Who is Captain John Bourke from One Thousand White Women and what is their importance?

Captain John Bourke was an honorable military man, who was dedicated to his job and to the safety of the women he was escorting to the Cheyennes. He was admittedly bewitched by May Dodd, and even left his fiancee over her. His first commitment, however, was to the army.

John is described as a torn man, who wanted to be patriotic and dutiful, yet strongly disagreed with his government's decisions regarding Native Americans. He, nevertheless, took on an active role in eliminating them and their culture.