Trimble comes from a family of story-tellers and brings Western history to life. This slim and beautiful work includes a description of the Apache Campaign, which was the longest war in American history, from organized hostilities opened in 1861 when a brash cavalry officer, George Bascom, accused Cochise of kidnapping, hostages were taken, and on both sides, killed. As the soldiers abandoned forts and moved to Civil War fronts in 1861, the Apache took vengence on the undefended ranchers and miners who remained.

Trimble mentions the role of the huge Mimbreno chief, Mangas Coloradas, who formed a combined force with the Chiricahuas of 700 warriors to stop the advance of 1800 California Volunteers under the hard-bitten Colonel James Carleton. However, the recitation is not helpful for understanding why the wars were fought, really. ( )