Over the Texan landscape lies the bloody stain of a forgotten defeat. Commemorated only by a lone monument is the death of Cherokee Chief Duwal’li executed on July 16, 1839 while leading a pan-tribal resistance of 800 warriors. The fight that took his life is called the Battle of Neches but to those who know the full story, it was truly a massacre. Duwal’li’s troubles with foreign settlers began in 1773 with the slaying of his father. It ended in his heroic attempt to secure land titles for the Cherokees and the associated tribes he represented. Faced with deceit and bigotry at every turn, Duwal’li’s struggle turned to tragedy when he was forced to confront the army of the newly formed Republic of Texas. Turning her perceptive eye to this overlooked moment in history, celebrated author, Sally McClain, sets the record straight with meticulous research and sweeping historical vision. Hers is a damning look at the harmful philosophy called Manifest Destiny and the devastation of westward expansion. Yet, A Taint on Texas seeks not only to condemn but to heal. For ultimately, this history is a renewed monument to the life of Chief Duawl’li so that his life and struggle may stand as an inspiration for the ages. It is an important book that will be welcomed by Native Americans, history buffs and truth seekers everywhere.