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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
An enjoyable alternative perspective on this subject..., January 6, 2004
This review is from: Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains, 1865-1879 (Paperback)
As many of the reviews of this book have stated, this book differs from many other accounts of Indian-white warfare on the Great Plains in that it does not start with an agenda which paints the white settlers/soldiers as thieving invaders and the Indians as noble, oppressed victims. What it is is what it claims to be--a scholarly analysis of contemporaneously written accounts of the conflicts which ranged from the Comanche country in Texas to the Sioux plains in the Dakotas and Montana, with a particular emphasis on the Cheyenne tribe which ranged throughout (and regarding Kansas in particular, which State the author appears to be an authority on). However, since it is based upon contemporaneous writing, it largely is the version of white settlers, survivors, soldiers and newspapermen, and the natural reaction after reading it is to see the Indians as bloodthirsty, brutal savages who raped, tortured and killed. This is fine, because they were, to a certain extent. There is no doubt that these things occurred. But if the book fails, it is in not giving the other side of the story (which would be difficult, becuase none of the tribes involved had a written language at the time). However, considering the subject matter, there are more than enough books which detail the white wrongs--broken treaties, outright theft of land, extermination of Buffalo, poor reservations, corrupt Indian agents, punishment of innocent Indians for the acts of warlike tribesmen, etc. Goodrich is clearly not trying to paint the Indians as monsters, but rather is presenting, in highly readable fashion, the written versions of those who were there--which is inevitably the white version, and it details harrowing accounts of Indian torture, rape and murder. The book is excellent and informative, and is highly recommended. Just make sure you read other books on the subject which take a different (some would say "PC") perspective, like Dee Brown's Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, and then come to your own conclusion, which will be, inevitably, that both sides had justification, right or wrong, for the brutalities each committed, and that what ultimately happened was a sad but inevitable result of a clash of cultures.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Indian Wars through Contemporary Eyes, December 4, 2002
This review is from: Scalp Dance: Indian Warfare on the High Plains, 1865-1879 (Paperback)
The account of the events is vivid and memorable. The emphasis is on the words of those people who experienced life on the Great Plains at the time, both military and private citizens, men and women. The Indians did not write memoirs ordinarily, but their attitude comes through in their recorded encounters with the whites. Also, these days we know much more about how they were treated. Why contemporary whites felt as they did about the Indians is a strong point of this book. Another fine point of this book is that the author has avoided skewing the story with political correctness. The history is neither "noble savage" nor "the only Indian is a bad Indian." It is a clash of cultures seen by walking in the shoes of contemporaries. In addition, there is a very informative view of General George Custer and Mrs. Custer, one enhancing our knowledge of his military ability and their humanity. Custer's relationship to the Indians is especially revealing,
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36 of 44 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Equal Time, January 20, 2001
This book is equal time. The author gives us a view of history few have courage to even mention these days. The battle for supremacy between the American Indian and the white settlers was bitter clash of cultures. This book declares the facts. Yes, both sides committed terrible inhumane atrocities, but some people made a genuine effort to understand and help the natives they considered savages in spite of the terrible killing. If you are looking for an alternative to the watered down history books you read in school about the Indian wars, this is it. The book contains actual narrative from soldiers and civilians that lived through the battles and encountered the horrible realities of torture, desecration of the dead, rape and kidnapping. And they are surprising lenient toward their enemies. If you're looking for another dry, boring account of the America west, this book is not for you. But if you're looking for something with a twist, read Scalp Dance.
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