Robert M. Utley (1929–2022)

Author Robert Utley contends Geronimo is the most famous Native American. That may well be true; nobody yells “Metacomet!” or “Tecumseh!” or “Crazy Horse!” when they jump out of an airplane. He also notes the progression of the Geronimo mythos; with him going from a bloodthirsty savage perpetrator of hideous cruelty to a brave warrior defending his homeland. As usual, the reality is more nuanced. Geronimo doesn’t seem to be that much more “savage” than other natives – or show more than the troops pursuing him; Utley claims the Chiricahua didn’t rape female captives – they just killed them outright. On at least two occasions, Geronimo’s raiders murdered a settler’s wife and children before his eyes – but then let the man go; no explanation is offered. Utley notes Geronimo was never a “chief” of the Chiricahua; a best he was a warband leader; and he wasn’t really defending his homeland. The basic problem seems to be the Chiricahua were not agriculturalists/hunters like the eastern Native Americans or bison-hunters like the plains natives; they were raiders, pure and simple, and would celebrate successful raids or seek solace after unsuccessful ones by getting drunk on tiswin, made from fermented maize. Utley’s discussion of tiswin benders first seemed racist – the old “drunken Indian” stereotype – but he makes the case that the tiswin drunks were an important part of the Chiricahua lifestyle, almost a religious celebration. Thus the Chiricahua just didn’t understand efforts to get them to stop raiding and drinking, because they didn’t know how to do anything else,
This is a remarkably thorough study of Geronimo’s life as a raider and war leader; Utley notes Geronimo was considerably more complicated that people like Sitting Bull, Dull Knife, Crazy Horse, Santana or other native leaders and suggests he was more interested in himself than in his people; Utley makes the point he wasn’t very popular with other Chiricahua.
Geronimo displayed an almost uncanny ability to escape from American and Mexican military until the Americans adopted the method that had been successful in other Indian wars – using Indian scouts to track him down. After his final capture, he was put on display at various expositions and events around the country (always under military escort); he seemed to enjoy these, expressing interests in things like automobiles and motion pictures, and earning money from sales of “autographed” artifacts.
A good read. Well referenced, a plate section with numerous appropriate photographs, and good maps. show less

Excellent, balanced, thorough, a deep dive into the Lakota culture and beliefs, and the forces of the US westward settlement that they really had no hope to overcome. Sympathetic to Sitting Bull without being naïve. Written in 1993 and has stood the test of time very, very well. Highly recommended.

I reviewed this book on my blog:
The Real World According To Sam

This book covers four historical figures that were highly involved in the events of the Lincoln County War: Alexander McSween, Billy the Kid, Colonel Nathan A. M. Dudley, and Governor Lew Wallace. This is a very detailed book, despite it being relatively short. Some of the information is also repeated slightly from section to section, but not in a manner that is irritating. The repetition serves to show the different viewpoints show more of the same occurrence. For example, the lawyer Huston I. Chapman being shot is referred to in three of the four sections. In the Billy the Kid section, it is simply mentioned that Chapman was killed, Billy was a witness, and Chapman was in the area to help Susan McSween take care of the estates of her deceased husband and Tunstall. The later two sections for Dudley and Wallace discuss more of Chapman's role within Lincoln County, how he impacted their attempts at handling the area, and how his death contributed to later events involving the two. In this way, the repetition serves to create a more full picture of the events that went on throughout the conflict known as the Lincoln County War, from the Five-Day Battle to what was perceived as the actual end of the war, according to perceptions and daily existence of Lincoln County inhabitants where the government and military were concerned.

Overall, this seems to be a very good, detailed overview of the Lincoln County War, with lots of in-depth biographical information of each featured person. I really appreciated the attention to historical documentation and the presence of numerous citations within each section. This makes the book appear to be very well researched, particularly when compared to other books I have read on the same topic and the same people. For anyone who is really interested in the Lincoln County War (the actual events and not the legends and hyperbole that have stemmed from involvement of Billy the Kid), I definitely recommend this book. show less

A richly-detailed biography of Geronimo, almost certain to become the standard full-scale academic treatment. While as a casual reader I found the amount of detail almost a bit too much, others will delight in it, and I highly recommend this to anyone with a strong interest in the subject. Utley not only traces Geronimo's life and career, but also his place in American public memory during and after his lifetime.