Red Cloud: Warrior-Statesman of the Lakota Sioux

This book is a good read. Every collection of American History should have it.

Along with Crazy Horse, Red Cloud is probably one of the best knownNative American leaders, at least by name. He is also probably themost controversial. Some see him as a statesman and visionarywho,aware that war against the whites had become pointless, negotiatedin the best interests of his people. Others see him as self-servingand vain, using white insistance on negotiating with "one truechief" as a means to his own ends.For the most part, Larsonweighs in on the side of statesman, but he doesn't fail to show theother side too. He points out how Red Cloud would often make a pointof a small issue, that would benefit only him, at the expense of alarger issue that affected his people. One example he uses is when,on a trip to Washington in 1870, Red Cloud became sullen and withdrawnuntil he was assured that his delegation would be given 17 horses tofor the trip from the train to the reservation. However, he largelyignored the bigger and more important issue, of mining for gold in theBlack Hills. Unfortunately, though, on the most controversialissue, how much Red Cloud had to do with Crazy Horse's death, or atleast plans for his arrest, Larson is disappointingly vague. He doesacknowlege that Red Cloud was probably jealous of the younger leader.Indeed, in the last chapter he notes that "...his role in thistragic affair is probably the blackest mark against his name."(p.302) Unfortunately, though, Larson doesn't cover the incident innearly enough detail. He implies that Crazy Horse truly was planningto go back on the warpath, rather than fight the Nez Perce asrequested by Lieutenant Clark. He also makes no mention of any possiblemisinterpretation of Crazy Horse's words by the less than reputableinterpreter Frank Grouard. Larson may have had good reason forchoosing to leave out some of this material. Certainly his list ofsources shows that the book is well-researched. Unfortunately, thechoice by the publisher, not to use footnotes in this particularseries makes it difficult to determine on what Larson bases hisassumptions.On the whole, though, the book is well written, andeasy to follow. It is especially valuable for information about RedCloud's life before and after the Indian Wars, a period that is notcovered much in any history books. I can definitely recommend this asa good introduction for those not familiar with the period, or forthose who simply want to know more about the role Red Cloud played inthose important times. However, I would follow it with a goodbiography of Crazy Horse.

Traditionally, stories of Indian leaders view them as temporarily dangerous nuisances the whites had to deal with during the reasonable and inevitable process of moving the Indians onto reservations. This book is part of a new approach of looking at what an Indian leader tried to achieve for his people and assessing how he went about it and how successful he was in meeting his own goals. There is much detail. Larson has been extremely thorough in his researches, and, though we do not really hear Red Cloud's voice, we respecfully watch him do what he had to do to further his people's best interests. He didn't wear a suit or tie or have an Ivy League degree, but Red Cloud functioned very well indeed in opposing an alien force. Anyone who thinks the earth may one day be invaded from outer space should study Red Cloud. Thank you, Oklahoma University Press.

Red Cloud:Warrioir Statesman of the Lakota Souix is a really excellent biography. Larson does a great job of presenting all the informaton in an understandable and captivating way that really makes me want to learn more about Native American history. There is even a map/picture section in the middle of the biography that helps clarify any questions you may have while reading, as all the different battles and tribes might confuse you. Other than that temporary confusion, good job Mr. Larson