American Legends: The Life of Sitting Bull Charles River Editors (Author)
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Native American
- Includes pictures of Sitting Bull and important people and places in his life.
- Explains the Battle of the Little Bighorn and several Lakota oral legends.
- Includes a Table of Contents
"When I was a boy the Sioux owned the world. The sun rose and set on their land; they sent ten thousand men to battle. Where are the warriors today? Who slew them? Where are our lands? Who owns them? Is it wrong for me to love my own? Is it wicked for me because my skin is red? Because I am Sioux? Because I was born where my father lived? Because I would die for my people and my country?" - Sitting Bull
A lot of ink has been spilled covering the lives of history's most influential figures, but how much of the forest is lost for the trees? In Charles River Editors' American Legends series, readers can get caught up to speed on the lives of America's most important men and women in the time it takes to finish a commute, while learning interesting facts long forgotten or never known.
In 1872, during a fight along the Yellowstone River between U.S. troops protecting railroad workers and Sioux warriors, one of the Sioux did something both unusual and inspiring. At the height of the battle, with bullets whizzing all around him, this warrior sat down, loaded his cannupa (sacred pipe), and began to smoke, partaking in his people's religious sacrament. For the Sioux, smoking a pipe was akin to praying, and the smoke, wafting up through to the heavens, represented those prayers as they floated up to Wakan Tanka, the "god" of the Native Americans who occupied the North American Plains. Wakan Tanka is not the name of their god but rather a description, for the words literally mean "Great Mystery." The Sioux warrior continued smoking until done with his pipe, and after carefully reaming and cleaning out the pipe, he rose to his feet, and rejoined the battle.
Of course, it was not that battle which made Sitting Bull one of the most famous Native Americans in American history. Like Geronimo in the Southwest during the same era, Sitting Bull was a warrior who fought in several skirmishes against settlers and U.S. forces across the Plains during the 1860s, and while it is still debated whether he was the "Supreme Chief of the whole Sioux Nation" by 1868, it's clear that he was one of the influential leaders of the Lakota. And when The Great Sioux War of 1876 began, Sitting Bull was recognized as the most important leader among all Native American tribes on the Plains, and the one to turn to for those who intended to keep fighting whites.
Sitting Bull ensured he would become a legend at the Battle of the Little Bighorn, during which an estimated 2,000 Lakota and Cheyenne warriors inspired by one of his visions routed and then annihilated the 7th U.S. Cavalry led by George Custer. That disaster led the American government to double down on its efforts to "pacify" the Sioux, and by the end of the decade many of them had surrendered and been moved onto a reservation. Sitting Bull defiantly refused to surrender, instead heading with a smaller band into Canada and remaining exiled.
When he finally surrendered to the U.S. in 1881, he was a celebrity of sorts, and Sitting Bull went on to appear in Buffalo Bill Cody's Wild West Show during the decade. Not surprisingly, his death was as controversial as his life; in 1890 Sitting Bull was killed on a reservation after plans to arrest him went terribly awry, leading to fighting in the aftermath that left over a dozen dead.
American Legends: The Life of Sitting Bull chronicles the amazing life of the Sioux leader who defiantly fought to save his people's homeland, but it also humanizes the man who became one of the most famous Native Americans in American history. Along with pictures of important people, places, and events, you will learn about Sitting Bull like you never have before, in no time at all.
- Rank: #79210 in eBooks
- Published on: 2012-08-18
- Released on: 2012-08-18
- Format: Kindle eBook
- Number of items: 1
Description #1 by Marine Corps Association:
PAPERBACK EDITIONCuster, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little BighornWith a fantastic body of work that includes In the Heart of the Sea and Pulitzer Prize finalist Mayflower, Nathaniel Philbrick has emerged as a historian with a unique ability to bring history to life. The Last Stand is Philbrick's monumental reappraisal of the epochal clash at the Little Bighorn in 1876 that gave birth to the legend of Custer's Last Stand. Bringing a wealth of new information to his subject, as well as his characteristic literary flair, Philbrick details the collision between two American icons - George Armstrong Custer and Sitting Bull - that both parties wished to avoid, and brilliantly explains how the battle that ensued has been shaped and reshaped by national myth.About the Author Nathaniel Philbrick, is a leading authority on the history of Nantucket Island. His In the Heart of the Sea won the National Book Award. His latest book is Sea of Glory, about the epic US Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842. His other books include Away off Shore: Nantucket Island and Its People, 1602-1890 and Abram's Eyes: The Native American Legend of Nantucket Island. Philbrick, a champion sailboat racer, has also written extensively about sailing, including The Passionate Sailor and the forthcoming Second Wind: A Sunfish Sailor's Odyssey. He was editor in chief of the classic Yaahting: A Parody.In his role as director of the Egan Institute of Maritime Studies, Philbrick, who is also a research fellow at the Nantucket Historical Association, gives frequent talks about Nantucket and sailing. He has appeared on "NBC Today Weekend", A&E's "Biography" series, and National Public Radio and has served as a consultant for the movie "Moby Dick", shown on the USA Network. He received a Bachelor of Arts from Brown University and a Master of Arts in American Literature from Duke. He lives on Natucket with his wife and two children.
