The Arikara War: The First Plains Indian War, 1823

by William R. Nester

The Arikara War took place in August 1823 between the United States and the Arikara native Americans near the Missouri River, in present-day South Dakota.[1] Arikara warriors had previously attacked a trapping expedition traveling on the river. The United States responded with forces of 230 soldiers, 750 Sioux, and 50 trappers[citation needed] under the command of U.S. Army Colonel Henry Leavenworth.[1] Although brief, the conflict was noted for two reasons. First, it was the first military conflict between the United States and the western native Americans, setting the tone for future encounters between Americans and the Crow and Blackfeet. Second, Leavenworth did not completely defeat the Arikara. His leniency toward them sparked a great debate between Americans demanding subjugation of the natives and those advocating cohabitation with them. The Arikara eventually settled with the Mandan and Hidatsa on the Fort Berthold Reservation in North Dakota. Many Arikaras and Crows became Indian scouts during the height of the Sioux Wars.

Genres: History

258 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 2001

About the author

William Nester, PhD is a Professor of Government and Politics at St. John’s University. He is the author of twenty-five books that explore varying dimensions and subjects of international relations and power. He taught at the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London from 1987 to 1989, and since then at St. John's University.He received a BA in international studies and history from Miami University of Ohio, and a MA and PhD in Political Science from the University of California at Santa Barbara.

Reviews

[Greg Strandberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a good book I read all but 40 pages or so. I was mainly interested in the buildup to the Arikara War, not the actual conflict, though this book does a good job on that as well from the skimming I did.

You get a lot of detailed info on who was trapping upriver, and the actual dollar amounts they earned on all the packs they brought down.

It's important to realize the causes of the animosity the Arikara felt toward whites. We had constant trade traffic going by their village since the 1790s, they had a serious smallpox outbreak because of this, one of their chiefs went to Washington and died there, and they were attacked by some military men in 1808 or so.

In the 1830s a final smallpox outbreak came, and the Arikara combined with the Mandan and Hidatsa.

It's surprising it took until 1823 for this 'war' to take place. It was more a battle, really.

[Stew · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the only book I know of recounting the first so-called war on the plains between Native Americans and the U.S. Army. Because of that, it is a valuable addition to our knowledge of plains history.
All the facts are there. The problem is that is as dry as it gets when it comes to writing. There is some 120 pages of background until the author actually makes it to the battle. The "war" between the U.S. Army, and its Lakota and fur trapper allies and two Arikara villages was really one battle and not much of one at that. Without the extensive (yet informative background material) I'm not sure there was enough to sustain a book-length work.