Bad Hand: A Biography of General Ranald S. Mackenzie

‘Bad Hand’ is an excellent, fast-paced biography of the one of the greatest commanders (perhaps the greatest) of the Indian Wars.Although Mackenzie is largely forgotten today, this biography shows why he deserves to be remembered alongside frontier commanders like Custer, Nelson Miles, and George Crook. The author fleshes-out the man despite a lack of source materials compared to those better-known leaders. It didn’t help Mackenzie’s legacy that he died in his 40’s from a mysterious insanity. Robinson argues that the illness was PTSD and not syphilis, as conjectured by previous biographers.Robinson writes a compelling portrait of a brilliant military leader who was as severe with his men as he was with himself. Mackenzie was also a complex, shy man who could be compassionate to his staff and was fair to the Indians.Before reading this book, I knew Mackenzie from the fun 1950’s TV series ‘Mackenzie’s Raiders’ and from his campaigns in other history books, but after reading ‘Bad Hand’, for the first time, I knew something of Mackenzie as a person and understood his important place in United States history.

The book arrived as scheduled in excellent condition. This book provides a detailed account of General Mackenzie's life as a focused Indian fighter fulfilling the US government's plan of annialiation of the Native American on the plains. It provides detailed accounts of his service in Texas, Oklahoma, and the mountain states. It gives a better explanation of his mental breakdown and final death from PTSD instead of the common notion that he had syphilis. After being the leader of the primary objective of annialiation and continuously in battle under stark conditions for over 20 years, no wonder he suffered a mental breakdown. He was a contemporary of General George Custer; however, General Mackenzie was a top student at West Point and a reasoned leader and officer. Custer was rash and irresponsible but ended up more famous. Mackenzie's success did not bring glory in his time, but West Point students should study him now.This book is a great companion to " Ranald S Mackenzie on the Texas Frontier" by David J. Wallace and "Empire of the Summer Moon: Quannah Parker and the Rise and fall of the Comanche, the Most Powerful Indian Tribe in America" by S. C. Gwynne. All three are powerful American and Texas history books! I heartily recommend all three! Other great books of the same genre are "The Heart of Everything that is: the untold story of Red Cloud, an American Legend" by Bob Drury and Tom Clavin; and "Bury my heart at wounded knee." by Dee Brown. The manifest destiny of taking the land of the plains Indians is disturbing to read, but should be emphasized in history classes today. White American did the Native Americans wrong with US government support and design.

He went and got the job done

Wonderful book about a great military officer.

The American West has been mythologized for well over a century in film, cowboys, cavalry and Indians. The reality of the settlement of the frontier has been rarely filmed, the exception being one or two of John Ford's films. General Custer's debacle everyone knows, but few know of General Ranald Mackenzie, Civil War hero and Custer colleague, unless they read this well-written biography. The difference was that Mackenzie was intelligent, a skilled warrior, who tamed the Texas and Wyoming frontiers against the Comanche and Soux insurgents. The reality was that as the frontier moved west, various tribes turned criminal, stealing horses, burning, raping, robbing and murdering. The only force able to stop the insurgents was the army and its best field commander, "Bad Hand", named for his war wound. His success was peace on the frontier; his career ended early when he was medically discharged for mental illness. It may not be PC today to note that Mackenzie saved more Indian lives than he was credited in his lifetime, by successfully subduing the waring tribes and leading the survivors to reservations.

I enjoyed this book immensely.He came to my attention after reading Comanche history, especially the debacle at Palo Duro. I have also read extensively the history of the civil war, and am surprised that someone of his stature was not recognised more by historians and writers.The absence of much of his personal life is a shame , but understandable when one considers his whole life was in the military. The lack of real acknowledgement by Texas historians was I suppose because of his union status, however he was very instrumental in the development and settlement of west Texas.The mystery of his mental illness intrigues me, as I trained as a psychiatric nurse, and remember tales from my older colleagues concerning GPI patients, MacKenzie does not appear to have suffered from tertiary syphilis. It is an indictment on the US military that this man has not been rehabilitated to a position reflecting his amazing contribution to the history of the military in the west.I have purchased "On the Frontier with MacKenzie" but have not had a chance to read it yet.Looking forward to doing so.John L MarchbanksAyrQueenslandAustralia

Well researched,andcwritten account of one of Americas most unrecognized generals...

Interesting g book about a man history has forgotten.

I enjoyed this book, its well written and well researched. If you're interested in the Indian Wars this is a good buy. Ranald MacKenzie was the best Indian fighter, a fine soldier who turned the Fourth Cavalry into an elite unit. I'm sure its no coincidence that MacKenzie was near the top of his class at West Point and Custer was at the bottom. Mckenzie fought the definitive Indian battle against the Commanche at Palo Duro Canyon and also defeated the Cheyenne after the disaster at the Little Big Horn. I just wish it was a longer book, I would have liked more detail about the campaigns.