Category: History: U.S.: Northwest

Copyright/published Year: 2009 by Oxford Univ Press

ISBN: 0195136756

Binding: hardcover

Description: To tell the story, West begins with the early history of the Nez ì Perce and their years of friendly relations with white settlers. ì In an initial treaty, the Nez Perce were promised a large part of ì their ancestral homeland, but the discovery of gold led to a ì stampede of settlement within the Nez Perce land. Numerous ì injustices at the hands of the US government combined with the ì settlers' invasion to provoke this most accomodating of tribes to ì war. West offers a riveting account of what came next: the ì harrowing flight of 800 Nez Perce, including many women, children ì and elderly, across 1500 miles of mountainous and difficult ì terrain.

He gives a full reckoning of the campaigns and battles--and ì the unexpected turns, brilliant stratagems, and grand heroism ì that occurred along the way. And he brings to life the complex ì characters from both sides of the conflict, including cavalrymen, ì officers, politicians, and--at the center of it all--the Nez ì Perce themselves (the Nimiipuu, "true people"). The book sheds ì light on the war's legacy, including the near sainthood that was ì bestowed upon Chief Joseph, whose speech of surrender, "I will ì fight no more forever," became as celebrated as the Gettysburg ì Address.

Based on a rich cache of historical documents, from government ì and military records to contemporary interviews and newspaper ì reports, The Last Indian War offers a searing portrait of ì a moment when the American identity--who was and who was not a ì citizen--was being forged.

Condition Information

This is a used book and is in Good condition.

Additional condition description

Jacket in mylar protection. Has library stamp on page ends, page tops. Dewey # in pencil on copyright page. Library sticker on inside back cover. Call number label on spine, bar code on back cover.