When U.S. Cavalry troops rode onto the Ute Indian Reservation in northwestern Colorado on September 29, 1879, they triggered a chain of events that cost the Utes their a deadly battle at Milk Creek, the killing of all men at the Indian agency headed by Nathan Meeker, and the taking of three women and two children who were held hostage for 23 days. The Utes didnt seek a fight with the whites, most of whom they viewed as friends. However, powerful whites in Colorado wanted the Utes expelled. The Meeker affair was an opportunity to achieve that.
In Troubled Trails , Robert Silbernagel casts new light on the story of the Meeker Affair. Using details from historical interview transcripts and newspaper articles, he reveals the personalities of the major charactersboth Indian and non-Indian. He tells the story from many perspectives, including that of Indian Agent Nathan Meeker; the U.S. military; Nicaagat, a leader of the White River Utes; and Josephine Meeker, Nathan Meekers daughter, who was held hostage by the Utes. Silbernagel took great pains to tell a complete story, even following on horseback the trail taken by the Utes. As a result, his book paints a multifaceted picture of what took place and, most importantly, his portrayal brings the Ute side of the story into focus.

Silbernagel, Robert, 1952-; Grant, Jonas

Robert Silbernagel; Floyd O'Neil

Salt Lake City: University of Utah Press

Utah State Historical Society

United States, United States of America

Salt Lake City, Utah, 2011

Salt Lake City, cop. 2011

obscured text back cover

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Silbernagel Casts New Light On The Story Of The Meeker Affair By Using Details From Historical Interview Transcripts And Newspaper Articles And Revealing The Personalities Of The Major Characters--both Indian And Non-indian. Nicaagat Confronts Josephine -- The Battle At Mlk Ceek And The Killings At The Wite Rver Inian Aency -- Hostages In The Borderlands -- Trail Section 1 -- Nicaagat -- Hellbent For Help -- Horse Power -- Trail Section 2 -- Josephine Meker -- She-towitch To The Rescue -- Nicaagat Versus Nathan Meeker -- Trail Section 3 -- The Word Gets Out -- Trail Section 4 -- Outrage! -- The Rescue Trail -- Chicago Rallies For She-towitch -- Investigation, Frustration, And Farce -- The Trail To Wshington -- The Clorado Plan -- The Trail To Utah -- The Final Trail For Nicaagat And Josephine -- Epilogue. Robert Silbernagel ; With Assistance From Jonas Grant Sr., Maps By Robert Garcia. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.

xxiii, 253 p. : 23 cm
Silbernagel casts new light on the story of the Meeker Affair by using details from historical interview transcripts and newspaper articles and revealing the personalities of the major characters--both Indian and non-Indian
Includes bibliographical references and index
Nicaagat confronts Josephine -- The battle at Mlk Ceek and the killings at the Wite Rver Inian Aency -- Hostages in the borderlands -- Trail section 1 -- Nicaagat -- Hellbent for help -- Horse power -- Trail section 2 -- Josephine Meker -- She-Towitch to the rescue -- Nicaagat versus Nathan Meeker -- Trail section 3 -- The word gets out -- Trail section 4 -- Outrage! -- The rescue trail -- Chicago rallies for She-Towitch -- Investigation, frustration, and farce -- The trail to Wshington -- The Clorado plan -- The trail to Utah -- The final trail for Nicaagat and Josephine -- Epilogue

2023-10-09