Description #2 by Biblio.com:
Penguin Putnam:"An engrossing thoughtfully researched and tautly written account of a critical chapter in American history." -Los Angeles Times With a fantastic body of work that includes In the Heart of the Sea and Pulitzer Prize finalist Mayflower Nathaniel Philbrick has emerged as a historian with a unique ability to bring history to life. The Last Stand is Philbrick's monumental reappraisal of the epochal clash at the Little Bighorn in 1876 that gave birth to the legend of Custer's Last Stand. Bringing a wealth of new information to his subject as well as his characteristic literary flair Philbrick details the collision between two American icons- George Armstrong Custer and Sitting Bull-that both parties wished to avoid and brilliantly explains how the battle that ensued has been shaped and reshaped by national myth.
Description #3 by Biblio.com:
Random House Inc 1998. No theme in history has captured the imagination like the American West and no presentation of the drama surpassed the original Wild West shows. In this unparalleled theater the cast of characters were themselves authentic heroes: Buffalo Bill Cody Texas Jack Omohundro Wild Bill Hickok Captain AH Bogardus Annie Oakley Doc Carver "Evil Spirit of the Plains" Lillian Smith Captain Jack Crawford "Poet Scout of the Plains" Sitting Bull and hordes of Indians Pawnee Bill and May Lillie. These pioneer stars and superstars were predecessors to the Western film and television personalities of later times and to the troupe in the contemporary extravaganza at Disneyland/Paris. Buffalo Bill's Wild West is a panoramic celebration of these colorful characters who created the image of the West for Americans and for the world. The book also celebrates the exciting and often flamboyant accoutrements and costumes which were part and parcel of the stars' public appearance and honors such characters as William Mathewson recognized even by Cody himself as the "original Buffalo Bill." The lavish illustrations feature the Michael Del Castello Collection of the American West with portfolios of treasures from the Buffalo Bill Museum Buffalo Bill Historical Center Cody Wyoming and the Autry Museum of Western Heritage Los Angeles. Cody and his contemporaries made the West come alive to millions through their Wild West show tours of Europe and America. Lavishly illustrated and unsurpassed in its authenticity Buffalo Bill's Wild West is a collector's item for anyone interested in the most fascinating array of all objects of Americana and in the uniquely colorful saga of the West. From the original Wild West shows of PT Barnum in Hoboken New Jersey to the spectacular entertainments of such headliners as Buffalo Bill and Annie Oakley see the arms and accessories of the adventurers who charmed the crowned heads of Europe and brought America's Wild West culture to the world--in the process helping to make Colt Winchester Wells Fargo and the West into American legends. In this unique volume the authors have produced the most spectacular lavish and detailed illustrated tribute ever to Buffalo Bill and his Wild West show-business originals. Buffalo Bill's Wild West is an unmatched chronicle drawn upon decades of research and collecting augmented with images by master photographers Peter Beard and Douglas Sandberg and period photo-graphs and archival material from museums and private collections particularly that of Michael Del Castello--featured at the Royal Armouries Museum Leeds in the summer 1999 loan exhibition "Buffalo Bill's Wild West." In over 225 color plates and 160 black-and-white illustrations with in-depth text and captions the colorful arms posters photo-graphs costumes saddles accoutrements stagecoaches and for the first time Buffalo Bill's Wild West Winchester Ammo Wagon are brought to life. The extraordinary exquisitely detailed illustrations include more than 50 posters and advertising broadsheets over 100 rare cabinet card photographs innumerable historic firearms advertising art and trade cards and show-business memorabilia. All the renowned exhibition shooters are presented: Buffalo Bill Cody Annie Oakley Frank Butler Doc Carver Johnny Baker Pawnee Bill Lillian Smith Captain AH Bogardus and sons Captain EE Stubbs Curtis Liston Arizona Joe and many more--all of them sports and entertainment luminaries of their day. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Near Fine. Illus. by Color & b/w Photos & Illustrations.
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