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Red Cloud's War: Brave Eagle's Account of the Fetterman Fight
"We are brave and ready to fight for our lands…. I will go now and I will fight you. As long as I live, I will fight you for the last hunting grounds of my people," said Red Cloud, war chief of the Oglala Lakota, to Colonel Carrington. The year was 1866, the Civil War had just ended, and the Bozeman Trail was the shortest route for prospectors to reach the gold rush territory of Montana―except that it passed straight through the lands of the powerful Oglala Lakota! When the US government demanded the construction of forts along the trail, the situation quickly dissolved into war. Captain William Fetterman had proudly boasted that he could destroy the entire Lakota nation with just 80 men. Red Cloud, with the support of Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull, had other ideas.
In this commemorative edition, marking the 150th anniversary of Red Cloud's War, Goble recounts the tale of events through the eyes of Brave Eagle, a fictional young Lakota warrior. This new edition features an original never-before-published layout, updated and edited text, digitally enhanced artwork, and a new foreword by Robert Lewis, a Cherokee, Navaho, and Apache storyteller.
In this commemorative edition, marking the 150th anniversary of Red Cloud's War, Goble recounts the tale of events through the eyes of Brave Eagle, a fictional young Lakota warrior. This new edition features an original never-before-published layout, updated and edited text, digitally enhanced artwork, and a new foreword by Robert Lewis, a Cherokee, Navaho, and Apache storyteller.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 2015
210 people want to read
About the author
Paul Goble
58 books100 followersPaul Goble was an award winning author and illustrator of children's books. He has won both the Caldecott Medal and The Library of Congress' Children's Book of the Year Award.
He gave his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He became a United States citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture.
His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researched ancient stories and retold them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways.
Goble lived with his wife in Rapid City, SD.
He gave his entire collection of original illustrations to the South Dakota Art Museum in Brookings, South Dakota.
Goble, a native of England, studied at the Central School of Art in London. He became a United States citizen in 1984. Goble's life-long fascination with Native Americans of the plains began during his childhood when he became intrigued with their spirituality and culture.
His illustrations accurately depict Native American clothing, customs and surroundings in brilliant color and detail. Goble researched ancient stories and retold them for his young audiences in a manner sympathetic to Native American ways.
Goble lived with his wife in Rapid City, SD.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
November 19, 2021
The Battle Of The Hundred In The Hands
On December 21, 1866, a large force of the Oglala Sioux led by Chief Red Cloud carried out a stunning ambush of troops of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry under the command of Captain William Fetterman. The Indians killed the 83-member party leaving no survivors. Paul Goble's beautifully illustrated new book, "Red Cloud's War, "Brave Eagle's Account of the Fetterman Fight" tells the story of this ambush in the words of a 19-year old Indian brave, Brave Eagle, a participant. The book is designed for readers between eight and twelve years of age.
This book is a fine historical account for young readers of the plains Indians and their conflicts with the United States. It includes two detailed maps of the lands at issue in the events -- maps frequently are scarce and inadequate in history books for adults. The book offers a background of the treaty negotiations at Fort Laramie which ultimately led to the battle, and an excellent well-paced easy to follow story of the battle itself. Before the battle, Red Cloud had consulted with a medicine man who had prophesied that the Indians would be successful in a battle he described as the "Hundred in the Hands". Goble had, in 1972, written a story of the Fetterman Massacre under this title, the "Hundred in the Hands", and this new book is a revision of the work written 43 years earlier.
The story is told with dignity and compassion from the standpoint of both the Indians and the soldiers. The horrors of the warfare are amply displayed as is the bravery displayed by both the Sioux and the U.S. Army. The book portrays plains Indian culture in its picture of Red Cloud, the Fort Laramie Treaty negotiations, the Sun Dance, the hunt, and the battle. The illustrations in this book are full and detailed and capture the Sioux Indians with their dress, weapons and horses. The Army is also well-portrayed. The artwork for this book is now on permanent display at the South Dakota Art Museum together with art from Goble's many other children's books about the Plains Indians.
The book allows children and adults as well the opportunity to learn about the Plains Indians from a writer and artist who loves and understands their culture. A bibliography is included for those readers wishing to learn more, and there is an eloquent introduction to the story by Indian storyteller Robert Lewis. The book may be read with another recent reissue of one of Goble's books, "Horse Raid: The Making of a Warrior". which describes a young man's coming-of-age. Both "Red Cloud's War" and "Horse Raid" are published by Wisdom Tales, a publisher which specializes in spiritual tales from around the world for young people. Wisdom Tales kindly sent me a copy of this new book for review.
Robin Friedman
On December 21, 1866, a large force of the Oglala Sioux led by Chief Red Cloud carried out a stunning ambush of troops of the 2nd U.S. Cavalry under the command of Captain William Fetterman. The Indians killed the 83-member party leaving no survivors. Paul Goble's beautifully illustrated new book, "Red Cloud's War, "Brave Eagle's Account of the Fetterman Fight" tells the story of this ambush in the words of a 19-year old Indian brave, Brave Eagle, a participant. The book is designed for readers between eight and twelve years of age.
