This military history of the Apache Wars from 1846 to 1886 briefly discusses the US conflicts with Jicarillas, Mescaleros, Lipans, and Navajos, but the bulk of it deals with the Chiricahuas and, to a lesser extent, the Western Apaches. Lahti draws abundantly from the English-language scholarship produced in the last few decades, the ethnographic literature, archival sources (mostly from Arizona repositories and the National Archives), and government publications. Because of the scant use of Spanish-language sources, Hispanic perspectives are overlooked, and the Mexican dimension of the Apache Wars remains underexplored. Lahti’s style is agile and engaging. Meaningful quotes add pathos and credibility to his account. The single map on pages 4–5, though, leaves much to be desired.
The book is divided into two parts. In part 1, “Cultures of War,” Lahti compares the US Army’s and the Apaches’ approach to warfare. In his analysis, Apaches were superior fighters, more resilient...
