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Osprey Essential Histories
The Plains Wars 1757-1900
By Charles M Robinson III
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The latest of the Essential Histories series covers the American Plains Wars, the continuing series of conflicts, peace treaties, broken promises and renewed conflicts that marked the 19th century and saw the native American tribes driven to the point of
extinction by the voraciously encroaching influx of European immigration.
As always with this series the aim is to give the reader an informed overview of a subject that has had much written about it, and for which far more scholarly works are available. And in this Robinson succeeds admirably. Setting the historical
scene from the arrival of the Spanish and their settlement of the far south west through to the beginnings of the great movement westward that
saw the bitter conflict of the Indian Wars.
Briefly covering the warring sides, their training and weaponry, and introducing us to some of the characters on both sides, Robinson quickly takes us into the campaigns of the plains. he describes methods of fighting, and the hit and run nature of the fighting, a problem that tied up the US forces in protecting civilian interests. As you may expect a fair proportion of the book is dedicated to the battle of Little Bighorn and the consequences of that action.
One surprising omission to me was an account of the Nez Pearce campaign, perhaps Mr Robinson does not regard this as strictly part of the Plains Wars, but given the range of Chief Joseph's travels and the units of the US army committed to tracking him down I find the decision strange.
All in all though an excellent read and highly recommended.
ISBN 1 84176 521 x
Softback 95 pages
£9.99/$14.95
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