The Last of the Chiefs: A Story of the Great Sioux War

In Short

This novel follows Richard and Albert Howard, two brothers who set out for California to improve Albert’s failing health, only to be caught in the violence of the 1876 Sioux conflict. After their wagon train is destroyed, they retreat into a secluded mountain valley, where they build a sophisticated, self-reliant life through trapping and hunting. The narrative chronicles their transition from vulnerable refugees to capable woodsmen and their eventual entanglement with the pivotal events of the Great Sioux War, including the Battle of the Little Bighorn.

The Story

The journey begins on the open prairie, where the older, robust Richard protects his frail younger brother, Albert. Their expedition is cut short when a Sioux raiding party obliterates their wagon train. In the chaos of the attack, Richard manages to carry his unconscious brother into a dense thicket, effectively vanishing from the sight of both the Sioux and the white settlers.

Finding a remote, pristine valley, the boys establish a hidden homestead. They prove remarkably resourceful, turning a hollowed-out tree into a storehouse and masterfully harvesting furs that represent a small fortune. As the seasons turn, the harshness of the mountains sharpens their instincts and physical endurance. Albert, once delicate, grows strong under the rigors of their survivalist existence, while Richard hones his skills as a hunter and scout.

Their isolation ends when they are captured by a band of Sioux led by Bright Sun, a complex figure who had previously spared their lives. Held within the vast Indian encampment, the brothers become unwilling witnesses to the gathering of the Sioux tribes. They are present during the lead-up to the Battle of the Little Bighorn, watching from the periphery as Custer’s command is overwhelmed.

Following the battle, the chaos of the Sioux victory allows the brothers to escape. In a final encounter with the defeated Bright Sun, Richard chooses to spare the chief’s life, honoring a past mercy. The brothers eventually make their way to Helena, where they sell their accumulated furs for a substantial sum. Instead of returning to "civilization," they invest their earnings and choose to retreat back to their secret sanctuary. The story concludes with the brothers returning to their valley, reaffirming their connection to the land and their independence from the world beyond the mountains.

How It Unfolds

The journey begins Richard and Albert Howard set out across the plains, Richard driven by a promise to their late mother to protect his brother. Their progress is marked by the discovery of a vast buffalo herd, signaling the bounty and the danger of the frontier.

The massacre The relative peace of their travel is shattered when Sioux warriors attack their train in a mountain pass. Richard secures their survival by fleeing into the darkness with his brother and a few scavenged supplies.

The hidden life The brothers stumble upon a remote valley, which they systematically transform into a productive home. They survive the winter by building sophisticated traps and constructing a "two-story" annex inside an ancient oak tree.

The capture The brothers’ freedom is curtailed when they are discovered and taken prisoner by Bright Sun’s band. They spend time living within the Sioux village, observing the mounting tensions that precede the Great Sioux War.

The battle and departure The brothers watch the destruction of the Seventh Cavalry from the hillside, an experience that marks the end of their captivity. Amid the confusion, they manage to flee, eventually selling their furs and deciding to return to their secluded life.

The People

Richard Howard is the older, physically powerful brother whose primary motivation is the safety and well-being of Albert. His growth throughout the book is defined by his transition from a farm-raised youth to an expert woodsman who possesses the tactical awareness of a soldier.

Albert Howard starts as a slender, fragile youth suffering from the "moist air" of the East. His journey is one of physical and psychological transformation; through the harsh, dry air and active life of the mountains, he sheds his "useless" feeling and becomes a confident, capable partner to his brother.

Bright Sun serves as the moral and strategic center of the Sioux force. He is a man of few words and complex loyalties, characterized by a stoic nature and a deep, quiet respect for the brothers. He balances his role as a war leader with a sense of mercy, ultimately becoming a tragic figure who chooses exile over surrender.

In Its Own Voice

"The boy in the third wagon was suffering from exhaustion."

The story opens on the grueling reality of the prairie journey, which poses an immediate, life-threatening challenge to Albert’s fragile constitution.

"The Sioux make the last stand for the Indian race, and we strike when and where we can."

Bright Sun explains his people's desperate, tactical approach to the war against the encroachment of the white settlers.

"I vote we buy United States Government bonds... and go back to the valley to hunt and trap."

After achieving financial success, the brothers prioritize their independence and their unique lifestyle over participating in mainstream society.

What It's Really About

The narrative explores the tension between civilization and the wild, arguing that true strength is forged through self-reliance and intimate knowledge of the natural world. It poses questions about the nature of survival: can one remain "civilized" while living outside the bounds of human society? Furthermore, the book attempts to navigate the tragedy of the Great Sioux War by presenting both the devastation brought upon the settlers and the existential struggle of the Sioux, ultimately suggesting that the land itself is the only neutral ground. It is less a political history and more a meditation on the allure of the frontier and the resilience of the human spirit when forced to choose between society and solitude.

Why Read It Today

Readers who appreciate historical adventure that favors steady pacing over explosive action will find this book deeply rewarding. The prose is earnest and reflects the era’s fascination with "pioneer virtues," such as the value of hard work, physical prowess, and the mastery of one’s environment. There is a quiet, contemplative quality to the middle chapters as the brothers domesticate their valley, which offers a satisfying sense of accomplishment.

However, modern readers should be prepared for the book’s period-typical attitudes. The portrayal of the Sioux is filtered through the perspectives of the time, and while Bright Sun is rendered with a degree of complexity and dignity, the narrative occasionally leans into tropes regarding the "inevitability" of frontier conflict. The dialect and the occasionally flowery descriptions of the "brassy sun" and the "sanguine march" belong firmly to the early twentieth-century adventure genre.

What lingers after the final page is the brothers' rejection of the modern world. Their choice to return to the wilderness is a powerful, if romanticized, critique of industrial progress. It is a story for those who occasionally dream of leaving their modern burdens behind, packing a bag, and finding a place where the only challenges are those presented by the weather, the hunt, and the turn of the seasons.