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...
So Nevada is 2 hours behind Central time. Polls close at 7pm their time. No results until 9pm CST.
I read Empire two years ago at my nephew’s recommendation. I agree that it’s a very good book. It filled in an area of history I knew little about.
It’s a fascinating book. I also have read a couple of books written by people that were captured from their homes as children to go live with the Indians. They liked living with the Indians after awhile for many reasons. I believe the book I read was called “Captured” Very interesting.
Thanks for the excellent reference. Yes, the Indians were brave and always fighting each other and decimating the buffaloes. And the squaws were not treated very well. Indian braves were a handful for courageous American soldiers.
I recommend Life Among the Indians by John Nelson and Harrington O’Reilly. Nelson has great stories and accurate views of Brigham Young. Nelson saw how the Feds in D.C. siphoned the allowance to the Indians which is heart breaking. Nelson also helped the Mormons travel from Illinois to Utah and was so thankful to leave when done. The things Nelson saw are so sad: murder of apostates, stealing from believers, and utopian dreams from King Brigham. Wow.
https://archive.org/details/lifeamongameric00oregoog