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Post by Scout on May 9, 2006 6:20:40 GMT -6
I just received the Univ. of Oklahoma Press list of military books and new releases among which is Charles Robinson's ''General Crook and the Western Frontier.'' Anybody read this? At $39.95 it has a slightly hefty price tag. Also listed is Crook's autobiography which I also have not read. Any recommendations on which to read first? Logic would say Crook's autobiography, although Robinson is farther removed from the subject matter, if you know what I mean.
Also listed is Doug McChristian's new book, 'Fort Bowie, Arizona,' which looks really interesting. But as you all know you can go bankrupt when addicted to books.
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Post by Scout on May 9, 2006 6:24:34 GMT -6
Also NEW is 'Yellowstone Command Colonel Nelson A. Miles and the Great Sioux War, 1876-1877,' by Jerome Greene, which also looks very worthwhile. Decisions, decisions.
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Post by Lawtonka on May 9, 2006 8:08:37 GMT -6
Hey Scout,
McChristian's book on Fort Bowie is very detailed and provides a very indepth history of the fort. I would highly reccommned it to anyone anterested in the Soutwest Indian Wars. I visited Fort Bowie and spent a day there. It is pretty remote and the hike in from the parking area is about 1 1/2 miles, but the hike is worth it!
I did run into some horseback riders who had come in from the Grapevine Ranch to visit. That is a Dude Ranch down in the Dragoon Moutains. That would be a nice way to go see it.
Anyway, after going there, it made the book even more interesting to me.
Another of his books, The Army Called it Home is a very nice one to (but aren't the all ??) It is a detail of the life on Military Post during the Indian Wars Period.
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Post by Scout on May 9, 2006 8:15:48 GMT -6
Thanks Lawtonka...I hope to visit Ft. Bowie next year. I ordered the book... that area has so much history. It looks like it has been well maintained which is surprising considering so many are mere rubble.
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Post by markland on May 9, 2006 14:40:15 GMT -6
I haven't read either of them (Robinson nor Crook's autobiography) but, in my opinion, Robinson did a good job on the Mackenzie book and I have read/heard that the Crook autobiography is painfully boring, except in the places he goes off on Miles.
Personally, I would recommend the Bourke diaries or the one I just ordered today with birthday money from the in-laws; the Gatewood memoir. Since it was "mad money," I also ordered the McChristian Ft. Bowie book and Greene's Ft. Randall on the Missouri as well as a book I saw used as a source in Unrau's Tending the Talking Wires; Soldiering in Sioux Country: 1865.
Be good,
Billy
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Post by crzhrs on May 9, 2006 16:46:42 GMT -6
On a sidebar regarding Crook . . . I highly recommend WITH CROOK ON THE ROSEBUD (1956) by J W Vaughn . . . very detailed account of the events leading up to and the battle itself, plus its aftermath. With intro by the late Brian Pohanka. Wonderful photos, maps, relics, official reports, testimony, etc.
Vaugh states: Crook had been ". . . out-scouted, out-surprised, out-maneuvered . . ." and had ". . . lost control of the situation . . ." and concludes: Had Crook truly won a decisive victory, ". . . without doubt, the disaster at Little Big Horn would have been averted."
A must read!
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Post by mort aux vaches on May 9, 2006 17:52:09 GMT -6
Haven't read Crook's autobiography myself but I think he never finished it himself and it's considered a patchwork of sorts. His action at the Rosebud for instance was not touched upon (bad memory here but that's what I remember reading.)
Greene's book is not that new (?) I have it myself and it's a good and concise account of what the title implies. Charles M Robinson might be the same man who wrote "A Good Day To Die" about the 76-campaign. It's still in my to-be-read pile.
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Post by Lawtonka on May 9, 2006 18:07:31 GMT -6
Thanks Lawtonka...I hope to visit Ft. Bowie next year. I ordered the book... that area has so much history. It looks like it has been well maintained which is surprising considering so many are mere rubble. Scout, Here are a few quick shot of Bowie. It is a neat place, of course wife can not seem to understand my definition of "neat place" By the way.....Crazyhorse mention Vaughn's book, Wtih Crook on the Rosebud That is an outstanding book also. You may already know, J.W. Vaughn was a relic hunter and his book reflects his findings to go along with the history of the battle. He metal detected it before it became a State Park and was owned by the Kobold Ranch. Fort Bowie 1886 Fort Bowie Modern View Ruins of Cavalry Barracks
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Post by Diane Merkel on May 9, 2006 18:42:45 GMT -6
Cool shots. Very cool.
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Post by Scout on May 9, 2006 20:01:05 GMT -6
Tim...thanks for the pixs. I was under the impression that there was more if the fort left than it is. Anyway, still really cool stuff and still on my must see list. I ordered McChristian's book, should be a good read. Is there a museum nearby? I've not read WITH CROOK ON THE ROSEBUD. I meant to a number of times...I see it in the Library all the time. Now I have to read it.
Thanks again Steve for all the book and fort information.
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Post by Lawtonka on May 9, 2006 20:08:07 GMT -6
About all that is left are the Adobe ruins, but there is a small museum and visitors center manned by the NPS and they have done a great job. There is a self guided map of the layout of the fort and tells much about it. There are also panels located along the trail with period photographs, etc.
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Post by bubbabod on May 10, 2006 9:10:38 GMT -6
Great thread. We don't often get away from the LBH and Northern Plains Indian Wars. I haven't been to Ft. Bowie yet. Lawtonka, thanks for the then and now pictures. Those types of comparisons are always fascinating to me. That's why I enjoyed Paul Horstad's Exploring Wiuth Custer and Custer Fell Here so much. My wife and I drive I-10 from Cal. to Texas a couple times a year, and it always kills me when we pass the exits for Ft. Bowie and Cochise's Stronghold and other sites involving the Apache and never get to stop. Kind of like Lawtonka said about what we consider cool places to see and what our wives consider cool. I only live about seven hours away, so someday I'm just going to have to take a few days and explore the area. And for those interested, Tombstone is in the area too, and for all it's commercialism, it's still definitely worthy of a visit. I did visit Ft. Apache years back. It's located in a much more picturesque area than Ft. Bowie. Lawtonka, if you've got anymore pictures of the Apache or Comanche areas, I'd love to see them posted. Oh, another place I'd love to visit is Palo Duro. So many places to see!
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Gumby
Full Member
Posts: 202
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Post by Gumby on May 11, 2006 16:39:37 GMT -6
If you haven't been there yet, try Fort Davis. It is in southwest Texas. It is south and east of El Paso. It is off the beaten path but it is worth the visit.
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Post by Lawtonka on May 11, 2006 16:55:17 GMT -6
Oh Yeah, there is another book, one of my favorites.......Battle of the Rosebud: Prelude to the Little Bighorn by Neil C. Mangum. We can't leave this one out! I carried my copy to the Rosebud last time I went there.
This ole' Virginian did a great job! By the way, Neil also wrote the text for the brochure used at the Rosebud self guided tour.
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Post by Diane Merkel on May 11, 2006 20:41:43 GMT -6
This sounds like a great time for a commercial message!
The June issue of the LBHA Newsletter will have an article about the Rosebud by our very own Ephriam and photographs of the Rosebud by our very own Lawtonka.
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