The Fetterman Massacre figures only peripherally in The Iron Horse Chronicles. In Eagle Talons, Jenny McNabb and her family are forced to follow the Overland Trail on their journey westward in 1867 rather than use the Oregon Trail. Because of the Fetterman affair in upper Wyoming (still part of the Dakota Territory at the time), General William Tecumseh Sherman (of “make Georgia howl” fame) closed the more northern route and forced wagon trains to follow a path he felt his soldiers could safely protect. Thus, Jenny traveled through Virginia Dale Station, a location I wrote about in my last posting.
Currently, I am researching a new novel set at the time of the events that involved the Fetterman Massacre near Fort Phil Kearny. When the massacre occurred in 1866 it was the largest defeat afflicted upon the United States Army by the “savage” Indians until Custer’s Last Stand a decade later. Its aftermath played a significant role in how the Army and the Indian Bureau struggled to accommodate the demands of Manifest Destiny and the westward expansion that ultimately forced the Plains Indians onto reservations and terminated their traditional way of life.
I visited the site of the massacre in 2010 and experienced snow and bitter cold not unlike what happened the day 3 officers, 76 soldiers, and 2 civilians died. The monument erected in 1905 proclaims there were “no survivors.” It fails to account for perhaps as many as 2,000 Indians who did survive. Perceptions change with time and a more thorough study and evaluation of history.
When I wrote Eagle Talons I followed the traditional version of the story proclaiming Captain William Judd Fetterman was a boastful, rash officer with no respect for the fighting ability of the Sioux, Northern Cheyennes, and Arapahos. My primary reference source was The Fetterman Massacre by Dee Brown, more famously known for his book Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee. The oft repeated quotation by Fetterman that “with eighty men I could ride through the entire Sioux nation” I borrowed from Brown’s work. Brown’s book provides detailed information about the events surrounding the affair and is obviously well researched.
Subsequent research by John H. Monnett in his book Where A Hundred
Soldiers Were Killed and by Shannon D. Smith in her book Give Me Eighty Men provides new insight into the Fetterman affair. They point out that no solid evidence exists that the frequently repeated quotation by Fetterman actually occurred. It may very well have been a literary invention of Cyrus Townsend Brady who wrote Indian Fights and Fighters years after the fact. The statement does neatly account for the number of men under Fetterman’s command.
In addition to several verbal accounts recorded by participating Indians, we are fortunate to have two first-hand written accounts about the events leading up to and following the affair. Still, no white man or woman actually witnessed the “massacre.” Margaret Irvin Carrington, the first wife of Fetterman’s commanding officer, Colonel Henry Carrington, resided at Fort Phil Kearny when the indicent occurred. She published her memoir Absaraka, Home of the Crows, in 1868.
Francis C. Carrington, Henry’s second wife, published her memoir, My Army Life and the Fort Phil Kearney Massacre, in 1910, years after the affair. (Note her different spelling of Fort Kearney, which is used in some documents.) She too was present at the time of the affair; but then she was married to Lieutenant George Washington Grummond, one of the three officers killed in the massacre. How she became Colonel Carrington’s wife is an interesting tale in itself.
The story is a wonderful example of how bizarre true history can be. While I am enjoying the research that draws me deeper into the mystery, I am also struggling to discern the “truth” in diverse accounts of the affair. It will take time before I complete my novel. In the meantime, you might enjoy reading a great telling of the story by the masterful western writer Terry C. Johnston in Sioux Dawn. He fell victim to the traditional assessment of Fetterman’s nature. That does not diminish his great novel.
I describe Virginia Dale Station and the surrounding countryside in Eagle Talons. This photo, taken from the current highway, shows the old trail (now a dirt road) passing through the rocky, hilly terrain of northern Colorado at an elevation of over 7,000 feet. Standing at this spot, one gets a feeling that Jenny McNabb’s wagon, pulled by its team of oxen, might lumber along at any moment.
As part of the 2016 Arts & Crafts Fair at Sun City Anthem, Henderson, Nevada, members of Anthem Authors conducted a book signing event on Saturday, April 2. The fair took place in the Sun City Anthem Recreation Center, where shoppers could not only purchase books, but also jewelry, ceramics, dolls, clothing, paintings, photographs, and dozens of other arts and crafts created by the residents.
