On the Border with Crook

By: John Gregory Bourke

Narrated by: Traber Burns

John Gregory Bourke served General George Crook for 15 years and was his right-hand man. This work is an account of his time with the legendary US Army officer in the post-Civil War West. On the Border with Crook is a written recollection of Crook’s campaigns during the American Indian Wars. Bourke makes the American frontier come alive with his description. He also included descriptions not only of Crook and his fellow cavalrymen, but also of legendary Native American leaders. Bourke argues that Crook etched his name into the annals of American history.

On the Border with Crook has been regarded as one of the best firsthand accounts of frontier army life. The author writes about the landscape of the Southwest with incredible imagery and accuracy, his impressions of the Arizona Territory, the hardships of frontier service, and honest accounts of combat. What is most impressive about Bourke’s work is the equal attention he gives to both soldier and Native American alike, making On the Border with Crook the essential audiobook for students of history interested in the American frontier.

Public Domain (P)2020 Blackstone Publishing

A True and Fair Accounting, a Remarkable Man

Excellent, remarkable, educational true story that all who live in the West, especially Arizona, should read and and appreciate!

Could be one if best of the simple histories of the frontier

I very much enjoyed this book and once I started to listen I could not and did not want to stop. I finished it in two nights. Very well performed by Traber Burns!

Great book about a great man

This has to be one of the best books I’ve read on the old west. Having grown up where many of crook’s tales were made it stirred many memories and dispelled many misconceptions. Descriptive, well read and enlightening this makes me respect great men of good character. Read it you’ll love the whole story!

Fantastic Review of the Late Indian Wars

Written in 1891 , this is a valuable primary source review of the late Indian Wars of the Western US. Bourke gives an intimate view of the these events, primarily focusing on the Apache Wars, it does have an interesting amount on the later Sioux Wars too. one must swallow the inherit racist attitudes of the time, but much can be gleaned from this account. it provides the best description of Southern Arizona from that period that I have come across... I highly recommend to any student of American History..

Very informative and well told

The story was well told and tells a story of an time with much unrest

A Great Work of History, Observation and Scholarship

I’ve read this book a number of times prior to listening. I considered it one of those unknown gems that escaped a wider audience. It was a delight to see that someone else agreed and recorded it. Bourne was classically educated as one can tell in his writings. He also possessed great powers of observation and feeling, noting nuance and describing feelings evoked in him when pondering nature and man. He was also far ahead of his time in noting the terrible treatment of Native Americans. He was overwhelmingly loyal to his friends. We are fortunate to have such an articulate writer who lived at a pivotal time in the developing West. His personal friendships with the great personages and choice to copiously record things make him a treasure for me.

Classic

This book is an excellent example of the classical soldier-scholar’s work of the late 19th century.

Incredible story of times lost to the memory of even the oldest Americans.

A true and fascinating story of the early days of the west at it’s most volatile stages. One of the best story I’ve heard in my life.

Fantastic documentary. hidden gem.

I have read probably 20 books on the 1800's native american campaigns. This book is amongst the best. It is written as first hand account as the author was not only a writer but also a decorated captain in crooks detail. While this book is about crook and his indian fighting career. It reallly is a documentary of the late 1800's and life in the west at that time. The book is written like a documentary with many details I hadn't come across in other books on the period and locale. He describes what people wore, how they lived, the struggles etc. If you are a history buff, as I am, you won't regret this book.

Title is Misleading. Little to do with Crook

Endless minutiae about the west with lots of faceless names and little about the General Crook.