Indians never fight on foot?
“The plains Indians rarely ever fought on foot, seldom except against lines of dismounted men.”
The author of this statement was a member of General Ranald Mackenzie’s outstanding 4th U.S. Cavalry.
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Repeating history
“Abraham was young [eight years old] to engage in such labor, but he was large of his age, stalwart, and willing to work. An ax was at once placed in his hands, and from that time until he attained his twenty-third year, when not employed in labor on the farm, he was almost constantly wielding that most useful implement.”
Read moreMost important individual gun in American history
Several weeks ago a friend offered to give me a book on airguns which I initially began to refuse, but then thought I would add it to my collection of books on firearms. There’s nothing that will turn off a reader of Western history more quickly than misinformation about firearms.
Read moreDraft horse stallions and mustang mares
According to author Judith Dutson the “U.S. cavalry wanted military horses that were bigger than the readily available Mustangs. They brought in some Thoroughbreds and Morgans to develop larger remounts and officer’s horses, and they began a systematic program of shooting Mustang stallions and releasing draft breed stallions to mix with the wild herds. Draft horses were also deliberately allowed to run with Indian herds whenever possible in an effort to slow down the Indians.”
Read moreAuthor multimedia presentation – April 25, 2013
The lives of a female Civil War soldier and a Civil War artist-correspondent converge at the Battle of Cedar Creek on October 19, 1864. It’s a compelling story that suggests this female soldier was a recipient of the Congressional Medal of Honor for her actions at Cedar Creek.
Read moreKipling and Elbert Hubbard
I was searching for a book in one of my bookcases and noticed Elbert Hubbard’s Scrap Book (one of several works by Hubbard) and discovered his sage collection once again.
Here’s what could be viewed as an epigraph to the above title:
Read moreLightning and cedar trees
Stories, myths, and legends are often based on a real-life incidents, and therefore I found this following story very interesting. However, it should be noted that the “cedar” tree is really of the Juniper family as there are no true cedars in the United States.
Read moreBilly Dixon and the Sharps “Big Fifty”
I considered running this in the “Armchair Editor” section, but because the comment was made during a TV show and a transcript isn’t available, it is impossible to provide the exact quote. The TV program being referred to is a popular western music and poetry show. During this particular episode they interviewed a guest who had a long-time interest in buffalo, buffalo hunting, and Sharps firearms.
Read moreWashington on leadership
During the course of my research into the history of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, New York, I came across a passage that was reflective of George Washington’s attitude regarding leadership, specifically command of an army.
Read moreThe Rainmakers
“The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.”
So wrote the prophet Isaiah. Seeing the desert transformed into a garden paradise is a very, very old dream.
Water, everyone agrees, is the key.
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