Narrative of My Captivity Among the Sioux Indians

This book was perfect; not only did it provide anthropological data to my area of interest (native peoples), but it was so well written with descriptive words and excellent literary skills. Couldn't put it down and I found myself reading slowly and redundantly as I got near the end, just to delay the inevitable end. I've read other captivity narratives (Jamieson, Gardner- Sharp, etc.) as well as trapper's journals and this ranks at the top in terms of action, drama, and native life insight. Felt a unique bond with the author and was in tears as she described her reunion with certain people. There are about 3-4 pictures in seems that survive of her and they fascinated me.

I learned a lot more about how Native Americans lived, travelled, survived and struggled against the white man and other various tribes. From a woman's perspective. While white men forced changes in their way of living. This white woman who became a captive, gives clear insider information about being treated poorly, until she slowly became a part of the tribe, and earned their respect. But was still determination to escape. I highly recommend, if you love History and want to learn more about Native American culture this is a great read.

Surprised it was such an easy read. Extremely interesting very detailed. I loved the book. Recommended.

I enjoyed the author's voice as she told of her life living with the Sioux after her capture in 1864. I enjoyed reading her descriptions of her surroundings and her thoughts during her captivity. There were times I questioned certain events, however. That is the reason I gave this three stars instead of four. If you like learning about the American West from first person accounts, this might be the book for you.

The authenticity of this book is outstanding. As a first person account, it is most harrowing and difficult to read. Through the lens of a white woman captive, emerges a very clear picture of the Native Americans and the conflict between them and the emigrants crossing the great plains.

This was a difficult read, though narrated well, the horrific experience of the author, held captive, was disheartening. Still, the author was able to convey the horror experienced by her, as a captive, other captives, the viciousness of the native tribes toward whites, and the viciousness of the whites/US Government toward the natives, although the latter may not have been intentional on the author's part.I did not understand the author's total plight, while held captive, as I think there were details of her captivity that she did not reveal as, if it occurred, could render harm to her. But, I say this because she never adequately explained why the native women would treat her "like royalty."At the end, I surmise that the narrative was worth reading yet unfulfilling as a story as it was short many levels of details that would hold a reader's attention, but good enough to recount her captivity to the Government/husband after her release.

This is another of the captivity narratives that have emerged since colonial times and Mrs. Mary Rowlandson's exciting "NARRATIVE OF THE CAPTIVITY AND RESTORATION OF MRS. MARY ROWLANDSON".In the last few decades we have had our view of American Indians and their conflicts with Europeans muddled by movies and the usual fretting of academics. The new narrative has 'Europeans Bad; Indians Good' in almost absolute terms.The reality is far more complex, but it is difficult to discover it without reading contemporaneous accounts such as captivity narratives such as this one. It will not be what you have probably been educated to expect.She was taken captive when her wagon train was attacked. A young girl taken with her was able to slip away and return to the wagon route where she stood an revealed herself from a modest distance to a small army detachment passing through. The officers were reluctant to approach her for fear she was part of an Indian ruse to lure the troops into an attack. It wasn't. Days later her body was found with many arrows in it. Another army detachment weeks later spotted Indians and went into a defensive position. Fanny Kelly, the captive white woman, was pressed to write a message to the soldiers saying the Indians were friendly and would allow them to continue on their way. Fanny knew enough of the language to know that the Indians intended slaughter as soon as the protective formation was broken up for continued travel. She managed to warn the troops despite the fact that an Indian chief dictated the message she was to write and then counted the words to make sure nothing extra was put in. The troops saw enough to be warned and their lives were saved. Later, a trade was negotiated to take place at a cavalry fort. The Indians would arrive with the captive, promising peace, and the exchange would take place inside the fort. Fanny knew that the Indians planned to slaughter everyone once enough of them entered the gates of the fort. Once again she managed to slip a warning into the written negotiations and when she and a handful of Indians entered the fort the gates were slammed shut keeping the large number of warriors outside. Again Fanny had saved lives. Later she was honored by Congress for her courageous acts.Fanny doesn't disguise the savage nature of some of the Indians but she is also grateful for the kindly treatment she received from others. Whether she lived or died seemed to depend almost on errant whimsy. For their part, the Indians developed a sometimes precarious respect for her and her status was rising. Long after her captivity ended the great war chief, Red Cloud, spoke well of her to Congress.Another white captive woman, Cynthia Parker, became the wife of Peta Nocona, a Comanche chief and her son, Quanah Parker, became that last great chief of the Comanche. When the Indian wars were settled he was able to become a successful businessman in white society while always retaining his Indian culture.Alexis de Tocqueville's book on America included a chapter on what he called the three races in the United States. In it he recognized that the Indians were more or less outside of European culture but retained a much higher status than free or enslaved blacks did and would have easier acceptance in white culture if they wanted it. Some did. An officer on General Grant's staff who was present at Appomattox was an Indian.The relations between Indians and Europeans was complex from the beginning. The Pilgrims learned from the Indians and the Indians immediately began to rely on European technology. Both inevitably changed.It was almost inevitable that European culture evolved from farming and settlement and stability with the complexity and large population that came with stability would overwhelm Indian hunter/gatherer societies. That has been the case since the first farmers of Europe expanded from Anatolia and over a thousand years moved into Europe and established farming societies in the midst of European hunter/gatherers.

Excellent narrative on Indians in the1800s America and the hatred which resulted so many thousands of deaths on both sides.

This unique work of factual dramatic autobiography is fascinating and filled with incredible historical facts. A wonderful book written in a clear and crisp way that is relevant for the modern reader of Plains History. I found this a very moving book that has whet my appetite for more historical information of the American Indian, the Pioneer and the interplay of the Government agency who each had a profound agenda of their own. A fascinating history of incredible value in today’s modern yet still savage world.

The first hand account of a savage Indian attack on intending settlers, whilst travelling to their destination, and the capture and subsequent treatment of Mrs. Kelly, prior to her release. An informative and interesting read Mrs Kelly's ordeal.

This is a very impressive, although heart wrenching book. Fanny"s bravery and perseverance as well as her ability to recall these often horrible events is truly astonishing. Highly recommended.

Guter Einblick in das Leben der Indianer, wie es wirklich war, nichts Romantisches