The warriors of the Plains

THIS BOOK IS MORE THAN AN ACCOUNT OF RED MAN AGAINST WHITE MAN. IT IS A BOOK ABOUT A RACE OF WARRIOR PEOPLE AND EMPHASIZES THEIR INDIVIDUALISM AND LOVE OF FREEDOM; IT DESCRIBES WHAT THEIR LAND WAS LIKE AND HOW THEY LIVED. IT OFFERS RECONSTRUCTION OF LIFE IN PRE-HORSE DAYS WHEN WARFARE BETWEEN TRIBES OFTEN ON A MASSIVE SCALE WAS FOUGHT BY INFANTRY WEARING ARMOUR. IT CONSIDERS THE IMPACT OF THE HORSE AND GUN-HOW THESE THINGS CHANGED THE LIVES OF THE PLAINS INDIANS AND PRODUCED ONE OF THE FINEST LIGHT CAVALRIES IN THE WORLD, A FORMIDABLE BARRIER TO THE WHITE MAN'S WESTWARD EXPANSION. IT CONSIDERS THE CHANGING ROLES OF THE CHIEFS AND WAR LEADERS AND HOW THEY FOUGHT-TO CAREFULLY OBSERVED RULES. IT CONSIDERS TOO THE ETHOS OF PLAINS CULTURE AS EXEMPLIFIED BY THE SPLENDOR OF THE CROW, THE FIERCENESS OF THE BLACKFOOT AND SIOUX, THE DIGNITY OF THE CHEYENNE AND THE RELIGIOUS FERVOR OF THE MANDAN. IT TELLS OF THE VALOUR AND INTEGRITY OF THEIR GREAT LEADERS OF MAO-TOPE, CRAZY HORSE, RED CLOUD, CHIEF JOSEPH, TALL BULL, AMERICAN HORSE, DULL KNIFE AND POSSIBLY THE GRATEST OF THEM ALL, SITTING BULL-CHAMPION OF THE PLAINS INDIAN. IT TELLS OF THE PROGRESSIVE DESTRUCTION OF WILDLIFE BY UNSCRUPULOUS AND GREEDY WHITE HUNTERS UNTIL THE BUFFALO AND OTHER GAME ANIMALS REACHED THE VERGE OF EXTINCTION AND THE PLAINS INDIANS FACED STARVATION. IT RELATES HOW THE WHITE MAN'S INIMICAL WAY OF LIFE, ENCROACHING MORE AND MORE ON THAT OF THE RED MAN, PROVOKED THE INVEVITABLE AND TRAGIC CONFRONTATION. ALTHOUGH SMALL IN NUMBERS, THE WARLIKE TRIBES WERE ONLY FINALLY SUBDUED WHEN, AFTER THE CUSTER BATTLE OF 1876, ALMOST 50 PERCENT OF THE TOTAL OFFICERS AND MEN IN THE U.S. ARMY WERE EQUIPPED TO MOVE AGAINST THEM.