He was a combat veteran in the Civil War and the Indian Wars, yet he advocated peace. He was a key figure in General George Crook's column during the 1876 Sioux War that ended the life of General George Armstrong Custer. Mills was detached to make an emergency provisioning trip to Deadwood and in the process discovered the camp of Chief American Horse at Slim Buttes. Mills led the attack on that village supported later by the rest of Crook's forces.
The Battle of Slim Buttes was the first U.S. Army victory after the disaster at the Little Bighorn. In a captured teepee was found a 7th Cavalry battle flag from the Little Bighorn fight. He wrote of all of that in this autobiographical volume.
He and his wife were supporters of women's suffrage and he wrote of the many different kinds of people he met:
"My profession, and Nannie's attachment to it and to me, led us to see more of humanity than falls to the lot of most. We lived in almost every State and Territory in the Union, and in several foreign countries, mingling with many races. We knew the negro, a short time as slaves, but for over fifty years emerged from bondage, as household help, as soldiers and as citizens. We learned their racial instincts, hopes, aspirations and ambitions. As closely, in service with and over them, we knew the wild Indians. We knew closely and intimately, both officially and in private life, the misunderstood Mexicans, and the Chinese and Japanese, who are so misunderstood by our own people. This intercourse with many races taught us that men in their instincts, hopes, ambitions, passions and dislikes are much the same the world over, and that no race or nation can claim any very great superiority over any other."
In his own words is the story of a remarkable American life. The book almost didn't get written, as he nearly could not find the will to do it after Nannie died. Urged on by friends and even Lieutenant General Nelson Miles, we're fortunate that he added this volume to the important works of the period.
For the first time, this long out-of-print volume is available as an affordable, well-formatted book for e-readers and smartphones.
Be sure to LOOK INSIDE by clicking the cover above or download a sample.
