Fort Laramie and the Sioux

by Remi Nadeau

Book by Nadeau, Remi

Genres: Nonfiction, History

335 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1982

About the author

With a bachelor's degree in history from Stanford and a PHD in history from UC Santa Barbara, Nadeau combines authentic story-telling, drawn from thorough research, with a highly readable literary style.

Reviews

[Paul F.]

"Fort Laramie and the Sioux" by Remi Nadeau is an incredibly well-researched, painstakingly researched even, non-fictional tale of the relationship between the Sioux Indians and the American Army of the Western states during the mid to late 1800s. Fort Laramie began in 1834 as a fur trading post, with the Sioux faction under Chief Bull Bear being invited to move from the Black Hills to the vicinity of Fort Laramie for easier access. All is well at the start, as mountain men and Native American shared a common culture and desire to preserve the untamed West's status quo. The trouble starts when pioneers in wagon trains start moving through Sioux territory, and the U.S. government decides that a military presence is necessary to keep the Indians at bay and the pioneers safe. As one treaty after another is broken and the Native Americans grow increasing frustrated and distrustful of the army and the U.S. government, the action expands outward from Fort Laramie to take in the different military maneuvers on the High Plains designed to outflank the Indian warriors and keep them penned up on a reservation, or else dead. It is a foregone conclusion which side will win this conflict. That said, the descriptions of the military strategy are interesting and educational. The reader will also get a better understanding of the Native American side of the conflict. Nadeau does not hold back--the Indians try to accept that white soldiers and pioneers are going to keep coming, and their hunting grounds are going to keep shrinking, but push comes to shove time and again, with the end result always being that any sympathy for Indians goes out the window when more land is needed for settlers, railroads, gold seekers, or whatever.

[Patrick]

expertly researched and written. this packs a wealth of knowledge in to a readable format. the events that happened here and that happened in this time period should never be forgotten.

[Fredrick Danysh]

Describes the life, culture, and history of the Sioux Indians. Also gives historic information about Fort Laramie.