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[books 2012] Forgotten Allies
Jun. 2nd, 2012 09:28 pm32. Forgotten Allies: The Oneida Indians and the American Revolution by Joseph T. Glatthaar and James Kirby Martin
Final book read in May. Pretty much does what it says in the title.
The first three or so chapters are an introduction to the Oneida (who formed part of the Iroquois nation), their culture before European settlement, and how their tribal structure changed after they encoutered Europeans and many adopted Christianity, and how they came to be (just about) the only tribe of the Iroquois who joined the revolution on the rebel side - most of the rest sided with the British, and a few struggled to remain neutral. This was absolutely fascinating stuff.
The rest of the book describes their exploits in the Revolutionary War. I have no idea why I struggled with it for weeks - while not the most gripping narrative I've ever read, I've certainly got through things a lot less interesting with a lot less trouble. The writing is more than competent (the research exceptionally so). I think I'll chalk it up to a combination of my brain being in the wrong place with not being, in general, all that thrilled with the minutiae of military campaigns.
Amongst those that the Oneida impressed with their military skill was the Marquis de Lafayette. Some years later he returned to the US for a tour; when he got to a town in the area where he knew the Oneida were from, he asked the town dignitaries where he could find those Oneida who had been his allies in the Revolution, only to find they'd already been forgotten.
I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this book more, because it's yet another example of how history is more complicated, and far more interesting, than is commonly thought.
May Reading
8 books
2 non fiction
3 from the library
books purchased: 2 (I think) but also acquired three freebies...so no progress on the book mountain then.
Final book read in May. Pretty much does what it says in the title.
The first three or so chapters are an introduction to the Oneida (who formed part of the Iroquois nation), their culture before European settlement, and how their tribal structure changed after they encoutered Europeans and many adopted Christianity, and how they came to be (just about) the only tribe of the Iroquois who joined the revolution on the rebel side - most of the rest sided with the British, and a few struggled to remain neutral. This was absolutely fascinating stuff.
The rest of the book describes their exploits in the Revolutionary War. I have no idea why I struggled with it for weeks - while not the most gripping narrative I've ever read, I've certainly got through things a lot less interesting with a lot less trouble. The writing is more than competent (the research exceptionally so). I think I'll chalk it up to a combination of my brain being in the wrong place with not being, in general, all that thrilled with the minutiae of military campaigns.
Amongst those that the Oneida impressed with their military skill was the Marquis de Lafayette. Some years later he returned to the US for a tour; when he got to a town in the area where he knew the Oneida were from, he asked the town dignitaries where he could find those Oneida who had been his allies in the Revolution, only to find they'd already been forgotten.
I'm sad that I didn't enjoy this book more, because it's yet another example of how history is more complicated, and far more interesting, than is commonly thought.
May Reading
8 books
2 non fiction
3 from the library
books purchased: 2 (I think) but also acquired three freebies...so no progress on the book mountain then.
