Between Two Fires: American Indians in the Civil War

by Laurence M. Hauptman

A hidden chapter in the tragic saga of Native Americans reveals that several hundred thousand Indians were affected by the Civil War and that twenty thousand Indians enlisted on both sides in an attempt to gain legitimacy, autonomy, or simply land.

Genres: History, American Civil War, Civil War, Native American, American History, Native Americans, Nonfiction

304 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 1995

Reviews

[Joseph · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book fills a void in Civil War historiography. Mainly, the book details the struggles of Native Americans in the conflict. While Native Americans fought on both sides, this volume tries to balance the narrative between the two antagonists without favoring one side or the other. Overall I found the book to be very entertaining and the narrative lively. A worthy effort.

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written and well-researched, Hauptmann tells the forgotten story of the indian experience during the civil war.

Hauptmann gives good treatment on the motivations of the Indians for siding with either the Union or the rebels. They ranged from patriotism to opportunism, or simply the desire to get involved in the biggest thing that was happening at the time.

Still, Hauptmann never really gives a satisfactory answer as to why the Indians got involved. He usually states that military involvement in the war was a way to maintain territory or, even more vaguely, that involvement was a “bargaining chip.”

[Mark Moxley-Knapp · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent overview of Indian experiences in the Civil War, focusing on several tribes and individuals. Covers military experiences as well as home life, and broader effects on tribes. Some background on their histories before and after the war. Short, but detailed.

[Gail Johnson, Ph.D · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author jumps back and forth about the Indians involvement in the Civil War. Despite that, the one thing I found interesting was that some of the Indians spoke different languages. I feel bad about the Indians losing their land, among other things.

[Zachary Schrapf · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good mix of primary and secondary sources into a quick readable account of an important and often untold history.

[Alex · Rating 2 out of 5]

The book felt very disjointed. Hauptman would switch from one story to the next with little introduction.

[Ivy Wolfe · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're a history lover who thought you already knew all the twists and turns of the Civil War, Between Two Fires by Laurence M. Hauptman is here to prove you wrong in the most fascinating way possible. This book isn’t just a deep dive—it’s a full-on archaeological dig into the often-overlooked role of Native Americans during the war. And trust me, what Hauptman unearths is nothing short of eye-opening.

Native tribes fought for both the Union and the Confederacy, but slavery wasn’t the driving factor in their decisions. Nope, survival was. By the time the Civil War rolled around, Native Americans were already fighting an existential battle against removal and extermination, and this book examines how those brutal realities shaped their involvement in the war.

Hauptman takes us across the Trans-Mississippian West, the South, and the North, weaving together the complex, heartbreaking, and often untold stories of Native experiences. From the Cherokee blood feud (talk about family drama on a historical scale) to the so-called Robin Hood of Robinson County, the book is packed with tales that are as compelling as they are necessary.

Would I recommend it? Absolutely. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you turn the last page. So, if you’re into history and love learning about the stories that don’t always make it into the textbooks, Between Two Fires is a must-read. Bonus: it’s also great for impressing your friends with your niche Civil War knowledge. You're welcome.

[Dale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-researched and thorough

As the title clearly tells us, Between Two Fires: American Indians in the Civil War is (primarily) about the contributions of the American Indian to the American Civil War. It starts the reader with some of the early atrocities and misunderstandings that have characterized Indian and White interactions throughout American history. Some are the same things you will read about in any decent high school history text, and some are new for those that are not Indian history "buffs", such as myself. For example, I was not aware of the cruel and deliberate destruction of the Indian populations in California during the Gold Rush of 1849 until I read about it here.

The book discusses Indian participation on both sides of the war and their various motivations for joining in the fight. These motivations range from genuine patriotism to wanting to suck up to the government (be it Union or Confederate) for favors to wanting a steady, if small income to just wanting to get involved in the biggest thing that was going to happen to this generation of Americans.

Among the more interesting vignettes...

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[Eric Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was interesting, since it covers a topic that isn't covered too often in CW literature. However, it didn't quite cover the topic enough IMO. I was expecting a more comprehensive history which included more tribes than the seven included in the book. It instead feels more like a random sample of the topic.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both sides attemted to recruit the support of native Americans during the Civil War. This is a story of those attempts and how they affected Native Americans.