The Last Campaign

Sherman, Geronimo and the War for America

By: H. W. Brands

Narrated by: Christopher Grove

Length: 15 hrs and 40 mins

Publisher's summary

Best-selling historian and Pulitzer-prize finalist H. W. Brands follows the lives and battles of General William Tecumseh Sherman and Apache warrior Geronimo to tell the story of the Indian Wars and the final fight for control of the American continent.

William Tecumseh Sherman and Geronimo were keen strategists and bold soldiers, ruthless with their enemies. Over the course of the 1870s and 1880s these two war chiefs would confront each other in the final battle for what the American West would be: a sparsely settled, wild home where Indian tribes could thrive, or a densely populated extension of the America to the east of the Mississippi.

Sherman was a privileged son of Ohio who attended West Point and rose to prominence through his scorched earth campaigns in the Civil War. Geronimo grew up in the Apache tribe, hunting wild game for survival and roaming freely on the land. After the brutal killing of his wife, children, and mother, however, he became a relentless avenger, raiding Mexican settlements across the American border. When Sherman rose to General of the U.S. Army, he was tasked with bringing Geronimo and his tribe into an agreement with the U.S. government pledging that the Apache would live as farmers and ranchers and roam no more. But Geronimo preferred to fight.

The Last Campaign is a powerful retelling of a turning point in the making of our nation and a searing elegy for a way of life that is gone.

Front cover photographs: Major General William T. Sherman courtesy of Library of Congress; Geronimo courtesy of Oklahoma Historical Society; texture © detchana wangkheeree/Shutterstock royalty free 1569771634

©2022 H. W. Brands (P)2022 Random House Audio

Comprehensive, and non-political.

A fascinating and informative story of the struggle for the west from roughly the end of the Civil War to the turn of the century. The author tells it straight, gives full context, and doesn’t take sides, which is a rare treat these days. This book puts flesh and bones on the great characters of that age. Really enjoyed it and recommend it!

Great Survey of the Indian Wars in the American West

A good overview of the people and events that created the conflicts between the Indigenous people of the West, the Settlers, Gold Seekers, the US government and the US Military.

Recommended

The Last Campaign: Sherman, Geronimo & the War for America

HW Brands

The author provides an indepth accounting of the “Indian Wars” in the west. He described events such as Adobe Wells which get much less attention in other books. He provided background on the players.

Importantly, I did not detect an agenda or bias; he recognized and described the positive and negative actions and characteristics of the players.

I do have to wonder if the title was chosen to sell books more than being descriptive. While Sherman and Geronimo do figure prominently, the narrative is much more far ranging than their involvement.

If you have an interest in the subject, I would recommend the book. Mr. Brands is a reliably informed and entertaining historian.

Outstanding Unbiased Native American History

H. W. Brands is my favorite writer of American history. His books are always entertaining with honest information and fun anecdotes. In this venture he compares the lives of General Sherman and the Apache, Geronimo. He portrays history as it should be portrayed. Everyone knows that Native Americans were repeatedly “screwed” by whites, etc., etc., etc., Here he provides both sides of the story and let’s the reader makes his/her own judgements about the described events. He reports “just the facts” and allows one to assess the thoughts and conclusions of individuals living at the time of the events. For example, there is no discussion of General Custer’s “craziness” or “egomania” but a poignant mention of then President Grant’s letter to Custer’s grieving widow! It is so nice to read an historian giving straight history rather than the “woke” interpretation of past events. It does include descriptions of massacres by Native Americans (e.g., Fetterman’s massacre) as well as massacres against Native Americans (e.g., Fort Grant).
This book is a pleasure to listen to/read and records many interesting events throughout the history of the West with an excellent human touch.

Good, but…..

The Last Campaign focused more on Sherman and very little on Geronimo. Based on the title and picture on the cover of the book I was hoping for a more balanced book on both Sherman and Geronimo. Overall though it’s a pretty good book.