Hoomothya (a.k.a. Mike Burns) was the only surviving Yavapai tribal member from the December 1872, Skeleton Cave Massacre, which took place in Arizona between the Yavapai Indians and the US Army. Hoomothya was orphaned as a result of the slaughter of his extended family at Skeleton Cave. Captured by the troops who killed this band of Yavapais, he was taken in as a temporary ward by Captain James Burns, who gave Hoomothya the anglicized name of Mike Burns. This collection contains background information on Mike Burns; the Carlisle Indian School in Carlisle, Pennsylvania; and the Skeleton Cave in Arizona. The collection includes Burns' correspondence with various individuals about his memoir, requests for assistance in its publication and several versions of the Burn's manuscript.

All My People Were Killed: The Memoirs of Mike Burns (Hoomothya) A Captive Indian

Mike Burns

Sharlot Hall Museum

<p>This recently discovered autobiography is a rare treasure—the only Native American-written record of the U.S. Army campaign against Indians in the American Southwest. Mike Burns's journal of his experiences exposes the infamous Skeleton Cave Massacre that claimed his family and tribe in central Arizona in 1872, his abduction by officers of the 5th Cavalry, and the amazing adventures of his childhood and youth. In this unique memoir, Burns describes meeting Buffalo Bill and participating in the attacks on Sitting Bull, attending Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania, riding with the Pony Express, working as a farmhand in rural Ohio, being offered a scholarship at West Point, and embarking upon a long and arduous journey to return to Arizona to what he called "my mother’s land."</p>

The Journey of A Yavapai Indian

Elizabeth House

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Mike Burns. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Mike Burns

See the best price to sell, buy, or rent books by Mike Burns. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

All My People Were Killed: The Memoirs of Mike Burns (Hoomothya) A Captive Indian

The Journey of A Yavapai Indian