Buffalo Calf Road Woman: The Story Of A Warrior Of The Little Bighorn

by Rosemary Agonito, Joseph Agonito

Overview

Winner of the Western Heritage Award for "Outstanding Western Novel" 2005

As the Cheyenne fought that June day in 1876, warrior Comes in Sight faced grave danger. His horse had been shot out from under him, and he was left stranded on the battlefield. Suddenly, a rider galloped through enemy fire, pulled Comes in Sight onto the back of her horse, and spirited him to safety. It was Buffalo Calf Road Woman—the warrior’s own sister. While white men refer to this clash as the Battle of the Rosebud, the Cheyenne know it as the battle, “Where the Girl Saved Her Brother.”

Days later, Buffalo Calf fought at the Battle of Little Bighorn—the only woman to do so. And now a controversy is brewing over her role in that battle: Did Buffalo Calf strike the fatal blow that killed Custer?

In this award-winning novel, authors Rosemary Agonito and Joseph Agonito depict the life and times of this brave young woman and the devastating effects of white man’s westward migration. Based on true events, this epic tale of love and war is an inspiring journey through one of history’s most moving sagas.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780762738175
Publisher:	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc.
Publication date:	10/01/2005
Edition description:	First Edition
Pages:	254
Sales rank:	649,112
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.69(d)

About the Author

Rosemary Agonito is the author of five books and many articles and has lectured widely on women's history and issues. Joseph Agonito is a specialst in the Plains Indians and has been honored for his original research on Native Americans. The Agonitos have traveled extensively in the West, visiting sites of Cheyenne history depicted in this book.

Read an Excerpt

Chapter 1


The end of the world began that day. Not slowly or quietly, not piece by piece or by degrees, but as a calamity that brings another and another and another. ..

A heavy mist hung over the sleeping village wrapped in cottonwoods against the biting winter cold. As the first gray light moved uncertainly over the haze, a lone jackrabbit in the distance scuttled across the snow in search of a naked patch of yellow grass. The distant neighing of a horse in the cloistered pony herd interrupted its furtive movements. It crouched, long ears erect, listening. But the hunger of the lean winter moons soon pushed the starving animal past its fear, and it darted forward again, searching. Suddenly, out of the dense brush, leapt a coyote heavy with its burden of unborn pups, its yellowish eyes wild and full of fire. The rabbit's hind legs propelled it through the snow, swift and straight, the hot eyes tight against its back. The swollen coyote circled, pressing its desperate prey toward the distant bluffs, then fell back. The rabbit took its life and ran some more, but the grateful moment passed as quickly as it began. The coyote's mate, patient and cunning and sure, jumped from a waiting rock. The rabbit's futile flight home ended on the bloodied snows.. ..

Table of Contents

(1) Author's Note (2) The Story of Buffalo Calf Road Woman (3) Epilogue (4) A Chronology of the Cheyenne People (5) Glossary (6) Bibliography (7) Book Group Discussion Guide (8) About the Authors

Editorial Reviews

“.. . A beautifully written narrative. .. the perfect gift for Into the West junkies and all admirers of Native American culture and women's history.”
—Cowboys and Indians magazine

Cowboys and Indians

.. . A beautifully written narrative. .. the perfect gift for Into the West junkies and all admirers of Native American culture and women’s history.” —Cowboys and Indians magazine

From the Publisher