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Red Cloud: Oglala Legend
“No Indian of modern times can compare with him in ability, courage and statecraft.”
—Denver Times, 16 April 1902
A celebrated warrior who led his people to victory on the battlefield, Red Cloud was also a skilled diplomat who transitioned the Oglala Sioux to reservation life. In Red Cloud: Oglala Legend, John D. McDermott examines Red Cloud’s early years, his rise to prominence, and his struggle to protect his people from cultural domination.
McDermott goes beyond Red Cloud’s War to focus on the Oglala chief’s time as a statesman. Chronicling the chief’s diplomatic trips to the United States capital, the author examines the changes in Red Cloud’s vision of armed resistance and his long-term strategy for maintaining Oglala life and culture. Through negotiation, passive resistance, and selective integration, Red Cloud worked to defend his people’s interests in the face of change.
As the only American Indian leader to win a war against the United States Army, Red Cloud is a larger-than-life figure in the history of the West. McDermott adds new layers to the story of the chief, illuminating his early youth and worldview through little-used sources.
Red Cloud: Oglala Legend is the fourth book in the South Dakota Biography Series, which highlights some of the state’s most famous residents.
John D. McDermott is a research historian who has written numerous articles and books on western history, including Red Cloud’s War: The Bozeman Trail, 1866–1868 (2011). He is a former historian for the National Park Service and policy director for the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Now residing in Rapid City, South Dakota, McDermott also co-founded the Frontier Heritage Alliance promoting cultural heritage tourism and historic preservation throughout the West.
—Denver Times, 16 April 1902
A celebrated warrior who led his people to victory on the battlefield, Red Cloud was also a skilled diplomat who transitioned the Oglala Sioux to reservation life. In Red Cloud: Oglala Legend, John D. McDermott examines Red Cloud’s early years, his rise to prominence, and his struggle to protect his people from cultural domination.
McDermott goes beyond Red Cloud’s War to focus on the Oglala chief’s time as a statesman. Chronicling the chief’s diplomatic trips to the United States capital, the author examines the changes in Red Cloud’s vision of armed resistance and his long-term strategy for maintaining Oglala life and culture. Through negotiation, passive resistance, and selective integration, Red Cloud worked to defend his people’s interests in the face of change.
As the only American Indian leader to win a war against the United States Army, Red Cloud is a larger-than-life figure in the history of the West. McDermott adds new layers to the story of the chief, illuminating his early youth and worldview through little-used sources.
Red Cloud: Oglala Legend is the fourth book in the South Dakota Biography Series, which highlights some of the state’s most famous residents.
John D. McDermott is a research historian who has written numerous articles and books on western history, including Red Cloud’s War: The Bozeman Trail, 1866–1868 (2011). He is a former historian for the National Park Service and policy director for the President’s Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. Now residing in Rapid City, South Dakota, McDermott also co-founded the Frontier Heritage Alliance promoting cultural heritage tourism and historic preservation throughout the West.
194 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 2, 2024
This book is a pretty straight forward biography of Red Cloud's life from youth until old age. McDermott's prose is easy to read, not dry or dense, and straight forward. While it's not a thrilling tale of heroic exploits it covers its topic fairly, I think. Red Cloud is presented positively and fair.
Red Cloud was an Oglala Lakota leader. He lived a traditional Lakota life until the presence of the United States forced his people to change their way of life. Red Cloud went from a war leader, to a peacetime leader, and a statesmen. There was a part of the many Sioux Wars called "Red Cloud's War" from 1865 to 1866 where he was a major leader. This conflict was relatively brief and ended with his people moving to an agency set up by the United States government. Instead of actively resisting and fighting like other Lakota leaders of the time he tried to work with the United States in the best ways that he could. He sort of bound himself to the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868 and tried his best to receive favorable outcomes for his people. The statesmen comment I made above applies very well in regards to his desire to have his people's treaty rights respected. The leader visited Washington D.C. many times and he called out various presidents for not upholding their end of the deal.
I'll stop rambling now. I agree with the author in thinking that Red Cloud doesn't receive enough attention. I also think that he was abused and slowly broken down by the United States government in order to end traditional Lakota ways of life.
Red Cloud was an Oglala Lakota leader. He lived a traditional Lakota life until the presence of the United States forced his people to change their way of life. Red Cloud went from a war leader, to a peacetime leader, and a statesmen. There was a part of the many Sioux Wars called "Red Cloud's War" from 1865 to 1866 where he was a major leader. This conflict was relatively brief and ended with his people moving to an agency set up by the United States government. Instead of actively resisting and fighting like other Lakota leaders of the time he tried to work with the United States in the best ways that he could. He sort of bound himself to the Treaty of Fort Laramie in 1868 and tried his best to receive favorable outcomes for his people. The statesmen comment I made above applies very well in regards to his desire to have his people's treaty rights respected. The leader visited Washington D.C. many times and he called out various presidents for not upholding their end of the deal.
I'll stop rambling now. I agree with the author in thinking that Red Cloud doesn't receive enough attention. I also think that he was abused and slowly broken down by the United States government in order to end traditional Lakota ways of life.
May 3, 2022
Very well written Truthful explains a lot I live in area of Black Hills I highly recommend this book
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews