Review of 'The Southern Cheyennes (The Civilization of the American Indian Series, 66)' on 'Goodreads'
4 stars
This excellent book chronicles the history of the Cheyenne Indians from their early recorded history to their reluctant surrender to American expansion in the 1870s. It was a clash of human societies, pitting the hunter-gatherer Cheyennes and other plains Indians tribes against the superior guns, germs, steel, and agriculture of the United States. After describing their migrations to the plains (mostly modern Colorado and Kansas), their religion and societal structure, Berthrong methodically provides a detailed and even-handed history of their contact and conflict with the growing United States, neither depicting the Indians as noble or as savages, and neither depicting the Americans as cruel or superior. He makes it clear there were individuals on both sides who genuinely wanted to make peace, just as there were those on both sides who had bad or selfish intentions. In the end, the Cheyennes didn't stand a chance, but they put up an …
This excellent book chronicles the history of the Cheyenne Indians from their early recorded history to their reluctant surrender to American expansion in the 1870s. It was a clash of human societies, pitting the hunter-gatherer Cheyennes and other plains Indians tribes against the superior guns, germs, steel, and agriculture of the United States. After describing their migrations to the plains (mostly modern Colorado and Kansas), their religion and societal structure, Berthrong methodically provides a detailed and even-handed history of their contact and conflict with the growing United States, neither depicting the Indians as noble or as savages, and neither depicting the Americans as cruel or superior. He makes it clear there were individuals on both sides who genuinely wanted to make peace, just as there were those on both sides who had bad or selfish intentions. In the end, the Cheyennes didn't stand a chance, but they put up an admirable fight.
I found the chapters about the Cheyennes' religion and societal structure very interesting, in particular the description of their religion, which is stranger than I had gleaned from pop culture. The chapters about alternating conflict and peace seemed to drag and be repetitive at times (probably reflecting history!), but were helped along by entertaining little bits of stories of Wild West life. Indeed, this book is packed with material that could be used for Westerns. Finally, and this is what drew me to the book, I enjoyed learning about figures after which Denver streets or area locations are named, such as General Sheridan, Governor Evans, Major Wynkoop, and Little Raven. Also a few figures more famous for other things (such as the Civil War) entered the narrative, such as Jefferson Davis, Generals Grant and Sherman, and Colonel Custer.