Journey of the Cheyenne Warrior
A powerful story of courage and grit in the face of change.
About the book
In 1805, Little Eagle is twelve winters and lives with his family in a Cheyenne village on the Western plains. He anxiously awaits going on his first buffalo hunt.
Over time, though, he lets go of his anger and sees that peace with the white men is the only way they will be able to survive. He and Elk Woman join Black Kettle’s band. His son, Howling Wolf, not understanding his father’s decisions, wants no part of peace and joins the Dog Soldiers under the War Leader Roman Nose. Black Kettle does everything to try and keep peace with the white men.
Until November 29, 1864, and the massacre at Sand Creek when Colonel John Chivington and his Third Colorado Cavalry attack Black Kettle’s peaceful village, killing mostly women and children. Still Black Kettle and Brave Eagle do not want to fight. The chiefs make many talks with the white men about how they want only peace. The soldiers have no ears and their voices are not heard.
Four years later, Black Kettle and his band are told in order to be safe and not considered as hostile they must move their camp near the Washita River. Almost to the day. Morning. November 27, 1868. A heavy fog lay over the valley. In the chilly dawn, just as sunlight barely appears and begins to shine upon the tipis, a shot rings out. Because of the snow, no thundering hoof beats are heard, only the sound of harness metal-- and screaming. General George Armstrong Custer and his Seventh Cavalry charge through the village as a band plays music somewhere off in the distance, and soldiers begin their slaughter.
When he turns sixteen winters, Little Eagle has his Vision Quest and gets his man-name, Brave Eagle. He plans to be a great warrior who is known and feared by every enemy warrior and will sit in great councils with the chiefs. But his plans change when he falls in love and marries Elk Woman, and they have two daughters, and finally a son. Many peaceful winters go by. Fur traders come to their camps bringing white men’s utensils and beads and guns. Life on the plains is good.
Life changes when the United States Government soldiers and white men come onto the plains bringing diseases, fighting, many speeches of what they must do, laws and rules, and treaties. The white men kill their buffalo and take their land. Life becomes a struggle for even survival. Brave Eagle loses both his daughters. Sadness now fills their tipi. He becomes bitter, angry and wants to kill every white man he sees. He feels no longer a man of peace.
“Journey of the Cheyenne Warrior is a well researched and accurately written book.”
– Lawrence Hart, Cheyenne Peace Chief
“The Cheyenne Peace chief will smoke his pipe even though his children are killed. Journey of the Cheyenne Warrior reflects the history of their culture.”
– Harvey Pratt, Southern Cheyenne Peace Chief
“Though Journey of the Cheyenne Warrior is a fictional historical novel, the history has been extensively well researched.”
– William Welge, Director of Research, Oklahoma Historical Society
“Kathleen Gibbs's endorsements from prominent Cheyenne caught my interest and assured me of the credibility of her research. … Soon I was caring for her characters and feeling their emotions, an experience shared by all human beings no matter what their culture.”
– Kent McInnis, Author