In this commendable book, the author takes readers on an easily digestible journey through the tumultuous history of conflicts in the American Southwest. With a well-presented narrative, the story unravels the intricate web of wars, betrayals, misunderstandings, and enduring friendships that characterized the region's transformation.

The narrative begins with the arrival of new settlers, initially comprised of fur trappers, miners, and traders. Notably, fur trappers like Tom Jeffords managed to coexist peacefully with the Apache people, a collection of small tribes named after the unique landscapes they inhabited. The Apache, being hunter-gatherers who revered the environment, found common ground with these early settlers. However, the arrival of miners, driven by their relentless pursuit of gold and copper, marked a turning point, as they wreaked havoc on the land.

The book vividly portrays the era's mining operations, with mule trains carrying ingots of copper down to Mexico, sometimes consisting of up to a hundred mules. These trains became a regular occurrence, and the scars of open-pit mining still mar the landscape today. Simultaneously, the conflicts over once-Mexican territories escalated, as farming settlers pushed forward, forts and stages were established, and the Apache people found themselves caught in the crossfire, repeatedly displaced from one reservation or mountain refuge to another.

Reading this book, I almost felt transported to the very sites of significant meetings and ambushes, a testament to the author's skillful storytelling. The past, it becomes clear, has never truly vanished; it lingers in the air, waiting to be explored and understood.

In summary, "A History of Southwest Conflicts" is a captivating account of the region's complex history. While it doesn't delve into an overly detailed analysis, it serves as a valuable introduction to the subject, aided by the inclusion of striking photographs. If you're intrigued by the American Southwest's rich history and its interplay of cultures, this book is an excellent starting point. I read an e-ARC from Net Galley, and this review is offered without bias.

An informative book that highlights the sad and criminal treatment of Native Americans by those seeking to steal their land. I enjoyed reading about the efforts of Cochise and his fellow warriors in resisting the genocide.

This admirable book is an easily read, well presented account of the many wars, treacheries, misunderstandings and long friendships involved in conflicts in the now American Southwest. The new settlers were first fur trappers, then miners and traders. The trappers, such as Tom Jeffords, mostly lived equably with Apache peoples, who were composed of several small tribes, named for aspects of the landscape where they lived. The Apaches were hunter-gatherers, who cherished the environment. But miners especially kept destroying the land in pursuit of gold or copper.

The mule trains taking ingots of copper down to Mexico to be sold to make coinage, could contain a hundred mules. This was a regular occurrence and the ground still yields copper today in vast open-pit mining. Meanwhile, the war over once-Mexican lands was fought, the farming settlers pushed forward and forts and stages were established; and the Apache were in the middle of this, pushed from one reservation or mountain refuge to another. Personal memories, told to the author, are retold.

I like the regular inclusion of photos, either museum pieces from both sides - some chieftains were not photographed so their sons, with wives, in some cases, are shown - or the modern landscape. The author concludes each section by giving a short guide to what we can visit today, to follow the footsteps of history. Indeed, I almost felt cold on my spine looking at some of his photos of the scene of such a meeting or ambush. The past did not go anywhere. The past is here.

I read an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

Riding with Cochise: The Apache Story of America's Longest War by Steve Price is an interesting, engaging and well researched work.

Really enjoyed this book. While the title is "Riding With Cochise." the book details many of the important elements of the later lives of both Cochise and Geronimo. What's particularly fascinating is that the author traveled along those same paths, describing in detail the things both Cochise and Geronimo. The author does meander between being a tour guide and presenting the history, but I feel I have a better appreciation for the lives of both men.

This was an engaging read. Very different from what I normally pick up, but I'm really glad I gave it a chance.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for letting me review this book. This was an informative read yet sadly highlights the injustices done to Native Americans. This book tells about mainly the Apache and 4 of the leaders. If the government hadn’t broken or gone back on treaties and given the Native Americans the real value of what the land was worth instead of trying to cheat them out of land; I think there may not have been so many clashes between Native Americans,military and civilians ending in bloodshed. Sadly many Indian agents that oversaw the reservations were crooked and tried to cheat the Native Americans. There were a few agents that did try to do their job and help on the reservations.

This ebook edition was received compliments of NetGalley. In exchange, the author agreed to provide an unbiased review. It follows.

Four Indian chiefs of the American Southwest were highlighted in this epic narrative: Cochise, Geronimo, Victorio and Mangas Coloradas. There were many others, but these four were the most deserving of attention.

Indian agent, Tom Jeffords, worked hand-in-hand with Cochise, a Chiricahua Apache, to keep the peace. It was reported that he was the only known white man to have ever gained the chief's trust, a great feat by itself. In fact, they maintained a lasting friendship. In recognition of these epic times, a popular western TV series was aired, Broken Arrow. In partially keeping with historic value, the Indian Agent's name on the show was also Tom Jeffords. His role was to act as liaison with the Americans to see that food was given out, treaties were decided upon and peace was preserved. I digress.

Unfortunately, as history has shown us, there were only brief periods of peace followed by relentless, savage fighting with our Native Americans. Sad. The storyline of this book detailed the incidents of most notoriety, ranging from the mid until the latter part of the 19th century.

The countless injustices rained down upon the American Indians were merciless. Let this book stand as a stark reminder of the horrible cruelty dealt to our early settlers by the hands of a heartless bureaucracy. In payment of their ultimate sacrifice - we shall never forget.