Book Review: The Autobiography of Buffalo Bill

Born in Iowa in 1846, Buffalo Bill led a most fascinating life. Being the son of a man who believed that Kansas, their home at the time, should be a state free from slavery, served to put a target on his chest which eventually left Cody as man of the family at a very young age. His father had been "the first man to shed his blood in the fight against the extension of slavery into the Northern Territories." Bill became the man of the family at age 11. Because of the persecution the family had been subjected to, their existence was at the level of subsistence, relying on the game Bill could bring home.


At that point, the Mormons in the West were defying the Federal Government and troops were being assembled to deal with the problem. Bill asked the man in charge of supplying beef to the troops for a job. Even though he was just a boy, he could ride a horse as well as most men and was given a job at a man's pay of $40 per month, to be paid to his mother for the support of the family. 


This was the beginning of the life Cody would live on in the West. It was during this first trip to help drive the cattle that Bill Cody shot and killed his first Indian, one who was about to ambush the men in his party. Upon his arrival back at the fort after the Indians had driven all their cattle away, Bill learned that his name had appeared in the papers for the first time as the youngest Indian fighter in the West.


Buffalo Bill went on to lead a life filled with adventure. It was fascinating to read about the constant danger he and others of those brave scouts who provided such critical information to the troops endured everyday. The conditions under which they labored would reduce most to despair. But these men were made of stern stuff.


During his lifetime, he served mostly as scout, but also led hunting parties, was appointed Justice of the Peace, was elected to Congress (which he immediately resigned from, once he learned he'd been elected), served as US Marshall, Brigadier General, actor, land developer, husband and father. 


It was his hope as he began his famous Wild West Shows that his audiences would understand the great possibilities in the land he had come to love. And even though he led many troops to their battles against the Indians, he always respected the Indians and treated them well when they weren't on the war path. 


This was another wonderful free download I found for my Kindle. The kids will really enjoy reading this when we get to this time period in our history studies.


This is #41 out of 52 books in the "Read 52 Books in 52 Weeks" Challenge. 

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