This book is a fine historical account for young readers of the plains Indians and their conflicts with the United States. It includes two detailed maps of the lands at issue in the events -- maps frequently are scarce and inadequate in history books for adults. The book offers a background of the treaty negotiations at Fort Laramie which ultimately led to the battle, and an excellent well-paced easy to follow story of the battle itself. Before the battle, Red Cloud had consulted with a medicine man who had prophesied that the Indians would be successful in a battle he described as the "Hundred in the Hands". Goble had, in 1972, written a story of the Fetterman Massacre under this title, the "Hundred in the Hands", and this new book is a revision of the work written 43 years earlier.
The story is told with dignity and compassion from the standpoint of both the Indians and the soldiers. The horrors of the warfare are amply displayed as is the bravery displayed by both the Sioux and the U.S. Army. The book portrays plains Indian culture in its picture of Red Cloud, the Fort Laramie Treaty negotiations, the Sun Dance, the hunt, and the battle. The illustrations in this book are full and detailed and capture the Sioux Indians with their dress, weapons and horses. The Army is also well-portrayed. The artwork for this book is now on permanent display at the South Dakota Art Museum together with art from Goble's many other children's books about the Plains Indians.
The book allows children and adults as well the opportunity to learn about the Plains Indians from a writer and artist who loves and understands their culture. A bibliography is included for those readers wishing to learn more, and there is an eloquent introduction to the story by Indian storyteller Robert Lewis. The book may be read with another recent reissue of one of Goble's books, "Horse Raid: The Making of a Warrior". which describes a young man's coming-of-age. Both "Red Cloud's War" and "Horse Raid" are published by Wisdom Tales, a publisher which specializes in spiritual tales from around the world for young people. Wisdom Tales kindly sent me a copy of this new book for review.
Robin Friedman
October 25, 2019
Beautifully done with great pictures.
(I'm also reading "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee" which just about breaks my heart ...)
(I'm also reading "Bury my heart at Wounded Knee" which just about breaks my heart ...)
June 15, 2015
In 1866, the Civil War was over and the gold rush was in full swing. Prospectors headed West and demanded protection from their government on the trail. But the trail to Montana’s gold rush territory went straight through lands belonging to the Oglala Lakota. And Red Cloud had no desire to see his people further hounded from the lands first given to them. The nation sought peace, but not peace at any price. Paul Goble’s simply told story offers insight into the price that would be paid.
Told through the eyes of the fictional nineteen-year-old Brave Eagle, Red Cloud’s War invites young readers and listeners into the heart of a camp filled with talking and arguing, into the lives of chiefs and warriors who might desire peace and the white man’s gifts, but will not sell their heritage, and into the darkness of mistrust and war on ancient hunting grounds. Complex ideas are simply told and brought to life. Nicely drawn maps reveal what’s promised and denied. And the fighting that ensues is vividly described, frightening, cruel and implacable as white man’s boast meets a warrior’s determination.
There’s no reveling in death and destruction in this tale, and no heavily weighted scorn for past mistakes. Rather it’s a nicely nuanced, well-told account, offered with convincing voice, and beautifully illustrated with images to capture the smallest and largest child’s attention. The author’s attention to detail is just as pure and convincing in his invitation to the Sun Dance as in the uniting of tribes for battle. Likewise, sorrow for the past is pleasingly balanced with genuine humanity and hope.
A lovely book to read and share with children, this is a treasure for adults as well, revealing a past too often obscured or turned to myth and TV excitement. I really enjoyed reading it.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy by the publisher and read it straight away with eager delight.
Told through the eyes of the fictional nineteen-year-old Brave Eagle, Red Cloud’s War invites young readers and listeners into the heart of a camp filled with talking and arguing, into the lives of chiefs and warriors who might desire peace and the white man’s gifts, but will not sell their heritage, and into the darkness of mistrust and war on ancient hunting grounds. Complex ideas are simply told and brought to life. Nicely drawn maps reveal what’s promised and denied. And the fighting that ensues is vividly described, frightening, cruel and implacable as white man’s boast meets a warrior’s determination.
There’s no reveling in death and destruction in this tale, and no heavily weighted scorn for past mistakes. Rather it’s a nicely nuanced, well-told account, offered with convincing voice, and beautifully illustrated with images to capture the smallest and largest child’s attention. The author’s attention to detail is just as pure and convincing in his invitation to the Sun Dance as in the uniting of tribes for battle. Likewise, sorrow for the past is pleasingly balanced with genuine humanity and hope.
A lovely book to read and share with children, this is a treasure for adults as well, revealing a past too often obscured or turned to myth and TV excitement. I really enjoyed reading it.
Disclosure: I was given a free copy by the publisher and read it straight away with eager delight.
