Binding: Paperback Dewey Decimal Number: 978.00497 EAN: 9780816512454 ISBN: 0816512450 Label: University of Arizona Press Manufacturer: University of Arizona Press Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 263 Publication Date: February 01, 1991 Publisher: University of Arizona Press Sales Rank: 1055070 Studio: University of Arizona Press
Product DescriptionCapturing military men in contemplation rather than combat, Sherry Smith reveals American army officers' views about the Indians against whom they fought in the last half of the nineteenth century. She demonstrates that these officers--and their wives--did not share a monolithic, negative view of their enemies, but instead often developed a great respect for Indians and their cultures. Some officers even came to question Indian policy, expressed misgivings about their personal involvement in the Indian Wars, and openly sympathized with their foe. The book reviews the period 1848-1890--from the acquisition of the Mexican Cession to the Battle of Wounded Knee--and encompasses the entire trans-Mississippi West. Resting primarily on personal documents drawn from a representative sample of the officer corps at all levels, the study seeks to juxtapose the opinions of high-ranking officers with those of officers of lesser prominence, who were perhaps less inclined to express personal opinions in official reports. No educated segment of American society had more prolonged contact with Indians than did army officers and their wives, yet not until now has such an overview of their attitudes been presented. Smith's work demolishes the stereotype of the Indian-hating officer and broadens our understanding of the role of the army in the American West.
Customer Reviews
Average Rating:
Rating: - Promising concept poorly executed
This book lacks substance. Sherry Smith draws conclusions on such a small amount of evidence that some of it is laughable. Some of her logic to arrive at her conclusions is also very suspect. Additionally, most everything interesting that you'd want to read in such a book, she only mentions in passing, telling the reader to look in her source books for more information. It would have been nice if you put it in your book to give it some substance. Overall, this is one of the worst books on the ... Read More
