a good history of the nex pierce
this work could have been stronger if the author would had defined the nez pierce relationships with the other indian tribes better and whther or not the nez pierce became indian scouts themselves

The new version has 366 pages. My 1963 edition has 374. Either way, you will get your money's worth from I Will Fight No More Forever. This is one of the best books I have found on the Nez Perce history or on Chief Joseph. Merrill Beal goes deep into the entire situation surrounding the Nez Perce at the time. He uses the first three chapters to cover the Nez Perce history and culture, setting the stage for the action that followed.

I will give Beal credit. For a white man writing about Native American issues during a time when they were still considered second-class citizens, he did a remarkable job of portraying them as a peaceful, agricultural people. He seems supportive of them and even quite respectful of their accomplishments.

One thing that I particularly like about this book is the use of frequent quotes from both sides, especially from little-known military documents. As you read the book, you start to feel the turmoil of some of the troops that were forced to pursue this tribe, a tribe that had always welcomed and befriended the whites.

This is one book that will rip your heart out! You cannot read it and remain untouched. It is the story of a peaceful people chased from their land, forced to abandon most of their belonging. A few men that were able to fight were trying to protect the women, children, and elderly as they fled to reach the safety of the Canadian border. Of the 450 Natives, only 150 were able to fight. They had more than 5,000 head of half-wild livestock to herd along. Their belongings were piled upon the little Appaloosas, making their going extremely difficult.

For 11 weeks, from 11 June to 5 October, 1877, these tough Natives traveled almost 1700 miles, zig-zagging across the worst terrain in this country. They fought to a stand still or defeated the 10 best commands in the U.S. Army in 13 battles. Their tired, heavily laden, half-starved little Appaloosas consistently out-maneuvered the Army's fresh, well-fed remounts.

The Army used every dirty trick in the book. They even violated flags of truce. They killed women, children, elderly, and the wounded. They went so far as to allow their scouts to scalp the dead. It is a horrendous story. It sickens you that it is a true story and that these were crimes perpetrated by Americans on American soil, not in a foreign, third world country by "uncivilized" people.

The Army wasted $931,329.02 chasing down a group of people that only wanted to leave the country. This entire ordeal was brought about by the government's desire to teach the Native Americans a lesson and to use the Nez Perce as examples. The cost in human lives was 127 soldiers killed and 147 wounded, 50 civilians killed, and 122 Nez Perce killed with 93 wounded. But these numbers reflect only the casualties of the actual "war." More than half of the "apprehended" Nez Perce died in military custody or under direct military supervision, long after the fighting ended.

If you never read any other book about Native Americans, read this one. It will illuminate why the Nez Perce are held in such high regard by other tribes and viewed as role models for all to follow. It also explains why the Appaloosa became the most desired horse in America. Of over 1100 horses taken, 870 were shot under the order of General Sherman (a man of some claim to fame as an arsonist in Atlanta, Georgia). Sherman desired to "make sure" that the Nez Perce could never repeat their performance during this horrendous flight for freedom.

I cannot recommend this book strongly enough. It should be required reading during high school. It is an outstanding book of literary and historical value. It is simply the best reading to be found anywhere! Get a copy today.

Reprinted from Gotta Write Network Online

This book is gut-wrenching and difficult to read at times. It is packed with so much emotion. The book also helped me in understanding more about the Indian Wars and how they were fought on the Western Frontier. Good Book!