Posted on 02/23/2016 4:02:26 PM PST by West Texas Chuck
I'm a history buff, especially when it comes to Texas. A pal of mine told me I should read this so I bought it a couple of years ago I guess, just got around to reading it this past fall. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
This book details their battles with the whites, you will need a strong constitution to delve into some of the things they did to their enemies and captives. I can't help but admire them for how resourceful they were, and what masters of their world they continued to be up until the end. They would camp out in the sandhills of west Texas, digging the sand out from under the scrub oak trees to make a place to sleep and live perfectly comfortable in what would appear to be a hostile and uninhabitable environment. The US Cavalry under Col. Ranald Mackenzie finally took the last of the wind out of their sails by killing all their horses, up in Palo Duro Canyon along the Llano Estacado area of Texas.
Also covered is the life of Quanah Parker, son of captive Cynthia Ann Parker from Fort Parker on the Pease River of north central Texas. A fascinating man, he finally came to live in the white man's world, up in Fort Sill, OK. He is buried there. A true Texas legend, almost larger than life.
If you are into this sort of thing, a truly worthy use of liesure time.
Thanks, I’m putting this on my list.
Bookmark.
Agree, great book. People were tough as nails.
Met a real nice lady from Ft Stockton. She’s still here.
Elmer Kelton wrote great books. He introduces fictional characters into real Texas history to show how people felt about the goings on, but Deef Smith, Fannin, Stephen F, and a lot of others are there.
Remember the Alamo. That siege started 180 years ago today.
Gonzalez: Come and take it
Hearty concurrence on that one! I read it and passed it around at work. Quanah Parker led his little sister on foot over 200 miles of broken Texas countryside and successfully rejoined their party. At age 12. Unbelievable.
I haven’t read this particular book but I’ve read others on this interesting subject. The Comanche were late arriving in the U.S. Southwest and when they showed up they ran the Apaches and Spanish out. They were feared and hated by nearly all of their neighbors and it was due mainly to their horsemanship. They are said to have been some of the best cavalry soldiers in the history of the world. That is saying a lot since they didn’t have the horse until after the Spanish arrived.
Another good book on this subject is Lone Star by T.R. Ferenbach.
Reminds me of a “Mr. Wong” movie, about a large jewell called “The Eye of the Daughter of the Moon”.
Found it (The Mystery of Mr. Wong):
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0031704/
Recently finished Allen Eckert’s WILDERNESS EMPIRE about the decline of the Iroquois League. The book follows the life of Sir William Johnson, who was the King’s Superintendent of Indian Affairs, joined the Mohawk tribe, and became the impromptu general of the combined British and American forces at the Battle of Lake George, handing the French their first major defeat. He wore several other hats as well. If there is a more fascinating character in early American history, I don’t know who that would be..
Very much looking forward to EMPIRE... Thanks for the tip.
To all you Texans:
I’m from East Tennessee...
You’re welcome...
LOL!
Thank you for Col. Crockett.
Sure thing..Him and Sam Houston....
(Sam Houston was raised about 1 mile from where I’ve lived...Greenback, TN...His mother is buried at Baker Creek Church...
Well that’s awesome. I seem to remember Old Sam having some time in TN, I know he was born in VA.
And thanks for some of that Old No.7 too, by the way :)
Oh yeah...Ain’t that some good stuff??? We got some pretty good unbonded stuff too....*L*
I’ll bet you do boy, Jim and Jesse sang a song about that old Thunder Road where even angels feared to tread!
They were known as the lords of the southern plains, which is where most of the Buffalo were. The and the Sioux (I think) held a council on the Arkansas R, and mdd that a dividing lines of their territories. As warriors, the Comanche were outmatched by no one. The Mexicans allowed Austin to establish a colony in Texas to serve as a buffer between them and the old Spanish settlements. Liberals, in their usual condescending way, treat indians as victims. The Comanches were wolves rather than lambs.
So Nevada is 2 hours behind Central time. Polls close at 7pm their time. No results until 9pm CST.
An excellent book.
Been to The Hermitage?
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