The Great Sioux War of 1876–77 began at daybreak on March 17; 1876; when Colonel Joseph J. Reynolds and six cavalry companies struck a village of Northern Cheyennes—Sioux allies—thereby propelling the Northern Plains tribes into war. The ensuing last stand of the Sioux against Anglo-American settlement of their homeland spanned some eighteen months; playing out across more than twenty battle and skirmish sites and costing hundreds of lives on both sides and many millions of dollars. And it all began at Powder River.Powder River: Disastrous Opening of the Great Sioux War recounts the wintertime Big Horn Expedition and its singular great battle; along with the stories of the Northern Cheyennes and their elusive leader Old Bear. Historian Paul Hedren tracks both sides of the conflict through a rich array of primary source material; including the transcripts of Reynolds’s court-martial and Indian recollections. The disarray and incompetence of the war’s beginnings—officers who failed to take proper positions; disregard of orders to save provisions; failure to cooperate; and abandonment of the dead and a wounded soldier—in many ways anticipated the catastrophe that later occurred at the Little Big Horn. Forty photographs; many previously unpublished; and five new maps detail the action from start to ignominious conclusion. Hedren’s comprehensive account takes Powder River out of the shadow of the Little Big Horn and reveals how much this critical battle tells us about the army’s policy and performance in the West; and about the debacle soon to follow.
#1294607 in Books University of Oklahoma Press 2008-03-01Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x .95 x 6.00l; 1.23 #File Name: 0806139005384 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Civil War in the DesertBy Eric MayforthThere was comparably little action in the Southwest during the Civil War. Both the Union and the Confederacy thought that the region was vital; though; and Civil War buffs know about the battles of Valverde and Glorieta Pass in New Mexico. In "The Civil War in Arizona;" Andrew Masich chronicles what happened even further west during the conflict and its aftermath.More than 15;000 volunteers from California led by James Carleton went to Arizona to hold the region for the Union. Masich relates why the troops from California were of such high quality and compares them to their counterparts in theaters further east. Carleton's troops suffered a setback at Picacho Pass but later captured Tucson. After organized Confederate resistance was expelled from Arizona; Union troops were involved in skirmishes with Native Americans and securing the border with Mexico.Late in the war the California troops performed occupation duty; and the author describes how the soldiers adapted to the terrain and climate. Life was challenging and there were inevitable stretches of boredom that came with being an occupation force. This book includes original source material in the form of dispatches from the troops to San Francisco newspapers—this section was somewhat awkward to read since it was so heavily footnoted; but it provides an even clearer portrait of the soldiers' experience in Arizona.Arizona's population grew greatly during and immediately after the war; and some of the California volunteers stayed in Arizona after the conflict. This volume shows that while many of the soldiers lamented during the war that they were not involved in the thick of the fighting further east; by holding and developing Arizona they performed valuable service to the Union in a distant but strategically important part of the country.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. California Column in DetailBy Jason CoffeyI purchased this book as part of my collection on the American Civil War in the Southwest United States. I got a used copy; but it was in readable condition. Regardless it was a particular jewel in my collection as it details enough about the California Column under Carleton for a change that even historical reenactors and tabletop wargamers can use this as a referance.The books cover is over the well known photo of the 4th California at Fort Mojave that is even used as part of the post-ACW displays about the Old Mormon Fort (Fort Baker) in Las Vegas; NV. Inside of the book is a solid collection of photographs; and quotes from Letters; Diary's; the San Francisco paper; and so forth from 1862-1865. These items add to the overall value of the book.Naturally the book also covers the journey of the Soldiers down the modern I-10 from California into Arizona. This material is significant as it is typically not covered to any great detail in other books about the ACW in the southwest.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Well done book - Civil War in Arizona.By scott w. priorVery well researched and well written. This book met all of my expectations. I found the footnotes and bibliography especially useful.
