Centennial Campaign: The Sioux War of 1876

by John Stephens Gray, John A. Popovich (Designed by), Robert M. Utley (Foreword by)

“A fine book…In the twenty-two chapters that comprise the background and the campaign narrative, the author is at his best when he moves away from the Washington scene to detail the field operations. But it is the second part of the book—seven chapters labeled “Facets”—that moves Centennial Campaign into the realm of the exceptional. Here Dr. Gray combines impressive research, careful analysis, and sound deduction to reconstruct Indian movements, locations, and concentrations.”— Western Historical Quarterly

Genres: History, 19th Century, Military Fiction, American History, Native American

412 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1976

Reviews

[Eric Graves · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was one of the most boring books I have ever read and I read pretty much exclusively history books which have reputations for being boring to most. I read the first 5 chapters fully then skim read (reading the first 2 sentences in each paragraph) and still found it to be rough. The author elaborates on things that don’t help the narrative, like going into an entire chapter on Custer’s subpoena which had little impact on the campaign overall except that the campaign couldn’t start until later. It could have been done in a few pages instead of 20. The only redeeming quality, and the only reason for 2 stars not 1) is the good explanation of Indian population and how it was/is calculated with lodges.

[Katherine Addison · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is the result of exhaustive research in primary sources about the campaign in which George Armstrong Custer and all his men lost their lives. As with his other book, CUSTER'S LAST CAMPAIGN, Gray has devoted himself to accurate time-and-motion studies to figure out who was where when, for both the US Army and the Native Americans they were trying to fight. One of the things Gray reveals this way is that, during a four month campaign, the Army encountered Indians on only four days. And, he does not add although he could, three of those days were disasters for the Army.

I suspect this is the sort of book that is only interesting if you are already interested in Custer or the Battle of the Little Big Horn or white Americans' shameful treatment of Indians in (though not exclusive to) the 1870s. It is a very thorough book, cross-referencing official Army reports and diaries and newspaper articles and Indian accounts. He does some very careful and extensive math to figure out how many people there actually were on each side of the Little Big Horn fight and it's hard to argue with his conclusion that there's no mystery about why the Native Americans won. Custer and his men were just horribly outnumbered.

[Bryce · Rating 4 out of 5]

Gray's extensive research provides perhaps the best single volume of the political and military conditions leading up to and after the the Battle of Little Big Horn. Part II Facets provides additional detail not found in other works coving such are as Medical service and the wounded, the Indian population, summer migrations and the estimated strength of the Little Big Horn Village. It is a little odd that Gray devotes only one page to the actual battle surround Custer's demise.

[Drpsychorat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a well researched and well written book. Disagree with some of his conclusions such as Reno’ rather arrogant petition to promote himself. But on the whole, one of the best books I’ve ever read on the 1876 campaign.

[Iain · Rating 5 out of 5]

An insightful study of the major campaigns of 1876 and their political basis. The author is unsparing in his critique of the gaffs and duplicity or Crook, Grant, Sheridan and others.

I only wish he'd covered Miles' campaign of the 76-77 Winter in as great depth and footnoted his work in a more traditional (ie detailed) fashion.

Recommended for anyone interested in the campaign.

[Charlie]

Mr. Gray has scrutinized many documents, concerning the Battle of the Little Big Horn and brought forth many revealing fact. Reading the Centennial Campaign is like reading a current events book. One just has to replace the governments antics with the Sioux Indian Nation with 'We the People' of the United States today and one quickly realizes 'We the People' are not being treated any differently than the Sioux Nation was over 100 years ago. This is by far one of the best books ever written about the Battle of the Little Big Horn.

[Scottloar · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the companion piece to Custer's Last Campaign and the sequel to that action; together these two volumes are the definitive account of the decisive campaign against the Sioux in 1876 and necessaries to any understanding of that campaign, the politics that prompted it and the men who effected it. More, like Custer's Last Campaign this book is finely researched and well written throughout, a model of historiography.

[Fredrick Danysh · Rating 3 out of 5]

During the 100th anniversary of the American Revoltion the Sioux rose against the US. The is when Custer was out generaled destroyed.