A Cold Day in Hell: The Spring Creek Encounters, the Cedar Creek Fight With Sitting Bull's Sioux, and the Dull Knife Battle, November 25, 1876

This is a book that unlike most of Terry's books, started a little slow for me with the early encounters between Miles and Sitting Bull including Cedar Creek. I quickly became engrossed in the novel and the pages, as always, fell away in dramatic style until I found myself on the battlefield fleeing with Little Wolf and Dull Knife, or found myself as a soldier confronting a group of hiding Cheyennes firing piont blank. I walked this battlefield with Terry in 1996 and nobody loved their history and the people involved, both Indian and white more than Terry. He felt for the characters on both sides and makes them ever so real to the reader. Do not be fooled by the name, 'historical fiction.' This is history at its best, from the view of the people who lived, fought, and died for it. I think anyone interested should read this book and any other of Terry's books.

I'm reading this novel for a history class (interesting side note: the professor is friends with Mr. Johnston) and found the novel amazingly well written. Although I find the over abundance of detail throughout the book somewhat painful, it has overall been an excellent reading experience. I don't know that I would attempt another of his novels just for the fact that the writting is somewhat tendious at times... and challenging to grasp on a whole. The story told however, is something that should be preserved accurately for future generations and Terry does this very well indeed. The scenes during the actual battle are heart wretching... enough to make even the most seasoned person feel the anguish that the indians suffered at the hands of the U.S. Calvary! Historically accurate and well written... but not something you'd want to read just for the "fun" of it... since this is anything except a "fun" topic.

Terry C. Johnston does his homework. I've read every book in the Plainsmen series and I'm always amazed at the detail in witch Johnston tell's his stories.If you are intrigued by Great American Worriors the likes of Sitting Bull,Crazy Horse,Gall and Roman Nose, Then you'll want to delve into the statigies of Custer, Sheridan and Crook to rid the American Plains of these so called "Savages". This book and every book in this series are must reads.Terry C.Johnston, keep writing and I'll keep reading.