PDF Summary:The Heart of Everything That Is, by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin

The Heart of Everything That Is explores the profound connection between the Sioux people and the revered Black Hills region during the 19th century. Authors Bob Drury and Tom Clavin depict the Sioux's spiritual reverence for Paha Sapa, the Black Hills, and their fierce resistance against American expansion across the Great Plains.

The book follows the rise of Red Cloud as a visionary Native American leader who united the scattered Lakota tribes. His strategic genius thwarted the U.S. military's efforts to secure control of the region, culminating in his triumphant victory at the Battle of the Hundred Slain—the infamous Fetterman Massacre—forcing the U.S. to retreat from the Bozeman Trail.

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The Grattan Massacre and the Battle of Blue Water Creek hardened the determination of both white settlers and Native Americans against the possibility of living together, resulting in a greater mobilization of settler forces and signifying the beginning of Red Cloud's War.

The text highlights how the confrontations at Blue Water Creek, along with the Grattan Massacre, were instrumental in establishing the fraught relationship between Native Americans and European settlers, which in turn significantly influenced Red Cloud's rise to prominence. The authors portray the escalation of these clashes as they progressed to a pivotal point.

The end of Lieutenant Grattan and his men resulted from the settlers' demand for military backing and the end of peaceful, organized trade, which led to conflict with Sioux fighters.

The narrative describes how an officer with limited combat background led soldiers to a Miniconjou encampment to apprehend an individual accused of killing a settler's cow. Grattan, displaying the common arrogance and contempt of his era, failed to adhere to the appropriate protocols, exacerbating a trivial offense which led to a lethal clash that culminated in his own death and the loss of life of all his companions. The authors' depiction of the event sparked considerable outrage among white settlers, solidifying their view of the Sioux as savage combatants and simultaneously endowing the Lakota with an exaggerated belief in their military strength when facing the Army.

The Sioux first truly acknowledged the power of the U.S. Army, which led them to understand the importance of uniting their warriors in reaction to General Harney's counterattacks and the clash at Blue Water Creek.

The Grattan incident, as described by Drury and Clavin, furnished the Army with a pretext for its harsh reprisals directed against the Lakota, who were led by General Harney. The sense of safety among the Sioux was deeply shaken when they were overwhelmingly defeated by the U.S. Army at Blue Water Creek, an event that clearly showcased the overwhelming might and persistent resolve of their white opponents. The authors depict the devastating defeat as a critical turning point that prompted the Lakota to reassess their disjointed approach to warfare with the white settlers, paving the way for Red Cloud to rise to power.

Red Cloud rose to prominence and orchestrated a unified opposition among his people to resist the advance of American settlers.

This passage highlights the rise of Red Cloud to a position of leadership. Drury and Clavin depict his rise to prominence coinciding with the Sioux's recognition of the need to unite in opposition to the encroaching American settlers. The authors portray Red Cloud's rise from an orphaned state to becoming the preeminent leader of the Lakota, emphasizing his early life, strategic military skills, and sharp political insight.

Red Cloud developed his leadership, combat, and diplomatic skills early on, becoming instrumental in his recognition as the preeminent military chief of the Sioux.

The authors delve into Red Cloud's formative years, examining how his upbringing among the Oglala honed his leadership skills and shaped his worldview. Red Cloud swiftly gained a reputation among the Sioux due to his recognized courage, physical strength, and tactical acumen, which were evident in conflicts with competing tribes, even as his father battled alcohol addiction.

The formative years and coming of age of Red Cloud took place amidst his tribe's nomadic lifestyle, regular skirmishes with rival tribes, and growing interactions with European American settlers.

Red Cloud's esteemed uncles from the Bad Faces band played a crucial role in cementing his place within the Sioux community, as highlighted by Drury and Clavin. Red Cloud grew up knowing that courage, empathy, and wisdom were vital traits for anyone aspiring to be a leader among the Sioux.

Red Cloud's ascent to a position of distinction and his renown for bravery, astuteness, and fierceness were a result of his ability to transcend his modest beginnings and inspire steadfast allegiance from the Sioux fighters.

Red Cloud enhanced his reputation through demonstrations of his martial prowess against the Crows and Pawnees, and by adeptly navigating intertribal disputes while also establishing alliances. The authors detail his strategic expertise and command in battle, along with his empathy for those in suffering, which earned him respect and admiration from fighters across various Sioux groups.

Red Cloud's efforts to unite the scattered Lakota tribes and form an intertribal alliance with Cheyenne and Arapaho fighters as linked to his anticipation of war with the U.S. Army

This segment of the narrative emphasizes Red Cloud's recognition of the essential need for tribal unity, as he committed himself to forming an alliance that included a wide variety of indigenous groups, thus overcoming deep-seated hostilities. The authors highlight his extraordinary efforts to mend intertribal divisions and establish a strong alliance capable of challenging the formidable armed forces of the United States.

The assembly at Bear Butte signified a crucial juncture for the Sioux tribe in affirming their position on the privilege of traversing their ancestral territories.

Drury and Clavin depict the 1857 assembly at Bear Butte as a pivotal moment in this endeavor. Red Cloud and his contemporaries shifted the tribal council's initial objective of defining hunting grounds to concentrate on the urgent issue of American expansion. During the council, Red Cloud solidified his role as the foremost proponent of a unified resistance to the encroachment of white colonizers and American armed forces.

