Tribal Wars of the Southern Plains

Given their near extermination by the white invaders, it is easy to look back and believe that the world of the Native Americans was one of peaceful bliss. With lives revolving around hunting the local game, it seems like such a peaceful life and was even the main theme of an episode in the original Star Trek series. However, in the plains, the tribes were at constant war with each other, especially after the Europeans introduced the horse. The new mobility allowed for more efficient hunting of both food and humans, which for some tribes, was the same thing. There are many facts about the lives of the Native American tribes in this book that are simply not mentioned in most histories of that time. Hoig describes the constant wars between the tribes, with the general time frame being from the first contact with Europeans until the wars ended when the tribes became permanent residents of the reservations. Neither side in the conflict is spared, there was brutality committed by both the Indians and the Europeans. Many whites and natives were tortured to death at the hands of the Indians and the Europeans finally ended the war by simply seeking out and destroying the Indian camps. By eliminating their infrastructure of tents, food stocks, horses and noncombatant population, there was nothing to support the Indian warriors in their battles. Even with the even-handed descriptions of the battles and massacres, it is hard not to feel a bit of sadness for a way of life that passed forever from the planet. The natives were fighting for their right to a home and to exist, but the enemy was too numerous and organized for them to ever have a chance. Life on the plains for the natives was one of constant battle against nature and other tribes. In the end, bravery was not enough and they succumbed to the twin factors of intertribal animosities and a superior enemy with better weapons and organization. Within two short generations, the tribes of the southern plains went from proud masters of their lands to caged creatures who were decaying and with nothing but visions of their past glories. This is the story of that decline, told well and accurately.