Customer Reviews

Utah'S Black Hawk War

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Dr. Peterson has done a brilliant job of writing and teaching in this work. This book is a must for anyone interested in Mormon, Utah, Western or U.S. history. You will see Utah and the Mormon Church in a whole new light. Dr. Peterson is magnificant in his research, historical honesty, writing method and using original sources. this is a book I treasure. Thank you Dr. Peterson

A fascinating read, especially for people with ties to Utah and for members of the LDS Church. How unfortunate that this story has remained largely untold until now. There were sections that could have used more solid references. I am a direct descendant of James Andrus who is mentioned several times in the book, and some of what was written in this volume contradicts some fairly well-documented family history, but overall this book is wonderfully presented. This is essential reading for anyone with an interest in the history of the American West.

Peterson provides the most thorough account of the Black Hawk War to date. He approaches the subject with even-handedness and without agenda. In the Utah Historical Quarterly, Sondra Jones accused Peterson of being too biased in favor of Black Hawk at the expense of Brigham Young. On the contrary, Peterson shows Young to be a well-meaning, but flawed human being. He points out the relative level of peace that Young was able to maintain in Utah (when compared with other territories at that time) and does not shield the reader from the atrocious violence perpetrated by Mormons, gentiles, or Indians. This will be the standard for scholarship on the Black Hawk War for a long time to come.