The story of the Sioux War of 1876–1877, also known as the Great Sioux War, has been told hundreds of times, and, no doubt, will continue to be told and retold for many hundreds more. The story endures largely because of our interest in George Armstrong Custer's larger-than-life persona, his larger-than-life last battle, and his larger-than-life death along the Little Big Horn River in June 1876 (along with some 210 men from the five companies who perished with him). Of course, the story of the Little Big Horn itself (or the Sioux War as a whole) would not be complete without acknowledging the two thousand or three thousand Sioux and Cheyenne fighters, the last holdouts of a warrior race in a quickly fading era who, for a brief moment, ruled the day. After all, they, too, have captured our imaginations. But this book goes well beyond just the battle of the Little Big Horn. It picks up with the Black Hills dilemma (that is, following the discovery of gold in 1874, the US government wanted control of the hills despite the fact that they were legally held by the Sioux under treaty) and the issue of the unceded territory (the disputed hunting lands adjacent to the Great Sioux Reservation), and continues through to spring 1877 and the surrender of Oglala Sioux Chief Crazy Horse.
The main narrative is told through the extensive use of contemporary newspaper reports written by civilians and military personnel who accompanied the various army columns into Indian country. These include dispatches from Reuben Davenport, Robert Strahorn, Joe Wasson, John F. Finerty, James J. O'Kelly, Jerry Roche, Major Thaddeus Stanton, Major James Brisbin, and others. Without their words, this book would not exist. When it was necessary to use material from outside of the newspapers, I tried to use official reports or firstperson accounts, such as the wonderful diaries of John Gregory Bourke, the longtime lieutenant of the Third Cavalry and aide to General George Crook. As much as possible, I attempted to tell the story of the Sioux War strictly through the words of those who were there, but again, the bulk of the material was drawn from period newspapers.
Following the death of Bismarck Tribune/New York Herald reporter Mark Kellogg in the battle of the Little Big Horn, the Herald paid tribute to him and printed the following thoughts about civilian war correspondents in its issue of July 10, 1876:
The army correspondent often holds the post of honor in journalism because he holds the post of danger. It is his duty and his privilege to share the risks of battle, and for the sake of the pen to defy the dangers of the sword. His services are not merely those of a historian, but are rendered to the power which now makes history possible. Caesar wrote his own commentaries and Napoleon dictated his own memoirs, but the correspondent must record the fight the moment it is fought, nor wait for the slow official reports. The anxious eyes that watch a distant army where every soldier is a husband, brother or son, the impatient heart of the country that beats for victory, cannot wait till the government chooses to give its cold, calm despatches. The press must speak, and it is the press, and through it the nation, that the war correspondent serves.
At least two other civilian correspondents almost paid the ultimate price during the Sioux War, Davenport and Finerty, but you will have to read the text to find out the circumstances. The fact of the matter was that unless the correspondents chose to remain behind with the slower moving wagon train and/or infantry, they often found themselves in the midst of the action and had to take part in the fighting to survive. As far as the Indian warriors were concerned, they made no distinction between soldier and correspondent.
Whether you are new to the Sioux War or well-versed in these events, I hope you find this book an exciting and informative read. Some items will certainly be new to most or all readers, such as a description of the battle of the Little Big Horn by Brule Sioux warrior Black Bear and the description of General Crook by Captain Harry Cushing.