The Last Days of the Sioux Nation

Although it has been many years since I read this book, I have continued to reference it. The books relating to Wounded Knee that have come along since LAST DAYS was published in the 1960s don't measure up in terms of dispassionate and balanced analysis, nor in exploring the sources to the extent that Mr. Utley does. In fact, this book could be used in Historiography classes as an examples of how to write objective history and shown to students in all fields of history as a stellar example of such. Utley explores the underlying causes that gave rise to the Ghose Dance religion, from the Dawes Act to the actions of an immoral Congress that reneged on food allotments for the Lakota and then turned an indifferent eye to their plight. He examines the military build up at Pine Ridge and the Lakota response, detailing especially the Seventh Cavalry which I found most useful. All of this culminates with the tragedy at Wounded Knee. It is especially noteworthy that he then includes an entire chapter on the Drexel Mission battle that happened the day after Wounded Knee and is generally overlooked in other treatments of the Pine Ridge campaign. The early 1891 death of Lt. Casey is also covered. Also recommended: Rex Alan Smith's MOON OF THE POPPING TREES and the recently published VOICES OF THE AMERICAN WEST, the two volumes of the compiled interview notes of Judge Eli Ricker who talked to soldiers, settlers and Indians about Wounded Knee.

ONE USUALLY SEARCHES IN VAIN FOR AN AN EVEN HANDED NON PARTISAN ACCOUNT OF THIS SAD EVENT. MR. UTLEY APPEARS TO DO JUST THIS IN HIS 1963 PRESENTATION WHICH IS EMPATHETIC YET FACT DRIVEN. HE PROVIDES DIRECT EVIDENCE, FOR EXAMPLE, THAT BIG FOOT'S WARRIORS WERE WELL ARMED & DID INDEED COMMENCE FIRE ON FORSYTH'S 7TH CAVALRY AT POINT BLANK RANGE. MILITARY ARCHIVAL DATA PROVIDES LITTLE SUPPORT FOR THE WIDESPREAD MYTH THAT MOST MILITARY CASUALTIES WERE INFLICTED BY FRIENDLY FIRE. SIOUX COMBATANTS INFLICTED DEATH BY GUNFIRE ON 25 7TH CAVALRY TROOPERS. A FACT SELDOM REPORTED BY "MASSACRE" PROPONENTS WAS THAT SIOUX COMBATANTS WERE INTERSPERSED WITH NON COMBATANTS DURING THE MELEE. ONLY ONE OF FOUR AVAILABLE HOTCHKISS ARTILLERY PIECES WERE EMPLOYED TO CONTAIN THE RAPIDLY EXPANDING BATTLE. THE SIOUX DID IN FACT APPEAR TO BE "PLAYERS" IN THIS BATTLE.