Reap the Whirlwind: The Plainsmen [Mass Market Paperback]

Terry C. Johnston (Author)

Book Description

Series: Plainsmen | Publication Date: January 1, 1994

As the Sioux and the Cheyenne amass along the northern frontier, army scout Seamus Donegan heads north to Fort Fetterman and Brigadier General George C. Crook prepares to face off against Crazy Horse.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This historical novel takes place in 1876, shortly before the Battle of Little Bighorn. In the Battle of the Rosebud, Brigadier General George C. Crook's Union forces clash with Crazy Horse's Lakota Sioux warriors over control of Wyoming Territory. The story revolves around the adventures of several men, such as Seamus Donegan, a U.S. army scout hired by Crook; John Finerty, a war correspondent for the Chicago Times ; and Crazy Horse. Crook believes himself the sure winner at the start of the conflict, but his confidence wanes as the number of men on both sides increases and he realizes that the shrewdness and tactical ability of his opponent may surpass all his expectations. Although white men tell most of the story, Johnston ( Winter Rain ) does not condescend to his Indian characters; he treats both sides with equal sensitivity. Readers must decide who wins the final battle at Rosebud Creek because, as Johnston explains in an afterword, little documentation exists regarding the battle. Unfortunately, detailed descriptions of battle maneuvers and gratuitous verbiage slow the book down. In general, however, this account of battle on the plains brings the period to life.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The Battle of the Rosebud, the subject of best-selling historical novelist Johnston's latest epic, was a critical conflagration in the great Indian wars of 1876, but it was quickly overshadowed by George Custer's flamboyant demise at Little Big Horn. Rosebud was significant because it was the first time Indians used modern military tactics to divide their opponents into smaller, more easily defeated units. Johnston populates his novels with real characters such as General George C. Crook, the commander of the U.S. forces at Rosebud; John Bourke, Crook's aide; Chicago Times reporter John Finerty; and Martha Jane Cannary, also known as Calamity Jane. At the book's fictional center is Seamus Donegan and his pregnant wife, Samantha. Seamus is one of Crook's troopers, but his heart is home with Sam. Also playing prominent roles are Indian chiefs Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull. As with all novels of this scope, the individual stories converge and are resolved in the shadow of history--in this case, the final battle. Through more than 15 novels, including Winter Rain (1993), Johnston has developed an enormous audience of readers who want their western fiction to be historically accurate and based on real events. On both fronts, Johnston delivers the goods--this is clearly the real Old West, not some mythic stage on which white hats duel black hats. On the other hand, as a fiction writer and an observer of humanity, Johnston never gets much beyond clich{‚}e. This is more a dramatic reenactment than it is a novel, but it's sure to be popular in public libraries. Wes Lukowsky

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 512 pages
• Publisher: Domain (January 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553299743
• ISBN-13: 978-0553299748
• Product Dimensions: 4.2 x 1 x 7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #150,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good novel of a major cavalry-Indian engagement, June 20, 2010

By 

New England Pat (Virginia, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Reap the Whirlwind: The Plainsmen (Mass Market Paperback)

The Battle of the Rosebud is the subject of this historical fiction work and is an excellent account of an engagement that never received its due as a military conflict of major import in the history of the west. The Custer fight, which occured eight days later, has always arrested the attention of historians and military scholars because of the magic of the Custer name, but the determined fighting by the Indians at the Rosebud and General George Crook's return to Fort Fetterman disrupted the grand design by the army to put and end to Indian resistance for all time. The War Department's plan to have three military columns converge on the Indians and defeat them failed in large part due to the tactical defeat of the army by the Indians at the Rosebud and played no small part in what happened on the Little Big Horn on June 25th. Terry C. Johnston takes his readers through the planning, the marching and the desperate fighting that took place that day.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best of the Plainsman series, July 5, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Reap the Whirlwind: The Plainsmen (Mass Market Paperback)

Terry Johnston makes the battle come alive, the way he moves from how Crazy Horse is dealing with the battle, General Crook to Miles and Royall is incredible. I have become completely intrigued with the Rosebud Battle and looking for additional information. The whole Plainsman series is very good and I've enjoyed reading them all, they continue to get better and better. Can't wait to pick up the next one.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Johnson continues to make historical drama personal, September 3, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Reap the Whirlwind: The Plainsmen (Mass Market Paperback)

His descriptions of the terrain, weather at the time of year, wildlife, and general conditions of the southeastern Montana Territory are so vividly accurate as to envelope the senses into believing you are there with Crook and his men (and woman). He takes a single historical act and brings it to life through the personalities of the characters replete with all of their emotions.Excellent reading. The pages move at a pace much quicker than expected.