And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
I'm about 3/4 of the way through Empire of the Summer Moon; Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, The Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History..., by S.C. Gwynne - highly recommended by either our host or Dave Petzal in Field and Stream, I forget who.
At one point the author claims that a Comanche warrior could hit a target the size of a doorknob at 50 yards 4 out of 5 times, and at 10 to 15 yards shoot a 20 to 30 inch arrow with sufficient force that it would drive through a 2,000 pound buffalo.
I always thought the Commanches were a much more badass tribe than the Sioux, they held their territory for a longer time, ruled a much bigger swath of country and basically kicked everybody's ass from down in Mexico up into the high plains using bows, arrows and horsemanship...and Empire of the Summer Moon is a incredible book.
Fought the us army to a stand still. Yep, he was pretty bad ass.
ReplyDeleteThe guy we honor when jumping out of planes?
ReplyDeleteI'm about 3/4 of the way through Empire of the Summer Moon; Quanah Parker and the Rise and Fall of the Comanches, The Most Powerful Indian Tribe in American History..., by S.C. Gwynne - highly recommended by either our host or Dave Petzal in Field and Stream, I forget who.
ReplyDeleteAt one point the author claims that a Comanche warrior could hit a target the size of a doorknob at 50 yards 4 out of 5 times, and at 10 to 15 yards shoot a 20 to 30 inch arrow with sufficient force that it would drive through a 2,000 pound buffalo.
Whew.
Great book.
He ran the army ragged.
ReplyDeleteI always thought the Commanches were a much more badass tribe than the Sioux, they held their territory for a longer time, ruled a much bigger swath of country and basically kicked everybody's ass from down in Mexico up into the high plains using bows, arrows and horsemanship...and Empire of the Summer Moon is a incredible book.
ReplyDelete