This thoughtfully prepared three-volume reference tackles the complexities of the history of contact between Native Americans and European settler--a protracted "war" sustained over close to 300 years. The first volume leads off with a section of general maps, an overview essay, and an introductory essay--setting the context for the 800 entries that follow. The second volume holds the second half of those entries and also includes an appendix of decorations, medals, and military honors; a glossary, chronology, and bibliography; and a categorical index. Entries pertain to individuals, events, tribes, groups and organizations, places, ideas and movements, treaties and other documents, weapons, and miscellaneous topics (e.g. corn liquor, Custer's last stand in art, military medicine, Native American medicine, scalp bounty, and smallpox). Each entry is signed and includes references and cross references. The third volume contains 167 documents--an extensive presentation that includes numerous treaties and Acts as well as firsthand accounts by participants in the events. Editor Tucker (emeritus, history, Virginia Military Institute, Lexington; and before that, for 30 years: Texas Christian U., Fort Worth) had help from two editors for the assembly of documents, and several assistant and associate editors. Contributors are historians based throughout the US. Annotation ©2011 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)