Blue Jacket: War Chief of the Shawnees

by Allan W. Eckert

In the year 1771, a white boy names Marmaduke Van Swearingen was captured by Shawnee Indians in what is now West Virginia but was then the edge of the American frontier. Impressed with his bravery, he was not killed but was adopted into the tribe and given the name Blue Jacket, from the blue shirt he was wearing at the time of his capture

Genres: History, Biography, Nonfiction, Native American, Native Americans, War, Historical

190 pages, Paperback

First published June 19, 1969

About the author

Allan W. Eckert was an American historian, historical novelist, and naturalist.

Eckert was born in Buffalo, New York, and raised in the Chicago, Illinois area, but had been a long-time resident of Bellefontaine, Ohio, near where he attended college. As a young man, he hitch-hiked around the United States, living off the land and learning about wildlife. He began writing about nature and American history at the age of thirteen, eventually becoming an author of numerous books for children and adults. His children's novel, Incident at Hawk's Hill, was a runner-up for the Newbery Medal in 1972. One of his novels tells how the great auk went extinct.

In addition to his novels, he also wrote several unproduced screenplays and more than 225 Mutual of Omaha's Wild Kingdom television shows for which he received an Emmy Award.

In a 1999 poll conducted by the Ohioana Library Association, jointly with Toni Morrison, Allan W. Eckert was voted "Favorite Ohio Writer of All Time."

Eckert died in his sleep on July 7, 2011, in Corona, California, at the age of 80.

Reviews

[Charlene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will read anything Allan Eckert wrote. He was a native of Bellefontaine, Ohio, formerly known as Blue Jacket's Town. It is near our family vacation place, Indian Lake.

Eckert did his research, then wrote the stories with as little fictional content as possible. What he does add makes for the reading and story to flow and progress.

If you are interested in American or Ohio history, this is a must-read. I think it would appeal to teens with a similar interest. Blue Jacket was a white settler teen when he decided he admired the Shawnees and learned their ways from an old trapper, then was kidnapped and finally adopted by the tribe he so admired. The true story will shame many of our ancestors and leaders who betrayed the Native American tribes over and over again....

Eckert's Frontiersman series covers French and Indian Wars, Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and lots of things that overlap. I own almost every book he has written, including THE GREAT AUK, TECUMSEH and many others.

[Kevin Cain · Rating 5 out of 5]

Without a personal interest I likely would have rated 3 or 4. However, having spent early childhood in Bellefontaine (originally Blue Jacket’s Town) and having been enchanted with the legend, this book warmly satisfied. It will be of interest to anyone who grew up in Ohio.
I recall being told that Blue Jacket had been a white boy snatched by Indians and one day became a chieftain. Impressive, but I was always perplexed by how that could come about. I wondered just how young he was when taken, did he realize he had been taken? How could he become chieftain unless the tribe fully accepted him (which speaks volumes about Native American culture)?
The book paints the boy, a teenage Marmaduke Van Swearingen, as feeling discontent with the culture and traditions into which he was born; a young man who admired Indian culture and with some contact with and tutelage from Indians near his home. He was, strictly speaking, taken by a band of Shawnee near his WV home, when the Shawnee stumbled upon he and his brother, but he elected to be taken so his younger brother could go free. Not quite the barbarism of a party of men raiding villages to kidnap children I was led to believe from stories told.
The places described in the book that follow Marmaduke’s trials of acceptance into the Shawnee through to his one day becoming the warrior chieftain of the Shawnee are all deeply familiar and in which I have lived or have familial resonance. The original Chillicothe, the heart of the Shawnee nation in Ohio and where Tecumseh was born, was in present day Oldtown, Ohio and just outside of Xenia. My father’s family lives in Xenia and as a child our drive to my grandparents followed US Rt 68, which happens to run through many of the Shawnee settlements, and through Oldtown. Little did I know.
I now live close to the Little Miami River, which runs through old Chillicothe and down to the Ohio River (Spay-lay-wih-theepi), and have often kayaked upon one stretch or another. I work (when I visit the office during the coronavirus pandemic) for a company that owns the parking garage in which I park that is built over a portion of Ft Washington. My later childhood was lived not far from the Battle of Falling Timbers that led to the treaty signed between the Shawnee and Colonel “Mad” Anthony Wayne.
Since early childhood I’ve always harbored an appreciation for Native American culture and feel a spiritual affinity to it. Perhaps that spirit infused the air and rose from the soil of the homes of my youth, I certainly wasn’t a child afraid of getting dirty.

