As poor as my memory has become nowadays, I’m still reasonably sure that I graduated from high school and followed that with a four year degree from an accredited college. In fact, I have the diplomas to prove it. My transcripts suggest that I was even a very good student—which is why I was completely befuddled just pages into BLOOD and THUNDER: The EPIC STORY of KIT CARSON and the CONQUEST of the AMERICAN WEST. Nearly every page revealed history I never knew, may have never known, or didn’t know well enough to make a lasting impression. How embarrassing—especially considering I was born, raised, and still live almost right in the middle of where all this history took place.
I knew BLOOD and THUNDER would be good because it was written by Hampton Sides—bestselling author of GHOST SOLDIERS—which I reviewed several months ago and boldly exhorted everyone to read. BLOOD and THUNDER is an extremely well composed treatise covering the life and times of Kit Carson and the winning of the American West. Did I say winning? Stealing might be a more apt description, or at least taking. I find it more than just a little interesting that Hampton Sides in back-to-back publications first told the story of atrocities perpetrated upon American soldiers by the Imperialistic Japanese, and then followed with a story of atrocities perpetrated upon Native Americans by the Imperialistic Americans! And to think I grew up believing the cowboys were the good guys!
Before I do any more editorializing however, let me make it very clear that I don’t believe Mr. Sides wrote either book with any agendas or desire to pass judgment. On the contrary, I’m extremely impressed with his ability to present the facts as accurately as possible and leave judgment to the readers. As a case in point, from his writing in BLOOD and THUNDER, it could be argued that the American Indians brought about their own demise by continuing to raid, murder and plunder even after being given multiple chances to change their ways and conform to U.S. customs and law. Or it could be concluded that the Indians continued to wreak havoc with the U.S. colonizers because these colonizers were invading their territory and trying to force their ways upon them—kind of like we’re doing in Iraq at the present time. But the Iraq situation can be argued both ways as well.
Anyway, because I have a serious aversion to ambiguity, BLOOD and THUNDER was very unsettling to me in many respects, but the historical content is absolutely fascinating. First and foremost, this is a book about Christopher “Kit” Carson and it's his life story that provides the framework for most of the historical content. Before reading BLOOD and THUNDER, I recognized Kit Carson’s name, but that was about it. Now I probably know more about Mr. Carson than most people, and there is much to admire. Not only did he play a major role in almost every significant aspect of conquering the West (first as mountain man and guide, and then as an officer in the United States Army) he was a great leveling influence, a voice of reason to many of the big names in expansion history including John C. Fremont, Stephan Watts Kearney, and James Carleton. Kit Carson truly was a superhero of the American West, but not because of his power and prowess as the dime novels of the time portrayed him, but because of his humble nature and tendency to do the right thing at the right time. He was a loyal soldier, but never one to violate his own principles of decency. Devoted to his family and true to his country, Carson was respected by virtually everyone. The Ute Indians even referred to him as “Father Kit.” If there had been more persons like Kit Carson in positions of power at the time, many of the atrocities committed during the westward expansion might never have occurred.
BLOOD and THUNDER contains some information about nearly every Indian Tribe occupying the country from Missouri to California during the mid 1800’s but the Navajos especially are treated in great detail. Because most of what I knew about The Diné came from reading Tony Hillerman* novels, I found it extremely rewarding to learn more about this absorbing people, their customs and culture. Strange as this may sound, having studied their compelling story in BLOOD and THUNDER, I now want to go to Arizona and give them a hug; telling them I’m sorry my progenitors screwed things up so badly! (Yes, I am aware that students of the latter-day scriptures will argue that this is the way it was meant to be, but come on, did the Cavalry really have to chop down all of the tribe’s hallowed peach trees at Canyon de Chelly?)
Another revelation to me from this book was discovering that the majority of the Indian Wars in the West were fought at the same time the Civil War was being fought in the East. In fact in early 1862, the wars overlapped when Union Soldiers based in Santa Fe had to turn their attention away from the Native Americans long enough to repel an army of Confederate soldiers marching from Texas with the intent of seizing New Mexico. New Mexico for some strange reason, had elected to side with the Union but still wanted to allow slaves; the majority of whom were—interestingly enough— Indians. (Even Kit Carson kept Indian slaves, although some historians argue that he treated them more like adopted children.)
While considerable attention in BLOOD and THUNDER is devoted to Stephen W. Kearny’s long march from Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas to California as commander of the Army of the West, nothing is said of the simultaneous trek of the Mormon Battalion. The Mormons however, are mentioned later (and less than favorably) in connection with the unfortunate events at Mountain Meadows.
Speaking of Mormons, those familiar with LDS history should appreciate the expanded historical context BLOOD and THUNDER provides as the events of Manifest Destiny unfold. The Mexicans, Indians, and Mormons had much in common during the mid 1800’s and similar aspects of their stories have been repeated since time began. Perhaps it is an innate behavioral characteristic of mankind to aggress and suppress, but does any detachment of the human race stay on top for long? BLOOD and THUNDER makes it abundantly clear that the white man conquered the West, but I sometimes can’t help but wonder if the Mexicans are in the process of taking it back? Clichéd as it might be, history WILL repeat itself until we all just learn to get along.
