A Daughter of The Sioux

General Charles King

1903

The Hobart Company, New York

306 pages of the historical U.S. Cavalry.

Overview:

Personal and military drama unfold as the U.S. Cavalry is called into action when the Native Americans, aided by an informant, go on the attack.

Summary

The Western Frontier, late 1800's. A division of the U.S. Cavalry is stationed at Fort Frayne, essentially tasked with protecting American settlers in the area. Major Webb is in command, and Lieutenant Field is his 'post adjunct', a senior administrative officer. Though Field is an excellent officer, the major is frustrated at his frequent attentions to a new young lady in the community, Miss Flowers. Miss Flowers is a niece to the Hays, who have a trading post and provide goods to the community, as well as to some Native Americans. Early one morning, an urgent message arrives via courier, but the lieutenant is gone from the camp and it becomes an awkward and embarrassing situation for the major as he organizes a hurried response. Lieutenant Field soon arrives, but is abruptly ordered to accompany the troops who are just leaving and he does not get the chance to explain his absence, although the major suspects he was with Miss Flowers. A Native American Chief, Lone Wolf, has declared war against the white man, and a neighboring fort needs reinforcements.

The Fort Frayne Cavalry incurs significant losses, and Lieutenant Field is severely wounded and sent back to the fort while the rest of the troops continue fighting. Meanwhile, it is discovered that money is missing from the safe, for which Field is responsible. Soon after, Mr. Hay and his niece, Miss Flowers, are kidnapped by the Souix Indians. The troops who are still out fighting eventually rescue Mr. Hay and discover Miss Flowers traveling freely with the Sioux in her native dress. She turns out to be half Sioux and is the wife of the Sioux chief who is making most of the trouble for the Cavalry. It is discovered that Miss Flowers stole the money for her husband, and provided him with information about the cavalry's movements. It is also exposed that she lied and manipulated Lieutenant Field to take her to local indian settlements for her secret dealings.

Both Miss Flowers and her husband chief are taken back to Fort Frayne where he is jailed. She aids him in a failed escape attempt, then soon after he dies in a fight with one of the soldiers. Lieutenant Field saves Miss Flowers from killing herself, however she dies from wounds suffered by the attempt. Though deeply humiliated and ashamed at having been so influenced and used by a traitor to the cavalry, Lieutenant Field continues to serve in the military to redeem himself and restore his good name.

Review

This is not 'cowboys and indians'. This is 'the U.S. Cavalry and indians', with few sympathies for the Native Americans, and plenty of military prowess. Well-written, fairly engaging, with plenty of who-done-it mystery, I'm sure it was a successful novel in 1903. Although some readers may have been a little disappointed if they had expected, due to the title, mind you, a little more Sioux Indian action and intelligence. Rather, the Native Americans of the story feel more like props to showcase the military exploits rather than legitimate characters. They had few lines, even less perspective and with scarcely any compassion for their situation.

There is some understanding, perhaps compassion, by the author:

There had been aggression on both sides, then bloodshed, then attempts on part of the frontier sheriffs to arrest accused or suspected red men, and equally determined and banded effort to prevent arrest of accused or identified whites. By due process of law...the Indian was pretty sure to get the worst of every difference, and therefore, preferred...his own time-honored methods of settlement.

This and a few more paragraphs seem to explain for the reader, in brief, what the situation was between the Native Americans and the American settlers, which included cattlemen, herds, and the U.S. Cavalry stationed to protect them.

Who is the hero in this story? It struck me that there is no one man acting as 'hero'. In the beginning, it seems like Lieutenant Field will be the hero, he is certainly handsome and chivalrous. But he is not saving the day, and, in fact, is sick in bed for much of the novel. The hero turns out to be the U.S. Cavalry, who, as a collective, is saving the day, everyday, and who act as a unit in bravery, strength, and prompt response to a call for help. Certainly that was the author's intention.

The author does throw in a second love interest for Lieutenant Field, but it's fairly predictable and adds little to the main storyline.

There is plenty use of the word 'savage' to refer to the Native Americans. In modern lingo it's quite offensive, but considering the broader meaning of the word and the enormous difference between the 19th century European and the 19th century Native American, we can overlook the reference. It is generally not used with antipathy. The author also uses 'red man' in the same manner, though never 'red skin'.

