Captured by the Apaches, Forty Years with this Savage Band of Indians

By: Thomas Stringfield

Narrated by: Adriel Brandt

On Sept. 28, 1870, the 4-year-old Thomas Stringfield was captured by a band of Comanches when they attacked the Stringfield family on their wagon in McMullen County. Thomas was given the name "Two Braids" and assimilated into the tribe of Comanches with whom he lived for 40 years. In 1911, he published Captured By the Apaches which covers his life as an Apache and his rediscovery of the white man’s world after four decades. Stringfield knew the famous Chiefs Geronimio and Quanah Parker, and wrote about religion, marriage, and other topics on Indian life.

Public Domain (P)2020 Museum Audiobooks

A Member of My Family

I was happy to finally read the story. Thomas “Two Braids” Springfield was my great- cousin, his mother, the sister of my great grandmother, Ara Catherine Mills Burris. My mother often spoke of the massacre and of Thomas's sister, cousin Ida (Springfield -Hatfield). She knew the family had made contact with Thomas but had little information beyond the meeting. I wish Mom were alive today for the rest of the story! The book filled in an important occurrence in my life’s history. I found it most interesting and will re-read!

How Indian children were taught

Didn’t give an in depth account of the white children among their Indian captives…too in general. Was disappointed

Repeat as much as you want to, but …

I so wanted to and was looking forward to 40 years of living with the Indians, but forget it. This is a very disjointed, poorly-written something or other that could’ve been sooo much better. I’ve listened to the first hour and a half and am giving up.

I feel bad for the captive and wanted to hear his story (“history), but so far, I’m not getting it. I’m sorry. The history is important, but this book has much left to be desired.