The Earth is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars

[Diane Merkel]

'The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West' by Peter Cozzens.

This is a book with many difference facets. One key theme is the varying skill and disposition of U.S. Army officers. Many were arrogant and underestimated tribal warriors. This group was evident early during a bloody skirmish on the Bozeman Trail. Facing fire from a Lakota Chief, Red Cloud, and his war party, a soldier warned his lieutenant to take cover. The officer remained standing, responding, “I know how to fight Indians.” He then “promptly collapsed with a bullet in the head.”

Review by Tom Rogan: freebeacon.com/culture/blood-on-the-plains/

Diane

[crzhrs]

I'll see if my wife (Director at our local Library) can find this book for me. Looks like a good read, especially the anecdotical comments which is really some of the most interesting aspects of historical events. Real people making real comments.

[crzhrs]

I just picked up this book. It's quite large and in the style of Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee which Cozzens said was one sided (of course it was but the Indians' needed their side told).

Anyway if you are knowledgeable about the Indian Wars there's really nothing new here, lots of the same photographs, accounts, battles, etc. It's a good read for first-timers, however.

I've jumped around a bit as I usually do on a new book to check out parts that interest me more but will read the entire book front-to-cover.

The chapter on the LBH does bother me with Cozzen's innuendos about Reno's intoxication, using Muggin Taylor's accounts (anti-Reno) and using Martini's later statements about personally getting verbal orders from Custer to get Benteen, rather than Martini's RCOI testimony, plus several other "iffy" statements and conclusions.

Still going over it . . . we'll see what else sticks out.

[dgfred]

Haha... much like John Sedgewick. 'They couldn't hit an elephant at this range'