The Wilderness War (Book IV: Narratives of America)

by Allan W. Eckert

Book Overview

From Niagara Falls to Lake Champlain, the warriors of the mighty Iroquois ruled supreme. Not even the savagery of the French and Indian wars could cool their fury or halt their power. But by 1770 the restless white men were warring once again. Thayendanegea, the valiant Iroquois war chief, allied his fierce tribes with the one white man the Indians loved and trusted, Sir William Johnson. Once more the frontier would erupt, pitting the Indians' unvanquished...

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0553134620
• ISBN13: 9780553134629
• Release Date: January 1999
• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Length: 587 Pages
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great series!

This is one of the weaker books in Eckert's series, but it was still a good read. I'd recommend it for any Eckert fan, or any other American-History fan. You should definately read the other books in the series!!!

Well written

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It is well written and factually correct to my knowledge. I grew up in the area where many of these events took place and learned about them in my elementary school days in a dry and factual way. This book made the events come to life in an interesting and facinating way for me.

Gripping historical narration...better than fiction

Eckert is a master at narrating and telling history in as gripping and compelling a fashion as you will find. This entire series is so extremely interesting and filled with drama and information you will not learn in school. This book, Wilderness War, takes the reader from the end of the French Indian War, through the Revolutionary War in America and tells the tale of the Indian involvement. During this time, the Iroquois League is ripped apart and those strong Indian nations dispossessed of their homelands. Despite the leadership and commitment of the chief Thayendanegea, their war chief (also known as Joseph Brant), and despite the manueverings and alliance with Sir William Johnson, the mighty Iroquois are defeated. I would recommend Eckert to anyone desiring a more in depth look at the Indian Wars and the overall history of the Eastern United States.

Revolution on the New York Frontier

This is the shortest of Allan W. Eckert's fantastic Winning of America series. Like all Eckert's historical novels, it is a wonderful attempt to bring history alive.Wilderness War picks up about 13 years after the end of Pontiac's War as chronicled in Eckert's "The Conquerors". It tells the tale of Mohawk war chief Joseph Brant, the white-educated Iroquois leader who would go on to lead his people against the Americans during the Revolutionary War on the New York and Pennsylvania frontier. It begins with the breakup of the great Six Nations as they are torn in opposing directions at the outbreak of the Revolution as both sides fight to win the loyalty of the Eastern tribes. Brant joins with the British invasion force under Barry St. Leger as he lays siege to the American held Fort Stanwix in his drive down the Mohawk Valley toward Albany, where he plans to link up with a large Britsh force under General John Burgoyne in an attempt to spilt the rebellious colonies and drive them into submission. Brant's Mohawks, supported by loyalist troops, smash into an American relief column under General Nicholas Herkimer at Oriskany. This bloody confrontation sets the stage for what proves to be a long line of frontier battles, raids, murders, and atrocities commited by both sides in a bitter conflict to control the frontier, culminating with the American's long march through Iroquois lands, devastating villages, food stores, and breaking the will of the Indians forever. The aftermath of this onslaught eventually brought independence for the new United States, but starvation and death to the once-great Six Nations who would never rise again. Wilderness War tackles an engaging story in a fascinating time period and Eckert, as usual, does a wonderful job. He paints a broad portrait of life and warfare on the New York Frontier and tells the story not only of Brant and the fate of the eastern tribes, but of the trials, hardships, and ultimate triumph of the settlers who pushed into the unknown to hack a new life out of the wilderness.

excellence again

I've now read 4 of Eckert's books and one is better then the next. He takes a period of our American History and makes it come to life. Even though these books are not historical fiction, he weaves events and people into a seemless story. Bravo again !