In 1779; Shawnees from Chillicothe; a community in the Ohio country; told the British; "We have always been the frontier." Their statement challenges an oft-held belief that American Indians derive their unique identities from longstanding ties to native lands. By tracking Shawnee people and migrations from 1400 to 1754; Stephen Warren illustrates how Shawnees made a life for themselves at the crossroads of empires and competing tribes; embracing mobility and often moving willingly toward violent borderlands. By the middle of the eighteenth century; the Shawnees ranged over the eastern half of North America and used their knowledge to foster notions of pan-Indian identity that shaped relations between Native Americans and settlers in the revolutionary era and beyond. Warren's deft analysis makes clear that Shawnees were not anomalous among Native peoples east of the Mississippi. Through migration; they and their neighbors adapted to disease; warfare; and dislocation by interacting with colonizers as slavers; mercenaries; guides; and traders. These adaptations enabled them to preserve their cultural identities and resist coalescence without forsaking their linguistic and religious traditions.
#839078 in Books 2014-07-19Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.61 x .98 x 6.31l; 1.58 #File Name: 1469614340392 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy reese jettonI learned more about the civil war reading this one book thanfrom the others I've read5 of 5 people found the following review helpful. The Primary Source of the Decade!By Matthew BartlettIn the study of the American Civil War; nothing is more valuable than the primary source. During the time of the Civil War Sesquicentennial; there has been many works written about the great conflict; but the influx of primary sources has waned just a bit. Thankfully; there is this book about one of the least looked at type of people in the entire war: the cartographers. The lack of study into mapmaking is one of the great issues with Civil War academia and I’m proud to say that Richard Brady Williams has brought something to light which is needed for study and is greatly appreciated. To go into the mind of the mapmaker was quite a different experience in Civil War reading and there was another great aspect to what this work provided: a Prussian who fought for the Confederacy. Richard Brady Williams is an independent historian who bases himself in Chapel Hill; North Carolina. His previous work is Chicago’s Battery Boys: The Chicago Mercantile Battery in the Civil War’s Western Theater. In that work; he covered a great amount of the Western Theater and now with this work finds himself in the Eastern Theater of the war. I would be remiss; however; if I did not tell you a little about Captain Oscar Hinrichs before going into detail of the work. However; before the publication of this work; little has been written or known about Captain Hinrichs. There was the general knowledge that he was one of the cartographers for General Jackson but beyond that; there is not much on his early life. In his introduction to the work; Williams states that Hinrichs was well educated; articulate and observant; all qualities which a cartographer needed; along with being involved in the major events of the war; these were what he considered to be a good primary source which should be preserved and he was correct. The book is split into the events of his life ranging from leaving the country which was politically tumultuous up until his appointment in the engineer corps. In his attempts to leave the country; he was one of the men who had shown that he wanted to join the Confederacy and was almost arrested because of it. Part of his account reads almost like a novel. As the journal goes on; the major engagements are split up into portions of the war. The chapters are not just separated into battles like many other works; but into areas of his life which are of importance. Instead of just a chapter on the Battle of Chancellorsville; he gives us a chapter ranging from January to the end of June which encompasses some large events. While the work is called Stonewall’s Prussian Mapmaker; the story does not end with the death of Stonewall Jackson. Hinrich’s career goes on and so does his diary. I praise Williams for not ending the work at the death of the commander shortly after Chancellorsville. The entirety of the war is given here all the way from early talks of secession to the last fight of the army. One thing which I found interesting in this work was that Hinrichs was Prussian fighting for the south. While little is known about his early life; many Germans and Prussians who were in the country eventually fought for the Union; but here; Hinrichs fights for the South. The introduction states that due to his ties to the South; he could not turn against them. It is quite something when we still see the question being battled over which side to take during the beginning of the war. There is always the scene of Lee giving up the command of the Union army due to his loyalty to Virginia; but here; it seemed on more of a personal level. This work is highly recommended to any Civil War historian or buff. The editing done by Williams is second to none and should be praised for bringing someone as interesting as Oscar Hinrichs to the light of academia. I have no doubt in my mind that this work will be hailed as one of the greatest primary sources to come out of this decade. The tireless work of the editor has paid off and now the public has one of the greatest stories of the war at their disposal. Highly Recommended.Matthew Bartlett - Gettysburg Chronicle3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Stonewall's Prussion Mapmaker is a must read!By Jim BearrowsI have read both books by Richard Brady Williams; Chicago’s Battery Boys: The Chicago Mercantile Battery in the Civil War’s Western Theater and Stonewall's Prussian Mapmaker: The Journals of Captain Oscar Hinrichs. Both were outstanding but in Stonewall's Prussian Mapmaker: The Journals of Captain Oscar Hinrichs the reader gets an even better and more detailed view of the Civil War from a soldier who was there and lived it. In his journal Oscar Hinrichs comes across as an intelligent person. However; he is critical of most decisions made by his superiors. I cannot say whether his criticisms were justified or not but they are interesting and he certainly wants everyone to know what his opinions are. As many officers’ appointments during that time were more political than qualification based; perhaps Mr. Hinrichs’ opinions were accurate. However; he often seemed to think that; if everyone would just listen to him; the South would win the war.It was a great book and we do not often get such an eyewitness account of the events of the Civil War. Mr. Williams did a great job in tracking down Oscar Hinrich’s journal; all of the information needed to make it clear for the reader and in presenting it. A tremendous amount of research goes into a project like this before we; the readers; can enjoy the results. I would strongly recommend this book. The Civil War was one of the most important wars in the history of the United States as it was a war that established the country as we know it today.