April 21, 2015
On the 150th anniversary of the events that are described in this book, the author/illustrator creates a fictional character in Brave Eagle, a Lakota warrior, who serves as the story's narrator. He describes how Red Cloud led his people in defending their territory from the rapid encroachment of white men and women who destroyed their hunting grounds and took their land. The Bozeman Trail offered the shortest route to the fields were gold had been discovered, but the shortcut went right through lands where First Nations peoples lived. The Lakotas were as patient as they could possibly be, but when it became clear that the whites were not going to stop coming and more and more forts with soldiers were being erected on their lands, Red Cloud instigates a systematic harassment of the soldiers, running their horses to exhaustion and making it hard for the men to find water. When a troop of 80 soldiers, led by the arrogant Captain Fetterman, took the offensive, Red Cloud and his followers killed them all, even a dog that had followed the men into battle. The text is moving, filled with admiration for the Lakotas and yet sorrow and respect for some of the white soldiers who also fought so bravely. The digitally enhanced illustrations, the originals on loan from the South Dakota Art Museum, are sumptuous, stunning, and tell the tale with vivid colors and details. It's wonderful to have this book and this version of what happened on that fateful day in 1866, told from what purports to be a Lakota perspective.
August 11, 2017
This is a wonderful book on the Fetterman Fight and very much readable for children. I didn’t know the background of the book itself (apparently it was published much earlier), but enjoyed the pictures and the fictional character woven into real history. The big map published at the first pages make it come alive even more. I very much recommend this book for anyone interested in this story, not just young readers.
May 6, 2021
beautifully illustrated.
October 25, 2022
Beautifully illustrated book giving an account of the Fetterman Fight from the Native American perspective. Ideal for children.
October 22, 2022
Short but beautifully presented description of the Fetterman massacre from the Native American perspective.
June 9, 2015
In the mid 1800’s America was going through many changes. The Civil War had ended and the reconstruction period was underway. Native Americans were being displaced and pioneers were traveling west for the gold rush.
During the gold rush the most commonly used trail was The Bozeman Trail. This trail went through the Lakota territory. Because this area was so popular for travel the U.S. government built army forts to protect the pioneers from Indian attacks. This route threatened the hunting ground of Native Americans. As a result, Chief Red Cloud gathered his people in preparation to fight. Red Cloud’s War lasted two years. His men attacked forts, soldiers and stopped pioneers from utilizing the trail. The U.S. Troops were not prepared for such a battle and decided to make peace instead of war. The Lakota were moved to a reservation. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before gold rush enthusiasts still continued to trespass.
Author and historian Paul Goble has reunited readers with a story that speaks truths about what happened during Red Cloud’s War. The foreword is written by Robert Lewis, a Cherokee, Navaho, and Apache storyteller. Illustrations, created by Goble, were on loan for this project from the South Dakota Art Museum. The color and detail truly bring this story to life. Parents and teachers can engage readers with these historical events. This exciting account will have readers flipping the pages over and over again.
During the gold rush the most commonly used trail was The Bozeman Trail. This trail went through the Lakota territory. Because this area was so popular for travel the U.S. government built army forts to protect the pioneers from Indian attacks. This route threatened the hunting ground of Native Americans. As a result, Chief Red Cloud gathered his people in preparation to fight. Red Cloud’s War lasted two years. His men attacked forts, soldiers and stopped pioneers from utilizing the trail. The U.S. Troops were not prepared for such a battle and decided to make peace instead of war. The Lakota were moved to a reservation. Unfortunately, it wasn’t long before gold rush enthusiasts still continued to trespass.
Author and historian Paul Goble has reunited readers with a story that speaks truths about what happened during Red Cloud’s War. The foreword is written by Robert Lewis, a Cherokee, Navaho, and Apache storyteller. Illustrations, created by Goble, were on loan for this project from the South Dakota Art Museum. The color and detail truly bring this story to life. Parents and teachers can engage readers with these historical events. This exciting account will have readers flipping the pages over and over again.
March 14, 2016
In 1866, following the American Civil War, the American government wished to support people traveling west for the gold rush in Montana. The shortest route was the Bozeman Trail, which went through the lands of the Oglala Lakota (Sioux). The American government sought to negotiate, but chief Red Cloud came to understand that the government would build forts, send soldiers and protect travelers whether the Oglala agreed to their terms or not. Red Cloud refused and walked away. Red Cloud led his warriors and his allies, determined to fight the Americans every step of the way. They wiped out 80 American soldiers in the Fetterman Fight, and eventually the American government capitulated (temporarily).
Told from the perspective of a fictional young man in Red Cloud's tribe, based on historical records.
Grades 3-6
Told from the perspective of a fictional young man in Red Cloud's tribe, based on historical records.
Grades 3-6
July 9, 2015
Originally published in 1972 by Bradbury Press, this is a new edition commemorating the 150th anniversary of the true events described in this book, which are recounted by a fictional character named Brave Eagle, a Lakota warrior and participant in the battle, who serves as the story's narrator.
July 5, 2015
Excellent account, this time told from the point of view of the Indians.
August 31, 2015
I won this book from the giveaway. All the illustrations in this book is unique, detailed, and beautiful. The story is also well written and engaging for people of all ages to read.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews