Twenty Years Among Our Hostile Indians: Discribing the Characteristics, Customs, Habits, Religion, Marriages, Dances, and Battles of the Wild Indians in ... State, Together With (Frontier Classics) | 
 enlarge | Author: Jacob Lee Humfreville
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Category: Book
List Price: $19.95
Buy New: $5.96
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Avg. Customer Rating:  1 reviews
Sales Rank: 542057
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 480
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.6
Dimensions (in): 9.1 x 6.3 x 1.5
ISBN: 0811728145
Dewey Decimal Number: 978.00497
EAN: 9780811728140
ASIN: 0811728145
Publication Date: September 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
Stackpole is proud to introduce the Frontier Classics, a new series that aims to resurrect long out-of-print gems of frontier history. Antiquarian and rare book dealers have previously been the only source for these books, providing first editions for premium prices. Now, these books are available in affordable, quality paperback editions, with new historical introductions written by a leading expert in the field. Jacob Lee Humfreville was a Civil War veteran who earned a Regular Army commission as a lieutenant in the 9th U.S. Cavalry, the "Buffalo Soldiers," in 1866. In this beautifully illustrated work, Humfreville offers his observations on all aspects of Plains Indian life. His views were sometimes simplistic, but unfailingly sympathetic.
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One of the Best Descriptions Of American Indians and the Opening of the West June 12, 2007
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
Capt. Humfreville did not write a 'noble savage' memoir. He was a soldier who fought in the Civil War and two tours of duty in the West. One tour up North among the Sioux and Blackfeet, and a second South against the Commanche and Apache. He was one of several soldiers of the time who related what they had seen out West. I use to think that R.I.Dodge was the best observer but Capt. Humfreville really has the knack for good writing and essential observation.
He didn't see Indians as noble savages but rather as a hugely diverse group.While there were certain similarities across all tribes, each tribe and even sub-tribe had it's own peculiar way of living & outlook on life-he didn't hold back describing these peculiarities.What you read is a white man observing a Stone Age people and telling you how they are different than you,an Industrial Age person.
I've never read such close detail about actual Indian camp life. If you've ever wondered what it would be like to spend time with a Plains Indian family, Capt Humfeville will fill you in on all the details. (Warning-don't show up in rainy season,don't eat from the communal cooking pot if you can help it, and bring your own bedding.)
Some tribes have his admiration,Cheyenne,Sioux,Nez Perces. But other tribes, Kiowa,Apache, his contempt because of their extreme brutality.The Arapaho claim his bewilderment because of their extreme dirtiness and laziness. He assets that marauding parties would not bother to attack Arapaho because they didn't own anything worth taking.At the same time,their bosom allies were the sparkling neat,ever manly Cheyenne.This is an angle I'd never heard before,but the book if full of these insights.
Capt Humfreville goes on to describe the beginnings of the White's move West. He fills you in on the workings of the Pony Express, the Telegraph business, overland shipping by stagecoach.
If you are interested in what the hunting was like,he covers most of the game animals. The chapter on buffalo is exceptional, he actually goes real deep into how to successfully hunt buffalo and survive to tell the tale.
Being that Capt Humfreville was closer in time and in the business, his angle on the Little Bighorn is fascinating. It's a report that has Red Horse and Gall as the central figures, Crazy Horse,the ever able leader, and oddly, Sitting Bull as nothing more than an impostor.
Capt Humfreville writes in a very modern,21st century style, very readable. His fascinating observations and stories make for a very pleasant and informative read.
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