Books in Native American Oral Histories series

In the decades between the American Revolution and the American Civil War, the United States government was engaged in an ongoing war against several Native American tribes. Collectively, historians refer to the series of wars between the U.S. government and the American Indians simply as “The Indian Wars,” or “The American Indian Wars.” The Americans argued that they needed the land west of the Appalachian Mountains for development and settlement, while the various American Indian tribes argued that the land was their birthright; both sides were willing to shed blood to accomplish their goals! Perhaps the greatest series of battles between the Americans and Indians was the Northwest Indian War (1785-1795), which took place in what was then known as the Northwest Territory and what today comprises the states of Ohio and Indiana. On the one side was a modern army, ready to conquer the land, while on the other was a coalition of Indian tribes who were much better organized and equipped than their adversary believed. The result of the war proved to be a turning point not only in the history of the United States, but also in Native American History. The highpoint of the war for the Indians and the low point for the Americans was a battle often referred to as the “Defeat of St. Clair” for the American general who lost hundreds of men in a well-organized massacre to Indian forces led by chief Little Turtle. The following book brings St. Clair’s defeat to life in a way that has never been done before by using historical documents combined with Native American tales to create a narrative that is as exciting as it is edifying. Truly, once you read this book you will never look at American history in the same way!