The Native American people have been characterized in many ways—as great hunters, as a deeply spiritual people and, of course, as legendary warriors. Warfare and conflict were an essential part of their society long before Europeans arrived in the Americas. Experienced in skirmishing, guerrilla warfare, and in stealth tactics, Native Americans saw their forms of warfare change drastically with the introduction from Europe of the horse, gunpowder, and firearms.Native American Warriors examines the warrior culture of the various tribes that fought each other and the Europeans across what would become the United States and Canada. Made up of various tribes with unique ways of life, the book explores the weaponry, techniques, equipment, and tactics of Native Americans. Divided broadly by region, the book includes accounts of many of the great battles and campaigns fought by Native American peoples, including the Pequot War (1636–38), the Battle of Braddock’s Field (1755), the French and Indian Wars (1756–63), the Powder River Expedition (1865), Red Cloud’s War (1866), and the infamous Battle of Little Big Horn (1876), where General Custer and his command were ambushed and wiped out by a force of Sioux and Cheyenne warriors. Including 180 illustrations and photographs, Native American Warriors is an accessible guide to the warfare and fighting techniques of the original inhabitants of North America.