BLOOD and THUNDER: The EPIC STORY of KIT CARSON and the CONQUEST of the AMERICAN WEST, by Hampton Sides.
*Sadly, for those of us who admired the man and his work, Tony Hillerman passed away last Sunday (October 26, 2008) at age 83.
I knew BLOOD and THUNDER would be good because it was written by Hampton Sides—bestselling author of GHOST SOLDIERS—which I reviewed several months ago and boldly exhorted everyone to read. BLOOD and THUNDER is an extremely well composed treatise covering the life and times of Kit Carson and the winning of the American West. Did I say winning? Stealing might be a more apt description, or at least taking. I find it more than just a little interesting that Hampton Sides in back-to-back publications first told the story of atrocities perpetrated upon American soldiers by the Imperialistic Japanese, and then followed with a story of atrocities perpetrated upon Native Americans by the Imperialistic Americans! And to think I grew up believing the cowboys were the good guys!
Before I do any more editorializing however, let me make it very clear that I don’t believe Mr. Sides wrote either book with any agendas or desire to pass judgment. On the contrary, I’m extremely impressed with his ability to present the facts as accurately as possible and leave judgment to the readers. As a case in point, from his writing in BLOOD and THUNDER, it could be argued that the American Indians brought about their own demise by continuing to raid, murder and plunder even after being given multiple chances to change their ways and conform to U.S. customs and law. Or it could be concluded that the Indians continued to wreak havoc with the U.S. colonizers because these colonizers were invading their territory and trying to force their ways upon them—kind of like we’re doing in Iraq at the present time. But the Iraq situation can be argued both ways as well.
Anyway, because I have a serious aversion to ambiguity, BLOOD and THUNDER was very unsettling to me in many respects, but the historical content is absolutely fascinating. First and foremost, this is a book about Christopher “Kit” Carson and it's his life story that provides the framework for most of the historical content. Before reading BLOOD and THUNDER, I recognized Kit Carson’s name, but that was about it. Now I probably know more about Mr. Carson than most people, and there is much to admire. Not only did he play a major role in almost every significant aspect of conquering the West (first as mountain man and guide, and then as an officer in the United States Army) he was a great leveling influence, a voice of reason to many of the big names in expansion history including John C. Fremont, Stephan Watts Kearney, and James Carleton. Kit Carson truly was a superhero of the American West, but not because of his power and prowess as the dime novels of the time portrayed him, but because of his humble nature and tendency to do the right thing at the right time. He was a loyal soldier, but never one to violate his own principles of decency. Devoted to his family and true to his country, Carson was respected by virtually everyone. The Ute Indians even referred to him as “Father Kit.” If there had been more persons like Kit Carson in positions of power at the time, many of the atrocities committed during the westward expansion might never have occurred.
BLOOD and THUNDER contains some information about nearly every Indian Tribe occupying the country from Missouri to California during the mid 1800’s but the Navajos especially are treated in great detail. Because most of what I knew about The Diné came from reading Tony Hillerman* novels, I found it extremely rewarding to learn more about this absorbing people, their customs and culture. Strange as this may sound, having studied their compelling story in BLOOD and THUNDER, I now want to go to Arizona and give them a hug; telling them I’m sorry my progenitors screwed things up so badly! (Yes, I am aware that students of the latter-day scriptures will argue that this is the way it was meant to be, but come on, did the Cavalry really have to chop down all of the tribe’s hallowed peach trees at Canyon de Chelly?)
Another revelation to me from this book was discovering that the majority of the Indian Wars in the West were fought at the same time the Civil War was being fought in the East. In fact in early 1862, the wars overlapped when Union Soldiers based in Santa Fe had to turn their attention away from the Native Americans long enough to repel an army of Confederate soldiers marching from Texas with the intent of seizing New Mexico. New Mexico for some strange reason, had elected to side with the Union but still wanted to allow slaves; the majority of whom were—interestingly enough— Indians. (Even Kit Carson kept Indian slaves, although some historians argue that he treated them more like adopted children.)
While considerable attention in BLOOD and THUNDER is devoted to Stephen W. Kearny’s long march from Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas to California as commander of the Army of the West, nothing is said of the simultaneous trek of the Mormon Battalion. The Mormons however, are mentioned later (and less than favorably) in connection with the unfortunate events at Mountain Meadows.
Speaking of Mormons, those familiar with LDS history should appreciate the expanded historical context BLOOD and THUNDER provides as the events of Manifest Destiny unfold. The Mexicans, Indians, and Mormons had much in common during the mid 1800’s and similar aspects of their stories have been repeated since time began. Perhaps it is an innate behavioral characteristic of mankind to aggress and suppress, but does any detachment of the human race stay on top for long? BLOOD and THUNDER makes it abundantly clear that the white man conquered the West, but I sometimes can’t help but wonder if the Mexicans are in the process of taking it back? Clichéd as it might be, history WILL repeat itself until we all just learn to get along.
BLOOD and THUNDER: The EPIC STORY of KIT CARSON and the CONQUEST of the AMERICAN WEST, by Hampton Sides.
*Sadly, for those of us who admired the man and his work, Tony Hillerman passed away last Sunday (October 26, 2008) at age 83.
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