Flashman and the Redskins is, the seventh installment of the "Flashman Papers" supposedly discovered late in the 20th century and published by George MacDonald Fraser, detailing Sir Harry Flashman's fantastic career. This volume continues Flashy's American adventures in two parts: the 1849/50 gold rush and an 1875/76 vacation that takes Flashy to Little Bighorn and a surprise meeting with his illegitimate son.

In Flashman and the Redskins George MacDonald Fraser purportedly edits the memoirs of Sir Harry Flashman dealing with two trips to the American frontier. In the first half, dating to 1849, Flashy finds himself in New Orleans, having lost his only hope of a voyage home to England and wanted for multiple felonies up and down the Mississippi. He flees westward, having marries a madame intent on establishing the most profitable bordello in San Francisco to serve the gold miners' needs. They get as far as Santa Fe before she puts down roots and Flashy flees, first selling his favorite girl, Cleonie, to a rich Navajo. He gets involved with white scalp hunters and then marries an Apache princess. Fleeing the Apaches, he is nearly killed but rescued by the famous Kit Carson, who provides him an escort to the coast. Flashy vows never to return to the American West.

Twenty-five years later, however, Elspeth Flashman develops wander lust and gets Flashy to show her America. He meets a series of people who put him in the center of the Indian Wars and the greatest danger of his life. He joins treaty negotiations over the Black Hills, where gold has been discovered on sacred Indian lands. Among the Indian negotiators are Spotted Tail, whom Flashy meets in 1849 and an intriguing young associate. Flashy also meets a stunningly beautiful woman, Mrs. Arthur B. Candy, who hires him to contact Otto von Bismarck about a business proposition.

Intent on bedding Candy, Flashy heads West, accompanying the fiery Lt. Col. George Armstrong Custer, whom he has tried to talk Grant into reinstating in his field command. Flashy has his way with Candy, only to find himself handed over to Indians to be tortured to death, as Candy turns out to be vengeful Cleonie. Flashy is imprisoned at Little Bighorn as the battle erupts, is miraculously freed, and almost escapes before being mock-killed but actually rescued by a mysterious Indian, whom Flashy has met in Chicago and who reveals himself as Flashy's illegitimate son with Cleonie. As a final surprise, Flashy meets a friend, Wild Bill Hickok on his way home.