The Apache Wars: The Hunt for Geronimo, The Apache kid and the Captive Boy Who Started the Longest War in American History by Paul Andrew Hutton

The Apache Wars: The Hunt for Geronimo, The Apache kid and the Captive Boy Who Started the Longest War in American History by Paul Andrew Hutton

                What do you remember learning in history class about the late 1800s? More specifically what do you remember learning about the settling of what would become the Western United States from the 1860s to the 1890s? If you are anything like me then you aren’t very aware of the dark history that inhabits that entire time period. You may have heard some of the names, like Geronimo or the Apache Kid. And you are more than likely aware of the reservations that exist or existed at that time. But the history as I remember learning it, is nothing like the history revealed within the pages of The Apache Wars: The Hunt for Geronimo, The Apache kid and the Captive Boy Who Started the Longest War in American History. Hutton offers an in-depth look at the lives of the many different Native American tribes settled in the Arizona/New Mexico area as they fight against the Americans encroaching on their territory. One name will be mentioned often, Mickey Free, who as a child was kidnapped from his home and raised as an Apache. His history and story is interlaced throughout the history of the many different tribes. But of course, his kidnapping is what they say started it all.

                Hutton packs a lot of information into this account of American history. If you are like me and wasn’t very educated on the settling of these territories, well then this will definitely be a crash course history during the years of 1860 to the late 1890’s. The information is giving chronologically with the events starting near the time the southern states were considering seceding from the Union. Americans trying to settle the land on the Western front were beginning to engage in their own war, that against the Native American Tribes. The abduction of the young child who would be known as Mickey Free was definitely one catalyst that began the war but tensions had been running high. The Americans or “White Eyes” as they were referred to then, were trying to make Native Americans dependent on them while also trying to settle their land. Naturally those Native Americans didn’t want to give up their land and were willing to fight to the death, somewhat brutally, to stay on their land. But the work of the White Eyes would eventually force the Native Americans to settle on reservations but that would take decades of warfare and betrayals before it finally happened. Legends like Geronimo would fight until he was no longer able to. While the Apache Kid would be a scout for many years before finally going on the run. Mickey Free would work for the government for many years and would be seen as traitor by many. Each of these histories intertwined to tell this unnerving and horrifying part of history

                What readers have here at the hands of Hutton is a really interesting and educational book that describes the difficult history of Native Americans and their relationship with Americans. It is extremely brutal and a lot of the facts I simply don’t want to imagine. It makes you question humanity and the lengths that people would go in the name of conquest and greed. Unfortunately this story starts off really slow. It did take me a while to really get in to the story but overall I thought this was really well done. It is a lot of information and at times it can get a little overwhelming but Hutton presents a well- researched and well-structured nonfiction book. I give this 4 out of 5 stars. 

Thanks Blogging for Books for this copy in exchange for an honest review.