This well-documented account of Rhoda Strong Lowry,
as well as the broader context of the Lowry Band era in Robeson County,
begins with brief descriptions of several famous women from the Civil
War era. Pugh contends that Rhoda “. . . shares the same strengths,
courage, and determination” (p. 70) of women such as Clara Barton,
Louisa May Alcott, Sally L. Tompkins, and Bell Boyd—but has been
relatively overlooked by historians and is apparently the only Native
American woman to make notable contributions during the period. Pugh
adds, “The other heroines were directly associated with the Civil
War operations but Rhoda operated on the fringes of the battle, avoided
direct involvement in its activities, and directed her energies to the
protection of her husband, family, and community” (p. 70).
In describing both the Lowry Band era and Rhoda's impact
and activities, Pugh draws from a wide range of sources, including Dial
and Eliades'sThe only land I know, William McKee Evans'sTo die game, Lew Barton'sThe most ironic story in American history,
and sources commenting more directly on Rhoda. The latter include Mary
Regan's 1967 article for the Raleigh News and Observer (used extensively),
Claude Dunnagan's 1961 article for the magazine Male (Pugh incorrectly
states that no specific reference is available for this article), and
Mary Norment'sThe Lowrie history.
This detailed and interestingly written account of
Rhoda's milieu and her historical significance would have been improved
by tighter editing and proofreading.
