On the Border with Crook : General George Crook, the American Indian Wars, and Life on the American Frontier

“Among the ten best Western books of all time. It has that rare combination, a personal reminiscence covering important events, and a thoroughly scholarly and reliable treatment." — Westerners Brand Book For fifteen years John G. Bourke served under General George Crook as they fought side by side on the frontiers of the United States from Mexico to the Canadian border. Crook and his troops clashed against some of the most formidable opponents of the nineteenth century during the Great Sioux War and the Apache Wars, including Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse and Geronimo. This fascinating account of these times brings to life the frontier of the Old West, with vivid descriptions, humorous anecdotes and deadly encounters. On the Border with Crook is essential reading for anyone interested in not only Crook’s military campaigns of the American Indian wars but also anyone wishing to find out how settlers and communities survived and prospered through adversity. “Bourke was a meticulous observer as well as a superb and engrossingly interesting writer. He would also colour his material with lyrical and poetical observations upon the natural world, including the landscape and the weather, and also with copies of such official correspondence he deemed important such as orders, rosters, newspaper clippings and his own drawings to accompany his texts. Furthermore it would all be laced with his descriptions - sometimes with humour - of characters, military, civilian and Indians met along the way.” The English Westerners’ SocietyJohn G. Bourke was a captain in the U.S.-Army who was awarded the Medal of Honor for his services during the Civil War. After he had completed 15 years of duty in the American Indian Wars he became a prolific author, writing a number of accounts about his time in the army as well as ethnographical studies of the American West. On the Border with Crook was first published in 1892 and Bourke died 4 years later. The definitive look at one of the most famous American generals of the American Indian Wars. After serving over fifteen years with General George Crook, John Gregory Bourke, his right-hand man, sat down to write of his time with the legendary US Army officer in the post–Civil War West. On the Border with Crook is a firsthand account of Crook's campaigns during the American Indian Wars. Observant and inquisitive, Bourke brings to life the entire American frontier. In sharp descriptions and detailed anecdotes, he sketched vivid pictures not only of Crook and his fellow cavalrymen but also of legendary Native American leaders such as Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo. Combining strength and compassion, Bourke argues, Crook carved out an important legacy for himself in American history. On the Border with Crook has long been regarded as one of the best firsthand accounts of frontier army life. More than simply an account of General Crook, Bourke writes with unparalleled detail of the landscape of the Southwest, impressions on the forts and communities in Arizona Territory, and the hardships of frontier service, in addition to the exciting and honest accounts of combat. What is most impressive about Bourke's work is the equal time he gives to both soldier and Native American alike, making On the Border with Crook the essential book for those interested in the history of the American frontier. Skyhorse Publishing, along with our Arcade, Good Books, Sports Publishing, and Yucca imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of biographies, autobiographies, and memoirs. Our list includes biographies on well-known historical figures like Benjamin Franklin, Nelson Mandela, and Alexander Graham Bell, as well as villains from history, such as Heinrich Himmler, John Wayne Gacy, and O. J. Simpson. We have also published survivor stories of World War II, memoirs about overcoming adversity, first-hand tales of adventure, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home. **The definitive look at one of the most famous American generals of the American Indian Wars.** After serving over fifteen years with General George Crook, John Gregory Bourke, his right-hand man, sat down to write of his time with the legendary US Army officer in the post–Civil War West. __On the Border with Crook__ is a firsthand account of Crook's campaigns during the American Indian Wars. Observant and inquisitive, Bourke brings to life the entire American frontier. In sharp descriptions and detailed anecdotes, he sketched vivid pictures not only of Crook and his fellow cavalrymen but also of legendary Native American leaders such as Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo. Combining strength and compassion, Bourke argues, Crook carved out an important legacy for himself in American history. __On the Border with Crook__ has long been regarded as one of the best firsthand accounts of frontier army life. More than simply an account of General Crook,...