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Rating: 
Summary: America's First War on Terror
Review: As many of the reviews of this book have stated, this book differs from many other accounts of Indian-white warfare on the Great Plains in that it does not start with an agenda which paints the white settlers/soldiers as thieving invaders and the Indians as noble, oppressed victims. What it is is what it claims to be--a scholarly analysis of contemporaneously written accounts of the conflicts which ranged from the Comanche country in Texas to the Sioux plains in the Dakotas and Montana, with a particular emphasis on the Cheyenne tribe which ranged throughout (and regarding Kansas in particular, which State the author appears to be an authority on). However, since it is based upon contemporaneous writing, it largely is the version of white settlers, survivors, soldiers and newspapermen, and the natural reaction after reading it is to see the Indians as bloodthirsty, brutal savages who raped, tortured and killed. This is fine, because they were, to a certain extent. There is no doubt that these things occurred. But if the book fails, it is in not giving the other side of the story (which would be difficult, becuase none of the tribes involved had a written language at the time). However, considering the subject matter, there are more than enough books which detail the white wrongs--broken treaties, outright theft of land, extermination of Buffalo, poor reservations, corrupt Indian agents, punishment of innocent Indians for the acts of warlike tribesmen, etc. Goodrich is clearly not trying to paint the Indians as monsters, but rather is presenting, in highly readable fashion, the written versions of those who were there--which is inevitably the white version, and it details harrowing accounts of Indian torture, rape and murder. The book is excellent and informative, and is highly recommended. Just make sure you read other books on the subject which take a different (some would say "PC") perspective, like Dee Brown's Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee, and then come to your own conclusion, which will be, inevitably, that both sides had justification, right or wrong, for the brutalities each committed, and that what ultimately happened was a sad but inevitable result of a clash of cultures.
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Summary: Fascinating
Review: I have read many books about Indian wars on the plains. None has the same effect, the same riveting quality, that Scalp Dance has. Rather than an author's version of what happened, this author simply guides us through a chronological trail of bloodshed - narrating where need be, but letting the actual written accounts of those who took part tell the real story. Army men, their wives, settlers, and others tell their tales as they experienced them first hand. I have to say that these first-hand accounts paint a picture more violent, brutal and ruthless than any other book I've read. This is not a watered down version of what happened, or someone's interpretation. This is real. Indian wars have been glorified so much after all these years. It's good, though disturbing, to be reminded that the participants were not always the noble beings we've been imagining. It's hard to picture a culture so vicious in these modern days. Scalp Dance tells it like it was, rather; the accounts of those unlucky enough to take part do the telling.
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Summary: America's First War on Terror
Review: If you want to understand the dynamics of the plains indian wars, you MUST read this book. Scalp Dance gives you an up close and personal look at the atrocities and danger that frontier people lived with daily. One of my favorite subjects is the Indian Wars (both in the east and west), but anymore it is virtually impossible -- and I mean IMPOSSIBLE -- to find books that aren't extremely PC and insultingly one-sided. This book is the antidote. Before you cast aspersions on the people involved in these conflicts, read this book, and ask yourself, "What would I do in the same situation?"
Rating:
Summary: Fascinating
Review: The account of the events is vivid and memorable. The emphasis is on the words of those people who experienced life on the Great Plains at the time, both military and private citizens, men and women. The Indians did not write memoirs ordinarily, but their attitude comes through in their recorded encounters with the whites. Also, these days we know much more about how they were treated. Why contemporary whites felt as they did about the Indians is a strong point of this book.Another fine point of this book is that the author has avoided skewing the story with political correctness. The history is neither "noble savage" nor "the only Indian is a bad Indian." It is a clash of cultures seen by walking in the shoes of contemporaries. In addition, there is a very informative view of General George Custer and Mrs. Custer, one enhancing our knowledge of his military ability and their humanity. Custer's relationship to the Indians is especially revealing,
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Summary: Scalp Dance
Review: This book is a very detailed look at the wars between the calvery and indians and tribes against tribes. It consist of tons of diary entries from calvery soldiers that depict the terrible torture and scalpings that the soldiers went throught BEFORE their death. It's hard to put this book down!
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Summary: Equal Time
Review: This book is equal time. The author gives us a view of history few have courage to even mention these days. The battle for supremacy between the American Indian and the white settlers was bitter clash of cultures. This book declares the facts. Yes, both sides committed terrible inhumane atrocities, but some people made a genuine effort to understand and help the natives they considered savages in spite of the terrible killing. If you are looking for an alternative to the watered down history books you read in school about the Indian wars, this is it. The book contains actual narrative from soldiers and civilians that lived through the battles and encountered the horrible realities of torture, desecration of the dead, rape and kidnapping. And they are surprising lenient toward their enemies. If you're looking for another dry, boring account of the America west, this book is not for you. But if you're looking for something with a twist, read Scalp Dance.
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Summary: Outstanding presentation of the Plains Wars
Review: This book is one of the best ever written on the Plains Wars, and it shows the great stupidity of the idea that between the Civil War and Spanish-American War American soldiers were at peace. Nothing could have been further from the truth. "Scalp Dance" shows the gory, harrowing battles waged by handfuls of ill-equipped soldiers against some of the most vicious opponents America has ever faced. Usually outnumbered and sometimes even despised by some of their own countrymen, these troops were the men who made the settling of the West a fact. Until now, their story and their sacrifices have been largely forgotten thanks to mountains of PC rhetoric. Now "Scalp Dance" has rectified that. Those who loved the movie "Dances With Wolves" should read this book of FACTUAL accounts of the Plains Wars for a no-holds-barred history lesson. "Scalp Dance" is bloody, suspenseful book that is all the more relevant because it's actual history.
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Summary: Best Indian Warfare book on the market
Review: This is a fine and thoughtful book, somewhat out of sync with the silly expugation of Indian war customs that has become common today. Much food for thought can be found here on troubling aspects of human nature. The book's almost ruthless honesty can become oppressive now and then, but there is so much interesting information that it often compels reading.
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