Nine Years Among the Indians, 1870-1879: The Story of the Captivity and Life of a Texan Among the Indians

This book offers insight into how at least 2 different tribes of native Americans lived during the late 19th century. I found it to be quite fascinating. Not for the queasy or faint of heart, some of the stories are a bit shocking. Good read.

Loved this book! The Truth makes some feel uncomfortable for this is NOT a typical Hollywood western movie! It’s a heartbreaking story about a little boy who was forced to do horrible thing to survive among the Indians. Thank God for a praying mama!

Very detailed and shows life as it was. I've read about first Texas Rangers and this fills in the Indian side of fighting.

Really enjoyed reading this!

Liked the factual accounting of the times and lives. I couldn't be there, of course, but I imagined it clearly.

This is the true story of a white man captured by Indians from 1870 - 1879. It is a compelling story that our history books do not reveal. I enjoyed every minute of reading this book!

Read this, and you'll know why they called in the "Wild West". It's an interesting window into the past, full of raw and brutal details that were personally witnessed, experienced, or committed.Lots of cultural observations that you won't hear about anywhere else & is something of an eye-witness testimony to the "clash of civilizations" from multiple perspectives as Apache/Commanche viewpoints are related by the author.Seems to capture the end of an era, as the author was captured when he was 11, but only returned to his family after the tribes signed the final peace treaties w/ the US Government that brought about the official end of "Indian Hostilities". He was one of the "bitter clingers", as the politicians who hate you would say these days & he stayed on w/ the Commanche all the way to the end.The author was at a meeting where Geronimo was present & arguing to keep fighting. Don't see that every day.Very interesting guy. Remained a tribal member and friends w/ the Commanche to the end of his days, and also had enemies from the Apache who still wanted revenge for the medicine man long afterwards.Somebody needs to create a data project detailing the # of horses stolen and people killed in this book.Real history.

This book was written in 1927 by J. Marvin Hunter. He states in the introduction the story is written as told by Herman Lehman. With that knowledge the book reads as I have heard elderly American Indians tell their stories on various recordings. That is to say, very matter of fact with no boasting or exaggeration. Some of the descriptions are written in words used at the time which to me makes the stories even more interesting.For me, I couldn't put the book down and read through it while cringing sometimes during some of the vivid descriptions. I have read a couple of other captive stories and this one seems to echo the times and traditions the other captivates told. This book is less than a hundred pages but one is not bogged down with learning about different character's histories. One just reads factual accounts of what he was and what he became as he adapted to his new life. Lehman didn't really explain his actions except early on as a captive. And mainly that was about his will to survive. However, after a few years he clearly was indoctrinated to his new life style and actually cherished it as well.This is a fascinating book and I am so happy I took a chance on it. I would have enjoyed reading about more of his exploits and because of that my thirst was not quenched.I do believe, if one enjoys history and different cultures; you will not be disappointed.

This book was first published in 1927 (2017), has 138 pages, 46 chapters, no photos or maps. The book is dedicated to young people of USA. HERMANN LEHMANN was born of German parents on 5.6.1859. Aged 11, Herman was captured by the Apaches and kept for 4 years. He fled and lived in the wilderness for 1 year. He was adopted by the Comanche and then forgot his own language and ways of living and was savage. When brought back to his family in 1878, he had to be restrained and kept from slipping away to the Comanche. He would sleep on the floor and wear feathers. With help of his mother, brothers and sisters, he changed and became a good citizen in Loyal Valley. He learnt English and German. For a while, he wore Indian clothes and wanted to be alone in the woods. But after marriage in1890 to FANNIE LIGHT, he became white man again. They had 2 boys and 3 girls. He still retained his tribal rights and privileges. He died on 2.2.1932.Some other books of interest are:-(1) Life Among the Apaches, Cremony, 1868(2) Andele The Mexican-Kiowa Captive, Methvin, 1899 (2018)(3) Jim Bridger Mountain Man, Vestal, 1946 (1970)(4) John Colter, Harris, 1952 (1993)(5) Six Years with Texas rangers, Gillett, 1963 (2017)(6) Cochise, Sweeney, 1991(7) The Captured, Scott Zesch, 2004(8) Empire of the Summer Moon, Gwynne, 2010(9) From Cochise to Geronimo, Sweeney, 2010(10)The Mountain men, Laycock, 2016Having born in Kenya, I enjoyed reading this book.

This is a story of a white boy who is captured by Indians and lives with them for nearly a decade in the American south west. There's no "revisionist" plot here, nor indeed any other type of slant on this story. It's simply told as it happened. The stark image of the tribes involved really does paint them for what they are. A Stone Age society in decline due to the encroaching civilisation of the white man. things are brutal and life is often cheap, not only other people's lives but one's own, depicted by the decisions made that bring the individual glory or death. There's a feeling that the indigenous people are indeed civilised, but their civilisation is far behind the rest of the world at that time. Bravery and the ability to fight and steal are highly prized. But the image of the noble savage, with this story tells us that their nobility is somewhat different than a modern person would imagine. Despite the fact that this is biographical and therefore has no thought out structure that a novel would, It's utterly engrossing. Anyone with a passing interest in the Old West could do a lot worse than read this.

just wanted to write a few lines to add to the otherwise spot on reviews above or belowthis is a straight down the line accounting of a young boy abducted by the apaches back in the 19th century. it is pretty brutal and lets you see how vicious life could be back in those days esp amongst this particular tribe, not that I would ever downplay for a moment the brutality forced upon the great tribes by the mostly white armies impregnating their landsa bit of an eye opener tbh , for one who only really saw the horrors as one sided !!

For me, this was highly informative and insightful. There is little bias in the story told of the aggressiveness of these particular Indian tribes and the aggressiveness of the US government of the day in taking the lands away from the Indians. It is quite clear from this retelling that the 'blood lust' ingrained within these particular Indian tribes (Apache especially) bears no relation to simple retaliation for the possession of their lands. However, a clear distinction is made in this book between the 'peace loving' and 'warlike ' tribes within Indian culture. What is also clear is the continued erosion and disregard of their land, their tribes and culture and, in effect, the herding of an indigenous people into reservations and the dependency on rations cultivated by the US government at that time. In the face of the savagery and brutality shown by the warlike tribes described here, one has to wonder what other choice the US government had in order to stop this slaughter and protect its people. Time allows us the luxury of reflection and judgement. Read it, see what you think.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. Herman survived terrible experiences as a boy and young man, and I think it was to his credit that he wanted to be as honest as possible about them (he had not been happy about the way his experiences had been written about in another book).It is mentioned in the book that he did not completely return to the culture he was born into - I'm surprised he just survived, given what happened to other captured children. He witnessed what happened to some of these children - not an easy read.A book about a very brave man -