Blood and Thunder

In the summer of 1846, the Army of the West marched through Santa Fe to invade and occupy territories claimed by Mexico, driven by the ideology of "Manifest Destiny." This military campaign sparked a decades-long conflict between the United States and the Navajos, who controlled a vast mountainous desert region. At the heart of this history is Kit Carson, a trapper, scout, and soldier who became legendary for his adventures in the West. Sides examines how Carson, though illiterate, understood and respected Western tribes more than most Americans of his time. Yet despite this understanding, Carson followed orders that ultimately caused severe harm to the Navajo nation. Spanning more than three decades and filled with historical detail, this account documents the American conquest of the West and the conflict between the United States and the Navajo people.