Blue Water Creek and the First Sioux War, 1854 - 1856 (Campaigns and Commanders, 6)

Rating:
Summary: Review by a Blue Water researcher
Review: As I am a researcher of the Blue Water Massacre, I was very interested when I first heard that this book was coming out. I, myself, am in the process of having a paper published and I have attended numerous academic symposiums and conferences on this subject. I also happen to live and work with the descendants of the people affected by this tragedy.

Although the research on this book is extensive, Paul fails to include much of a native perspective. He has some names wrong as well, and I believe some facts. He did not talk to any of the Little Thunder descendants, nor those of James Bordeaux, who are living and thriving today despite Harney's attack on their village. Paul is wrong by saying that there is a limited number of native accounts. Oral history recounts this war and personal interviews are a must when writing about Indian history as Indians of that time period did not generally write their memories onto paper. He does not get both sides of the story. This is a one-sided book that may has well been written at the end of the 19th century when all history of Indian wars was told through the eyes of the US Army. I believe that Paul is getting this book out in time for the 150th anniversary. I am happy to see that the events at the Blue Water are coming out more into public view, but this book just continues to perpetuate the horrors of the past without being sensitive and admitting fault. Mainstream history books are in the process of changing to record both sides of stories. Shouldn't Paul's book? I am greatly disappointed.