A Daughter of the Sioux was a book for its time, but for modern readers I doubt it would hold much interest. But what do I know? Maybe some of you would enjoy it, in particular older generations and military enthusiasts. There is plenty of jargon and reference to equipment that pertains particularly to the cavalry.

To The Author's Credit:

Mr.- excuse me - ‘General’ Charles King was a military man and he wrote what he knew. It is a nice history lesson of the life of cavalry men on the western frontier. The U.S. Cavalry no longer exists (except symbolically), but in King's novels he has preserved that important part of our national history. Without them the west could not have been won.

To the Author's Discredit:

The title character, Miss Flowers, "the (half) daughter of the Sioux", is sorely underdeveloped. She has very little dialogue and few scenes. She is the key to the mystery of the whole plot, so perhaps King is justified in keeping her obscure, but Miss Flowers goes from darling white lady to evil indian squaw too abruptly. Though given a few lines to explain herself, she becomes even less realistic when we find out she is doing all of this conniving and stealing not for the love of her tribe, but rather for the love of her husband (because we all know that a squaw is obstinately obsessed with her man). Which makes the title of the novel, and the photograph on the cover, all wrong. It's far too grand for such a poor character.

Best Lines:

Whisky is a wonderful starter but a mighty poor stayer of a fight.

...heavily ambushed grays... (describing the eyes of Major Webb)

...the best means to end obnoxious laws was their rigorous enforcement.

The major fairly wriggled in his cane-bottomed whirligig. (Even after searching the internet, I have no idea what it is that he wriggled in)

feminine witchery - I personally have used this with great success.

His deep-set gray eyes, under their tangled thatch of brown,...

Beverly Field - the name of one of the main characters, an officer in the cavalry, back when Beverly was generally a man's name, like the name 'Ashley'.

...the daily...review (of the mounted cavalry) brought many of the garrison ladies, most of the children and all of the dogs to the scene.

It is easier to stem a torrent with a shingle than convince a lover that his idol is a shrew.

That dodge was bald-headed when I was a baby. (that trick was very old)

...dry as a dead tooth...

certain inexpressibles - feminine items one doesn't talk about.

Vocabulary:

Post adjunct - office charged with administrative duties.

comeliness - pleasing appearance

impedimenta - equipment

sutler - a civilian provisioner to a military post, often with a shop.

solecism - a breach of etiquette or propriety

unusurious aid - money lent without interest

gauntleted - gloved

wended - traveled, directed (from 'wend')

recalcitrant - obstinately defiant of authority or restraint

bruit - to report

a brace - a pair

subaltern - subordinate

girt - fashioned by means of a girth

haversack - satchel

parapet - an elevation of earth that is used for protection

carbine - short-barreled, lightweight firearm

bivouac - temporary encampment under little or no shelter

uxorial - relating to a wife

travois - vehicle consisting of two trailing poles supporting a platform, pulled by a horse.

pellmell - in mingled confusion, disorder

factotum - general employee with many duties

worsted - a type of yarn

Book Sellers

When reviewing a book, I search the internet for information about the author and the book itself. This is the first time I have ever come across not one, but three wrong descriptions of the story. I realize a seller can't read every book they put up for sale, so all is forgiven (but your slip is showing). Also, I've noticed that for reviews on book-selling sites, some people are reviewing the book and some people are reviewing the seller. Chaos abounds.

P.S. The 1925 silent film did not follow the book storyline.

Notice the quote:

"He is bred out of that bloody strain That haunted us in our familiar paths." - King Henry V.

I don't get it. But I assume it relates somehow to the theme of the novel.

Illustrations by Frederic Remington (3) and Edwin Willard Deming (4), both renowned artists. Why two illustrators? Why not?

Remington. This is typical of his style. Cowboys and Cavalry made up the bulk of his subjects.

Deming. Again, typical for Deming. He was known for his depictions of Native Americans.

Interesting that on this one page, 232, the font is smaller than the rest of the book. 34 lines, compared to 29 for all the other pages.