Red Cloud came to the understanding that the military efforts of a single tribe would be ineffective, prompting him to devise efficient irregular warfare tactics to oppose the U.S. military forces.

The writers depict the leader as endorsing a different strategy in combat, one that takes into account the superior armaments and plentiful supplies of the U.S. military. Red Cloud understood that the customary horseback warfare of the Sioux would lead to their defeat, a discernment that distinguished him from other Sioux chieftains. The narrative emphasizes the chief's strategic use of swift maneuvers and surprise assaults, similar to modern military strategies, demonstrating his advanced leadership abilities and his profound knowledge of the terrain.

The U.S. military's campaign to subdue Red Cloud reached its peak with the creation of Fort Phil Kearny amidst the hostilities referred to as Red Cloud's War.

This section of the narrative examines the clash, emphasizing the cultural disparities and contrasting the combat techniques of the Sioux with those employed by the Americans. Drury and Clavin portray Red Cloud as a strategic genius whose groundbreaking tactics in battle confounded the U.S. Army, culminating in a victory that significantly undermined the reputation of American forces in the engagement referred to as the Fetterman Fight.

The pivotal role of Colonel Carrington's expedition to the region of the Powder River was instrumental in the U.S. Army's campaign to pacify Red Cloud, which included the restoration of the essential Bozeman Trail and the founding of Fort Phil Kearny.

The approach taken by the U.S. military was fundamentally flawed, as detailed by Drury and Clavin. The book details the conviction among officers, shaped by their experiences in the Civil War, that the vast High Plains would be well-suited to the successful application of traditional European military tactics. The Sioux's tactics to safeguard their territory and way of life went unrecognized.

Efforts by General Connor to quell the opposition of Red Cloud and Sitting Bull ultimately led to the creation of a military bastion, Fort Phil Kearny.

The account details General Conner's doomed 1865 military expedition, which sought to subdue the influential leaders Red Cloud and Sitting Bull. The swift and unconventional combat tactics of the Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho made Conner's strategy of a three-pronged attack, which depended on the use of sizable troops and greater firepower, ineffective. Conner's failure revealed the military's inadequacies in adapting to irregular warfare, resulting in further conflicts and the creation of defensive positions like Fort Phil Kearny, established to protect the route to the gold-abundant areas of Montana.

The sequence of critical incidents that occurred at Fort Phil Kearny, which reached a climax with the Fetterman Massacre under the command of Colonel Carrington, signified a major transition in the ongoing conflicts.

Colonel Carrington faced considerable challenges in maintaining discipline at Fort Phil Kearny, as his strengths lay more in administrative roles than in field command. The authors describe how his approach of keeping a defensive boundary within the confines of the stronghold resulted in strained relations with his seasoned officers, who honed their military expertise during the American Civil War era. Red Cloud's strategic acumen and the intensifying clashes culminated in a critical event during his campaign, which would ultimately enter the annals of history as the Fetterman Massacre.

Red Cloud's victory over the U.S. Army led to the 1868 accord, which resulted from the U.S. government's decision to abandon the Bozeman Trail, enabling the Sioux to maintain their precarious control over the Powder River Country.

In this segment, the authors detail the unconventional combat methods and the shrewd strategic command that led to Red Cloud's victory. The authors emphasize that the critical incident referred to as the Fetterman Massacre brought the U.S. Government to the understanding that attempts to conquer the Sioux were in vain.

The tribe's commemoration of the "Battle of the Hundred-in-the-Hands" and the subsequent elevation of Red Cloud's status as a war leader are intimately linked with the events precipitating the calamitous ambush known as the Fetterman Massacre.

Red Cloud orchestrated an assault close to Fort Phil Kearny in December 1866, which subsequently became known as the Fetterman Massacre. The account details how Captain Fetterman, who had served in the Civil War, defied Carrington's orders and led his eighty troops into a carefully planned trap, which led to their catastrophic death and disfigurement. Red Cloud's prowess in leadership and strategy during combat solidified his standing among the Sioux, who referred to the conflict as the "Battle of the Hundred Slain," further cementing their belief in their ultimate victory. The story recounts the deep-seated national consternation that ensued after the Indigenous peoples' decisive triumph against the American military forces, prompting a significant reassessment of the government's policies toward Native American nations.

Red Cloud's readiness to enter into talks, along with the compromises offered to the Sioux, highlights the importance of this conflict within the history of relations between Indigenous peoples and white settlers in the United States.

Drury and Clavin portrayed the Fetterman massacre as a critical turning point. The authors highlight the considerable loss of life and economic burden that arose from attempts to quell the resistance led by Red Cloud, ultimately leading to a strategic shift for the United States. Following a prolonged, expensive, and seemingly fruitless conflict, the officials reluctantly consented to the terms stipulated by Red Cloud. The book details the occurrences of 1868, emphasizing the Fort Laramie treaty which recognized the transfer of the Powder River Country and confirmed the sovereign rights of the Lakota and their allies over the esteemed Black Hills. Drury and Clavin recognize the unique characteristics of the confrontations orchestrated under Red Cloud's leadership, emphasizing his unparalleled strategic expertise and leadership that successfully defended his community, their cultural practices, and sacred lands against the intrusion of American settlers. The brief victory heralded further conflicts, with the unyielding expansion of white settlers driven by their desire for the region's gold and resources.