Five Dollars a Scalp: The Last Mighty War Whoop of the Creek Indians

by David P. Mason

From the DJ: "Five Dollars A Scalp" is a different book in many ways. It presents the Indians' side of American History as perhaps never before in connection with a notorious Indian massacre - in some ways our nation's most historic massacre by Indians. The attack occurred on August 30, 1813, at Fort Mims, Alabama, and within a short time an estimated 1,000 Creek Indians had scalped and burned 370 or more men, women, and children."

202 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1975

Reviews

[Talea · Rating 5 out of 5]

It’s dated for sure, and it sugar coats the reality of slavery. However, this book was written in 1975, and it was written for children. I would have much preferred that “servants” were called what they really were for the time, slaves. That is my only critique. This is otherwise a great story based on real people and the real events leading to and the immediate aftermath of the massacre at Ft. Mims. I’ve never before read a children’s book, especially one so old, that took into account the Native American side. There are footnotes and a bibliography for further study also. If you read it, remember to take into consideration the era it was written in, and you’ll be rewarded not only with a great story, but also a new appreciation for the historical events the main characters (real people) lived through.