along with their villages, towns, mines, and farms that overwhelmed any Indian resistance and way of life.

What makes the book interesting is that it is a military history focused on the Indian Wars throughout the English history of North America; it therefore provides continuity throughout the centuries without being overshadowed by more conventional conflicts. Of interest in the early period is the impact of European wars on the relationships between whites and Indians in the east as the French and English allied with Indian tribes against their enemies. Lest anyone think the Europeans "used" the tribes in these wars it must be remembered that the tribes also used the Europeans to further their interests, in the end not caring about war or peace between the European rivals.

Unfortunately the book is not as comprehensive as it could be since its focus is on the English/American wars with the Indians. It doesn't address relationships between the Indians and the French, nor, more significantly, does it cover the wars between the Spanish and the Indians -- wars which were fought just as relentlessly and left an even more negative relationship between Mexicans and Indians.

32 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Complete Story of Every US Indian/Anglo Conflict, December 20, 2000

By 

Daniel Hurley (Chesapeake, VA.) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Indian Wars (American Heritage Library) (Paperback)

This is the book you want if you want a highly informative history of Indian Conflicts starting from Jamestown all the way to Wounded Knee. I virtually felt embarrassment reading about the early trends of the colonists to take advantage of Indians through the kidnapping and killing of chiefs to exploitation of their land and the constant pressure to move them west. From Bacon's (Bacon's Rebellion) attack of any Indians peaceful or otherwise in the 1600's to every conflict in the northeast to the west including King Phillip's War, Red Cloud, Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, Mangas Colorado, Cochis, Commanche's, the Murdoc war. Includes the causes of war, the problem with reservations, Indian agents and the Armies strategies and commanders. A concise and thorough book that is your gateway for more detailed reading on the Indians of North America and their conflicts with manifest destiny.

9 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good sweeping history on the topic..., August 8, 2006

By 

RSM (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indian Wars (Paperback)

I would recommend this book for anyone who is not a "buff" in the area of Native American history. It provides a good historical foundation in a rather sweeping treatment of the topic. I personally used this book as a spring board to jump into a fascinating historical treatment of Crazy Horse, as re-told by Sandoz in "Crazy Horse - Strange Man of the Oglalas". Had I not read Indian Wars first, I would not have enjoyed the latter nearly so much. Indian Wars is definitely a good place to start building your knowledge of American Indian wars and skirmishes.