...Gwynne calls Quanah Parker "brilliant", perpetrating the myth. While QP was a remarkable guy, especially in the reservation period, I can't see where he ever did anything during the fighting times that weren't standard, run-of-the-mill Plains Indian tactics.
More later.
Birdwatcher
I got the impression that Gwynne's characterization of Parker as "brilliant" was more in respect to his ability to bring the Comanche in to the reservations, keep them there, and play the politics necessary to be successful thereafter. The fact that he had been a warband leader prior to that, but made the transition so well, speaks volumes as to his ability to adapt to changing times. Brilliance? Perhaps, perhaps not. But he was certainly a remarkable individual to have done as well as he did.
