The Heart of Everything That Is: The Untold Story of Red Cloud, An American Legend

This biography of the Sioux warrior Red Cloud tells the story of the only American Indian in history to defeat the United States Army in war, forcing the government to negotiate peace on his terms. At the height of his power, Red Cloud's people controlled one-fifth of the contiguous United States and commanded thousands of fighters. Based on the rediscovery of a lost autobiography and extensive primary research, the book traces Red Cloud's life and the events leading to Red Cloud's War. It includes portraits of figures he encountered, including mountain man Jim Bridger, General William Tecumseh Sherman, explorer John Bozeman, and warriors such as Crazy Horse. The narrative examines Red Cloud's fight to preserve the Indian way of life against westward expansion. The book draws on years of research to restore Red Cloud to his place in American history and document the conflict between expanding white civilization and the Plains Indians.