The Last War Trail: The Utes and the Settlement of Colorado by Robert Emmitt is a comprehensive historical study of the Ute people during the turbulent period of Colorado’s settlement in the 19th century. Emmitt chronicles the complex interactions between Ute communities and Euro-American settlers, miners, and government officials, highlighting the political, cultural, and military pressures that culminated in the Utes’ forced displacement from much of their ancestral lands.
The book focuses on the events leading up to and including the Utes’ final conflicts with the United States, often referred to as the “last war trail.” Emmitt details the social, economic, and environmental changes that reshaped the region, from the discovery of gold and silver to the establishment of towns and railroads. The work explores both armed confrontations and diplomatic efforts, examining the strategies Ute leaders employed to protect their people, resources, and way of life, and the consequences of treaties and broken promises by federal authorities.
Emmitt also emphasizes the human dimension of this history, portraying the struggles, resilience, and agency of the Ute men, women, and children caught between traditional lifeways and the pressures of an encroaching settler society. Through meticulous research using archival documents, contemporary accounts, and oral histories, the book reconstructs a nuanced picture of the challenges faced by the Utes as they navigated an era of relentless expansion and displacement.
The Last War Trail offers readers a detailed and empathetic account of one of the most significant periods in Ute history, shedding light on the broader processes of westward expansion, Native resistance, and the transformation of the American West. It is an essential resource for historians, students, and general readers seeking to understand the intersection of Indigenous history, frontier settlement, and U.S. Indian policy in Colorado.