The U.S. Government and its Army killed millions of buffalo as part of an all-out war against the Native Americans in the nineteenth century. The plains Indians, who relied on the buffalo as a source of food and spiritual power, weakened and succumbed to the aggressors as the buffalo quickly disappeared from the prairies. "Buffalo Nation" tells the story of this brutal war, and details the amazing comeback of the buffalo. The number of bison in the U.S. plummeted from more than thirty million in the early 1800s to fewer than 500 at the turn of the century. There are now more than 250,000 bison on ranches and sanctuaries across the nation. Valerius Geist also examines the natural history of the buffalo—underscoring its importance in North America in this enlightening exploration that will appeal to history buffs, conservationists, wildlife enthusiasts, and those concerned with Native American issues. The book features writings by "Buffalo Bill" Cody, Mari Sandoz, George Catlin, Black Elk, Lewis and Clark, General George Custer, Chief Plenty-coups, John James Audubon, Daniel Boone, Francis Parkman, and more. Illustrations include those by Charles M. Russell, Albert Bierstadt, George Catlin, and various Native American artists, along with more than 80 historical and contemporary photographs.