[Jill · Rating 1 out of 5]

To be fair, since this was written in the 70s nobody cared much about cultural appropriation at that time. But for me this book “Trust me, everything written here is truth!!”) is pretty cringe. I got about 70 pages before calling quits.

I felt the most egregious instance thus far is when the Chief randomly misquotes Jesus-isms at Blue Jacket and it’s made to look like Indian wisdom and how “Indians just want to live in peace with their fellow human man” right after they’ve near beaten Blue Jacket half to death in a “moving” adoption ceremony.

Supposedly this beating is okay because Blue Jacket wants to be there, and wants to be an Indian because their ways are just so peachy-keen. Oh and he learns the language super quickly and is amazing and such a great hunter.

I just. Nope.

I get the feeling the author never grew out of his Davy Crockett/Daniel Boone coonskin cap and rifle phase as a kid and listened to endless reruns of hi ho silver but wanted to write something from the Indian POV. I’m sure this was groundbreaking for the 70s.

[R. David · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice light read by Allan W. Eckert.

[Herman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Blue Jacket by Allan W, Eckert: a few years ago I started reading the works of James
Alexander Thom, I read Panther in the Sky: A Novel Based on the Life of Tecumseh, I read Warrior Woman: The Exceptional Life Story of Nonhelema, Shawnee Indian Woman Chief
I read others as well but these two stories were where I first saw the name Blue Jacket. Now in those stories it discussed him but not in great detail but the impression was left that this was someone with a interesting story of his own. Ever since I had had this book on my too read list along with some 250 other books so it took me awhile to finally getting around to finding and reading it. Very nice little book not in a academic sort of tone more common language broad stroke sort of description some new hidden details that I wasn't aware of before but excellent story one of the great hidden American stories as is many of those that tell about native history great story that few know of and fewer have read about Marmaduke Van Swearingen who became the Shawnee war chief Blue Jacket is the original cross-over story like the Pierce Brosnan story of Archie Grey Owl a white man who is first accepted by native society becomes in the case of Blue Jacket a war chief and a main player in the early frontier battles prior to the war of 1812. A good history story sorry it took me so long to get around to reading it. Four stars for being a short easy read on an important subject matter that few know anything about.

[Bailey’s Irish Cream · Rating 1 out of 5]

My family and I have read this book and of course are aware of it, but I’ll put the dates for today I want my review at the top as CHIEF BLUEJACKET’S DESCENDANT that it should be pulled for blatant scientific misinformation and at this point slander for whitewashing. My name is Baylee Bluejacket, I’m an enrolled member of the Shawnee and Cherokee tribes. The claim that my ancestor Weyapiersenwah was a white man named Maraduke Van Swearingen isn’t factual, and after years of dealing with this thrown at my family we have scientific data to prove this that I have personally participated in multiple times by giving samples of my DNA. Not only does my DNA come back with genetic markers for Native American heritage along with the rest of my family but when the descendants of both my Bluejacket family and the Swearingen family were compared we are completely unrelated. If you would like some actual, wonderful sources for the story and facts Carlyle Hinshaw’s book “Blue Jacket’s Trek: A Shawnee Trace”, The blog “ The Case for Bluesky and Parker Adkins” and finally check out the nonprofit in FtWayne Bluejacket Inc. I personally know the Tony the man who started and named the organization after my ancestor. We got to see the unveiling of the Chief Bluejacket Statue and all the great work they do in Ft Wayne. This author owes both families an apology

[M Casto · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eckert is one of my favorite authors. He writes history in an easy to read style much like Stephen Ambrose and Nathaniel Philbrick. This particular work is written more for younger readers as opposed to most of his others which are much more complex. The only issue I have with this particular book is the author’s assertion that Blue Jacket was actually a Dutch immigrant who asked to be adopted by the Shawnee. The Shawnee Nation disagrees with that narrative. A work of history written like a textbook would certainly provide both points of view but one of the things I enjoy about Eckert’s works are that they are all written more like a novel which is probably why he had to use his own judgement based upon information he collected throughout his life as a historian to maintain flow for the reader. His works are not part of the historical fiction genre however. They are all thoroughly end noted and documented as opposed to a novel written about an actual event that introduces fictional characters.

