The war chief who won
Who was the only Native American war chief who defeated the United States Army in war?
His name was Red Cloud, a contemporary of Sitting Bull, Crazy Horse, and Geronimo. He was a Oglala Sioux chief and led American Indian Plains tribes in a series of conflicts against the U.S. Army in the Wyoming and Montana territories.
The Army called the conflicts, “Red Cloud’s War,” making Red Cloud the only Plains Indian to have a war named after him.
Book chronicles conflict
In spite of his stature and power in the Old West, until now Chief Red Cloud has been a lesser known figure in the struggles between America’s Natives and the U.S. government.
That has changed with the publishing of The Heart of Everything That Is. In this riveting historical account, Red Cloud has stepped into clearer view.
Co-authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin trace the events leading to Red Cloud’s War and provide intimate portraits of the many men and women whose lives Red Cloud touched.
Documented by diaries, journals, newspaper reports, and eyewitness accounts, it chronicles the conflict between an expanding white civilization and the Plains Indians who stood in its way.
U.S. forced to sue for peace
In the end, Red Cloud forced the American government to sue for peace on his terms. At the peak of Red Cloud’s powers, the Sioux could claim control of one-fifth of the contiguous United States and the loyalty of thousands of fierce fighters.
‘A portrait worthy of the man’
Ken Burns, filmmaker and coauthor of The Civil War, states “Red Cloud is one of the great figures in nineteenth-century America’s tortured relationships with the many peoples who occupied our country before we took it. Finally, there is a portrait worthy of the man, fully drawn and realized, all the complicated undertow acknowledged and embraced.”
About the authors
Bob Drury is the author/coauthor/editor of nine books. He has written for numerous publication, including The New York Times, Vanity Fair, Men’s Journal and GQ. He currently is a contributing editor and foreign correspondent for Men’s Health.
Tom Clavin is the author or coauthor of sixteen books. For fifteen years he wrote for The New York Times. He has contributed articles to Golf, Men’s Journal, Parade, Reader’s Digest and the Smithsonian magazines. He currently is and investigative feature correspondent for Manhattan Magazine.
Lecture at Hilton Fort Collins
Authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin will speak about their New York Times bestseller at the Hilton Fort Collins (in the ballroom) on Thursday, September 25, 7-9 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, and seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. No tickets are required.
Book sales and signing to follow.
Free author series
This program is part of a free author series presented by the Friends of the CSU Libraries and the Poudre River Friends of the Library. It is supported by the city of Fort Collins Fort Fund, KUNC Radio, the Hilton Fort Collins, and the Old Firehouse Bookstore. Learn more.
