The Battle of the Washita: The Sheridan-Custer Indian Campaign of 1867-69

By Stan Hoig

Book Overview

Lieutenant Colonel George Armstrong Custer was victorious in only one engagement against ?the American Indians-the Battle of the Washita. Eight years before the Little Bighorn, Custer marched his men through heavy snows to attack a village of Cheyenne Indians under Chief Black Kettle, the most peaceful of the Cheyenne leaders. The Indians did not consider themselves to be at war and were taken by surprise by the dawn attack. Over one hundred men, women, and children were killed and eight hundred horses shot. Was the massacre justified? History has tended to take Custer's word for it, but the facts behind the event may speak differently. It must be left to the conscience of the reader to decide which is commemorated by the marker erected on the site of the battle: a great victory for Custer or a tragedy for the Cheyennes. "With much evidence of exhaustive research, this volume is an unusually well-written and engrossing account. It makes every effort to maintain historical objectivity, and in cases where the matter is controversial [the author] is careful to quote the opinions of both principals and authorities. This detailed narrative is particularly revealing with regard to the competence and frailties of army officers, including General Custer."- Library Journal Stan Hoig lives in Edmund, Oklahoma. Among his books are The Humor of the American Cowboy (also a Bison Book), The Sand Creek Massacre , The Peace Chiefs of the Cheyennes , and Tribal Wars of the Southern Plains .

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0803272049
• ISBN13: 9780803272040
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Bison Books
• Length: 268 Pages
• Weight: 0.76 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.3" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Custer and his glorious victory.

A famous Civil War General surprises a peaceful Indian village and defeats the native men. Hoig details this great victory of Custer. Hoig points out that in the Indian village, there were large numbers of women and children (collateral damage in modern language). Also, the village chief was peacefully disposed toward the settlers and white authorities. Custer used the attack as an example, this struck fear into tribes that were rebeling. This and Sand Creek were detailed as victories over a rebellious native people. After a period of time, history re-examines itself. Hopefully, this battle and others of the West will be re-examined for new details. This is a good read from an excellent Western historian.