The San Francisco call., 1905-02-05

~ careless-of American writ
ters. Three novels year.
with one or two historical works in
terspersed, seems to be about the aver
age output for this energetic ex-wear-
er of the cloth. Necessarily his work
is not usually high class, and Mr..
Brady has only his own prediction
for speed to blame if the reading pub
lie hesitates to place as high value
upon his work as he himself may do.
In the writing Of history, however,
Mr.. Brady seems to be more conscien-
fious than in his fiction efforts. In
popularizing the dry records of fact he
displays a lively style, pictures vividly
stirring events and gives a broadly
comprehensive view OF his chosen sub
3ect which suits admirably the not too
dnical taste Of the average reader.
His recently published book, Indian
Fights and Fighters" is perhaps the
best thing in this line that Brady has
done.
The third in a series upon American
fights and fighters. this book continues
the record of colonial, border and
revolutionary wars to the decade just
after the Civil War when the vast
plains OF the West formed the amphi-
rheater for the stirring drama of In
dian campaigns. Only the first half
Of the Indian wars are included in this
volume: those embraced during the
years 1S66-lS76 and fought out along
the course of the first transcontinen-
tai railroad. In a second book the
author will continue the record of the
Indian wars to include the campaigns
tn the Northwest against Chief Joseph
and q third will embody the events of
Apache troubles in the great South
west. A comprehensive scheme this;
and if Mr.. Brady gives to the succeed
ing books as thoroughly satisfactory a
character as the first possesses he will
have made complete atonement for
the hurried and insipid novels that
bear his frank.
The author takes up the record of the
stirring times on plain and mountain
with the establishment in 1866 of Fort
Philip Kearney TO guard the Bozeman
trail from the Missouri to Montana.
Never, says the author, in the history
of Indian wars has there been a strong
hold so persistently beleaguered. Dur
ing the two years Of its occupancy by
the small garrison this outpost was
constantly under the surveillance of
hostile war parties, no wagon train
going to or coming from the fort was
immune from attack. every forage or
wood party venturing outside of the
stockade had to be accompanied by an
armed guard and at all times the COM
mand delegated to the defense of the
post was inadequate. And terrible
were some of the experiences of this
garrison force. Brady gives with
vivid pen the details of the annihilation
OF Fettermans command, which,
through the disobedience Of orders on
the part of Fetterman, came to fall in
TO an Indian ambuscade and there to
meet death almost TO a man. Again
was there a desperate fight against
overwhelming odds when Major Powell
and thirty-one others from their i'm
provised wagon corral on Piney Island
repulsed three thousand Sioux warriors
for the weary length Of a whole day.
This is thrilling reading.
For the policy of the Government in
treating with the Indians first as in
dependent nations and then as revolted
subjects and in Understanding the
strength Of their resistance Brady has
some hot censure. He says: ITO settle
such growing question in a word, Off
hand, as IL were, is, of course impos-
sible, nor does the settlement lie with
in the province of these articles: but
1t may be said that if the United States
had definitely decided upon one policy
or the other, and had then concen-
trated all its strength upon the prob
lem; If it had realized the Character of
the people with whom it was dealing.
and had made such display Of its force
as would have rendered it apparent. to
the keenest as well as to the most
stupid and besotted of the Indians. that
resistance was entirely futile, things
might have been different. But if is
the solemn truth that never. in anv
OF the Indian wars west Of the Mis-
souri, has there been a force of soldiers
in the field adequate to deal with the
question"
To this vacillating policy upon the
part of the Government Brady at-
tributes in large part the FREQUENT dis
asters and the ever present dangers
shadowing the petty handful of troops
which was grudgingly assigned TO
guard territory large as the whole of
the then inhabited portion of the United
States.
The disastrous Little Big Horn cam
pa1gns Wmch was Slgnalized by the en-
tire destruction of General Clusters
command and the ignominious routing
Of the forces under Major Reno. though
the subject Of much controversy and
many partisan writings, is reviewed at
length by Brady. After tracing at
length the course taken by Custer in
pursuance Of his superior generals or
ders, the dividing of his forces in the
hope Of surrounding the great encamp-
ment Of the Indians on the Little Big
Horn and the helpless laundering and
incompetence Of Renos command. the
author asserts it to be his belief that
Custer brought on himself the terrible
defeat by his neglect of orders, prompt
ed in part by desire to win back by
single daring stroke the prestige lost
by him in his unfortunate political at
tack against Bellznap, Secretary of
War and also by his trust in the tao
tics which had won him the signal vic
tory at Washita-
Il have studied the situation care
fully" says Brady, examining all the