[J Shu · Rating 3 out of 5]

Blue Jacket became an important leader of the Shawnee tribe in the Ohio territories. Originally, even when this book was written, he was supposed to have been a white settler who was assimilated by choice into the Shawnee tribe. DNA has since disproved the legend. Regardless, he did his best to try to maintain the tribe and its culture in spite of the ingression of settlers into traditional Indian lands. Treaties work only when all parties cooperate - greed, politics, and love of homeland all played important parts in determining the eventual demise of the Ohio Indian tribes. Interesting book - I had not remembered a lot of the Indian story from 8th grade Ohio History.

[Mark O'Neill · Rating 4 out of 5]

Allan W Eckert certainly tells a rattling good yarn.
An historical narrative style gives a good deal of license to the author and Eckert for most part, delivers.
Sure enough there will be questions regarding the veracity of occurrence throughout the story but the authors style lends itself to its readability.
One must accept his style and presentation when reading his work or not read him at all.
History is the past and none of us were there but we love to read and remember what we have learned and heard about as schoolchildren.
I accept his style of writing as I’m not looking to critique only to enjoy .

[Mike Barat · Rating 3 out of 5]

this book was certainly interesting and had no problem keeping my interest with facts about natives that I never knew before, in fact the book could have been longer with more details however that's just a vibe I get not that I really know that. One thing that did bother about this book is that the writer kept using the term squaw for native women which a racist term. I'm sure the fact that this book was written in 1969 has a lot to do with that. Nonetheless I would still recommend reading this book in spite of that.

[Beverly · Rating 4 out of 5]

About time that I finished reading this. It's been sitting on my shelf for 30 or so years...with a bookmark in it. Of course, I had to start over. Actually, I recently read another book by Allan Eckert ...a much more detailed book...about the life of Tecumseh. It reminded me that I had a book about Blue Jacket, who was a white young man fascinated by Indians and their lives and who was not only adopted into a Shawnee tribe but eventually became one of their respected chiefs. This ended up being a fairly quick read but really fleshed out what I had already learned about Blue Jacket.

[Christopher Fry · Rating 2 out of 5]

(spoiler alert) I might have given it 3 stars, but a few years ago DNA analysis demonstrated that Blue Jacket was a native American. Thus much of the book is fiction. The first 30 pages are complete fiction - he was not a white teen adopted by the Shawnee. It also does not account for how he would have learned to speak and read English, and thus some of his later encounters with whites could not have happened as played out in the book. He also would not have killed his white brother. Its value is in the description of the Northwest Wars of the 1770s.

[Flynn Castellanos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent pacing, never a dull moment. Eckert doesn't get bogged down in less-than-thrilling details that history people like me LOVE...but isn't necessary to a narrative. At least one significant thing in his life happens every chapter, keeping the action going throughout.

Seriously, just a few structural tweaks of the prose and this could read like one of my historical fiction stories. Would recommend to anyone who's a fan of history 11/10

[Stephanie Moore · Rating 4 out of 5]

For a YA version of a real historical person and events, this was pretty good!

I cannot speak for its accuracy (though the author claims it is pretty accurate with only small liberties taken), but I did enjoy it.

I will say that the horrific treatment of the Natives at the hands of the Whites broke my heart.

[Todd Price · Rating 5 out of 5]

The history is flawed, but follows the narrative of beliefs at the time it was written. This was my “gateway” book to Native American history, so it has great sentimental value to me. However, Eckert is an incredibly talented writer, and the narrative, paired with the historical facts is does get right make it a compelling and short read.

[Mike Whitten · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although it has been proven that Blue Jacket was in fact not Marmaduke van Sweringen, it is still a good story. To be honest though, I do not understand why we always believe that only white are good at war.

[Jenn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent narrative on the life of an amazing American. What a life! And expertly told by Allan Eckert. This one is a keeper.

[Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

Pretty good book, although outdated. Since it was written, it has been concluded Blue Jacket was not Marmaduke Van Swearingen.

[Al Lock · Rating 4 out of 5]

I still remember this book, 45 years after I read it. Engaging story told well.

[terik birch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read

Allan Eckert does an amazing job telling of Bmue Jacket. I love the time and effort to dig up the history and have an accurate narrative.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Apparently historical fiction.

