Books like That Dark and Bloody River

Eckert is the master of writing about the early frontier. His research is phenomenal. The narrative storyline tends to be a bit difficult, but that's because he's covering so much. Essentially this is the history of settling the Ohio River.I really think if the people who live in that area knew how unbelievably brutal that frontier was, they'd be stunned. Both sides committed what we would consider atrocities but they were fighting for their lives and their livelihoods. One example is the battle of Sandusky. A no-holds barred extended battle which the Americans lost. And what happened to their commander, Colonel Crawford, before he was mercifully burned at the stake. When being burned at the stake is merciful, you can not imagine what the torture was like.I also think of how hard pressed those first settlers were to face what they faced. Also, of course, how the Native Americans were losing everything.A very worthwhile read to understand the people who came before.