One Real American: The Life of Ely S. Parker, Seneca Sachem and Civil War General

Children’s book icon Joseph Bruchac tells the fascinating story of a Seneca (Iroquois) Civil War officer

Ely S. Parker (1828–1895) is one of the most unique but little-known figures in US history. A member of the Seneca (Iroquois) Nation, Parker was an attorney, engineer, and tribal diplomat. Raised on a reservation but schooled at a Catholic institution, he learned English at a young age and became an interpreter for his people. During the American Civil War, he was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel and was the primary draftsman of the terms of the Confederate surrender at Appomattox. He eventually became President Grant’s Commissioner of Indian Affairs, the first Native American to hold that post.

Award-winning children’s book author and Native American scholar Joseph Bruchac provides an expertly researched, intimate look at a man who achieved great success in two worlds yet was caught between them. Includes archival photos, maps, endnotes, bibliography, and timeline.

© 2020 Abrams Books for Young Readers (Ebook): 9781647001636

Release date

Ebook: 27 October 2020