Moon of Popping Trees

by Rex Alan Smith

The last significant clash of arms in the American Indian Wars took place on December 29, 1890, on the banks of Wounded Knee Creek in South Dakota. Of the 350 Teton Sioux Indians there, two-thirds were women and children. When the smoke cleared, 84 men and 62 women and children lay dead, their bodies scattered along a stretch of more than a mile where they had been trying to flee. Of some 500 soldiers and scouts, about 30 were dead—some, probably, from their own crossfire. Wounded Knee has excited contradictory accounts and heated emotions. To answer whether it was a battle or a massacre, Rex Alan Smith goes further into the historical records and cultural traditions of the combatants than anyone has gone before. His work results in what Alvin Josephy Jr., editor of American Heritage, calls "the most definitive and unbiased" account of all, Moon of Popping Trees .

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Native American, Indigenous, American History

238 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Monty]

This is considered by many to be the most objective account of the events leading up to and occurring at Wounded Knee on December 29, 1890. I must admit that this is not the most readable account of those events I have ever encountered, but I can recommend the book on its fair and objective treatment of the subject. I had always thought that the battle was a massacre from the very start, with the Lakota tribesmen being the victims of yet another broken treaty and a catastrophe perpetrated against them by blundering or evil white men. This is not entirely the case. I will not deliver spoilers here in the event that you wish to read the book.
Yes, there were several treaties broken by the whites over the decades from 1850 to 1890. Yes, at least half of South Dakota should have remained in the hands and control of the Lakota. But there were misunderstandings, miscommunication, and outright stupidity committed by both sides. This is an important book for anyone who wants to have a greater understanding of the issues surrounding Native American history of the Lakota and Dakota peoples in the 19th century. Text is supplemented by actual documents and maps, which makes for slower reading, but helps to explain the complexity of the issues.

[Sharon Mccarthy]

Whether or not you've read "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" this book is excellent at recounting the events leading up to this tragic moment in history. Having recently visited South Dakota and walked in the landscape (and purchased "Moon of Popping Trees" locally) I feel I have the beginnings of understanding and mourning the losses of this history.

[Lance Schroeder]

Insightful read here. Recommended.

[Jeff Mohr]

I

[Marly]

Well researched and appears unbiased. one of the better books I have read on Native American history.

[Molly Hocanson]

This was an almost unbiased account of what led up to the Battle of Wounded Knee. It was accurately and brilliantly written. Instead of assigning blame in this tragedy, Rex Alan Smith, tells you the whole story of the hysteria on both sides that led to this historical tragedy.

[Barbara]

2.5

[Rhonda]

Please white man, try to tell us what the Sioux were thinking...

3 stars because for the time period it was a groundbreaking work. However, Rex Alan Smith said it was mostly a battle (hard to have a battle with people you have disarmed). It's out of date--anthropologists and archaeologists have worked to reconstruct the scene at Wounded Knee, we can answer some of these questions now, and finally, you just can't justify a massacre... To say Wounded Knee was "partly a massacre" hardly captures it.