Customer Reviews

The Swamp Outlaw: The Civil War Story of Henry Berry Lowery and His North Carolina Indian Raiders

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This is a story beautifully written by David Ball. Although David Ball is not a Native American, he captured the spirit of the War torn south in Robeson County, N. C. during the Civil War.

Once you start reading this book, you get a true understanding of "the way things were" for the Croatian Indians (now called Lumbee)and the way they dealt with it.

The setting is just prior to the end of the Civil War when things were at its worst for people in the south especially for the non-white members of Robeson County, North Carolina. Food was scarce, money was unheard of and any luxury items of the time just didn't exist.

When times are hard, all you have is your good name and your family. It was at a such a point when Henry Berry Lowery saw his father and brother unjustly killed by a crooked sheriff. Henry and his band of scavengers became outlaws as they tried to find justice.

In the eyes of the people that were abused by a corrupt government, Henry and his band became heroes; in the eyes of the government, they were renegades.

The story is so much more than another Robin Hood story, but one of historic facts as this is the "true" story of a man that is still known as a hero one hundred and fifty years later.

The Native Americans at the time were illiterate and the story has a few pieces missing, well, that's where the author had to take over. Surprisingly, the book is very accurate being written by a man that has hardly stepped foot in this region.

As I read the book, I felt like it did justice to the legend of Henry Berry Lowery and his band of raiders. It was a book that needed to be written. The older generations are dieing off and the young generations need a hero. This is a book that is full of action and history. A history book is normally too stuffy for young readers, but I believe that this book will keep them on the edge of their seats from cover to cover.

With all this said, I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in local history, Civil War history, stories of discrimination, and anyone just wanting to read a great book.

If you love poking into the obscure corners of history, you need to read this book. Henry Berry Lowery and his gang are driven into the swamp and hide there for years, living like a 19th-century Robin Hood and Merry Men. Tragedy, comedy, romance, and real history! A great combination! The author has discovered an astounding story, and tells it beautifully.

I don't care if you don't like "true story" books. Read this one. Henry Berry Lowery did exist, and he was a freedom-fighter, sort of, for his people (North Carolina native Americans), and he did some incredibly funny things and some incredibly violent things. But it's the writer who goes into the swamp to interview him and his gang who broke my heart and healed it. You never find out the writer's name and you don't need to. You won't forget him and you won't forget Henry Berry either.

I just wish someone had warned me first; normally I think "good literature" is stuffy. But this one is beautifully written AND it has low comedy and serious tragedy and bigtime action, which means that I couldn't put this thing down till past midnight. Open this one up on Friday, because you'll be wrecked at work the next day if you start it on a weeknight.