[Kat · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Story

A great story of a white man with an open heart, but a sad story of all the American Indians have suffered from the white man.

[Wayne Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is 1771, and seventeen-year-old Marmaduke Van Swearingen, called Marmee or Duke by his family, lives with his parents, six brothers, and a sister near what is now Richwood, WV, but was then the edge of the American frontier. However, from the time he was nine, he wanted to be like Indians, so when he and his twelve-year-old brother Charley are captured by a party of Shawnees, he agrees to go with them in exchange for Charley’s life. He is given a name based on the light blue hunting shirt made of linsey-woolsey that he is wearing—Blue Jacket, and became one of the Shawnees greatest war chiefs, a mentor to Tecumseh. Will Blue Jacket ever see his white family again? Or so went the legend which was almost universally accepted as true when author Allan W. Eckert, whose Incident at Hawk’s Hill won a Newbery Honor Award, wrote the book.

However, more recently, historian Helen Hornbeck Tanner began arguing that it is unlikely that Blue Jacket and Van Swearingen were the same person based on historical records indicating that Blue Jacket was much older than Marmaduke Van Swearingen and on DNA testing. According to Blue Jacket biographer John Sugden, Blue Jacket was undoubtedly a Shawnee by birth. Some critics seem to argue that Eckert’s novel is almost somehow evil because it is based on evidence which may (and the operative word here is may) be questionable. Yet, whether the underlying story is based on fact or not, and there may never be absolute proof one way or the other, the book is still an interesting read and a good explanation of the legend. We were familiar with Blue Jacket because when we lived in Dayton, OH, we attended an outdoor drama based on the Van Swearingen legend that was performed at nearby Xenia, OH. It had begun in 1981, but evidently because of the controversy, performances of the play ended in 2007.

The book contains the usual Native American instances of smoking tobacco. There are also references to Shawnee religious beliefs and practices. A few common euphemisms such as “gosh” occur—e.g., Duke is called a “Dang Injen-lover” by his older brothers, and the name of God is used at least once as an interjection. Some of the descriptions of massacres and scalping, including that by Blue Jacket of his own brother Charley in a later battle, might not be appropriate for especially sensitive young people. That is why I have listed it for ages 13 and up. And, of course, the book is presented primarily from an Indian point of view, so it always seems to emphasize only the mistreatment of Indians by whites. Certainly the way many whites treated Indians is shameful, and we need to remember that, but it is always good to look at both sides of such issues. At the same time, the book, which I picked up at the Ohio Historical Society Museum in Columbus, OH, is well written, and I enjoyed reading it.

[Mel Foster · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable read with my boys. The idea that Van Swearingen and Blue Jacket were the same person has been pretty well disproven through DNA testing since Eckert wrote this novel, but the basic frame of the story is historical, and Eckert tries hard to give an authentic portrayal of daily life among the Shawnees. Certainly it is a compelling idea, which explains its being repeated for 100 years. Sometimes Eckert is a little heavy handed as a narrator, but I think that is partly a function of the genre and the relative concision of the novel.

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book does a good job at making an individual from Ohio history come alive for young readers. I'd recommend the book for grades 6 through 9. However, readers should be aware that the author is overly-enamored with Native Americans, and is not entirely balanced in his portrayal. The result is the book suffers from "all white men are evil" disease. Readers may want to balance this book with a book told from the point of view of the settlers of Ohio.

[Lori Shafer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was recommended to me by my junior high middle school music teacher, Mrs. Harper. The book is small, but wonderful.

This book is one of my favorite books of all time. If you would like to read a book by this author, but are a little intimidated by his huge novels, this is the book for you.

This is a story of a white captive who becomes a Shawnee War Chief.

[Naveed · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. Read it so many times when I was young, being fascinated with the history of Ohio, the natives there, Northwest Indian War/Ohio War/Little Turtle's War, and the first European settlers. I guess growing up I really identified with the main character, Blue Jacket... stuck between two cultures and two worlds.

[Rachael · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a biography, but with dialog! I was so excited, because I can't really stand not-dialog for pages and pages and pages. Which is also why I never liked science. You really get involved in Blue Jacket's life.

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

has some good facts. i love NA history, so this was a must read for me

[Donna · Rating 4 out of 5]

More about my family history and the tragedy that took place.