Ten members of Anthem Authors sold their books to the crowd of visitors at the popular annual event. I had hardcover and large print editions available of both Eagle Talons and Bear Claws, the first two books in The Iron Horse Chronicles. Several folks who had purchased Eagle Talons during last year’s event returned this year to pick up an autographed copy of Bear Claws. I fielded many questions about when Golden Spike, the final book in the trilogy will be available.
The hotels and casinos lining the Strip are visible in the distance over the roofs of the nearby residences. Our book signing tables were next to the huge bank of picture windows providing us this view of the most populace place in Nevada. The Las Vegas Valley is home to about two million of the nearly three million people who now inhabit the state.
My guess is that few readers of this blog will know what SCBWI PAL is. Let me introduce you. The Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators recognizes certain members as Published and Listed–thus, SCBWI PAL. SCBWI states on its website that: “PAL stands for Published and Listed. These are books published by traditional publishing houses that do not charge money to authors or illustrators. Only PAL books are eligible for the Crystal Kite Awards and may be sold at SCBWI events.”
While you are on my SCBWI Public Profile page note that you can read a short bio about me and my writing. You can also click on links under my photograph in the left-hand sidebar to send me an email, visit my website/blog, or view my posting on Twitter. In the right-hand sidebar you will find my published books. By clicking on the title next to the cover illustration, you will be taken to a page for that particular book. There, you can read a synopsis, see pertinent reviews, and follow a tab to view my other book (which will become books once the third book in my trilogy is published). A “Buy the Book” box contains direct links to Amazon and Barnes & Noble where you can order the book.
Recently, Donna Mabry, whom I introduced in a previous blog posting, showed this picture of her nine-year-old nephew, Kaedyn, to the members of Sun City Anthem Authors and told the story about his obvious love of Eagle Talons. Donna said Eagle Talons was the first book fourth-grader Kaedyn read that had not been a school assignment.
Neil and Nora Bross had purchased Eagle Talons during my book signing at Barnes & Noble last year, and they returned this year to pick up a copy of Bear Claws. A most rewarding experience for a writer.
The book signing event officially ran from 1 PM until 4 PM, but I got started a little early and stayed a bit late. The entire experience was enjoyable. I was able to talk with many customers about how and why I wrote The Iron Horse Chronicles. Readers were duly impressed that Eagle Talons had won the Bronze Will Rogers Medallion Award for 2015 for younger readers.
I look forward to returning to my local Barnes & Noble store next year to sign copies of all three books in The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy.
This is the second year that Barnes & Noble has hosted my book signing. I welcome this opportunity to talk with you about The Iron Horse Chronicles trilogy. While you are in Barnes & Noble, browse B&N’s large selection of books, music, and games. Take time to enjoy a cup of coffee or lunch in their Café. But, most importantly, come and say hello even if you already own copies of both of my books!
Colonel John D. Stevenson, commander of the Thirtieth U. S. Infantry Regiment, brought his soldiers to Cheyenne to build and man the fort that was created to protect Union Pacific workers who were constructing the first transcontinental railroad. The fort took its name from Civil War Brigadier General David Allen Russell who was killed in September 1864 at the Battle of Opequon (sometimes called the Third Battle of Winchester), in the Shenandoah Valley.
The fort is now called Francis E. Warren Air Force Base. Many famous soldiers and airmen have served here, including Carl Spaatz, Black Jack Pershing, Billy Mitchell, Walter Reed, and Mark Clark. A museum and several historical buildings can be visited on the air base. For more information visit: 
Two fellow members of Anthem Authors have books reviewed in the February 2016 issue of Roundup Magazine, the official publication of Western Writers of America.
Donna Mabry’s novel Kimimela is reviewed by Sandy Whiting on page 28 of Roundup Magazine in the Fiction category of the “Book Reviews” section. This book is available from Amazon in both paperback and Kindle versions and from Barnes & Noble in paperback. In addition to her historical romances with a western orientation, of which Kimimela is one, Donna writes mysteries and thrillers. She is also the author of the acclaimed memoir Maude.
R. Michael Wilson’s Train Robbery in North America is reviewed by Monty McCord on page 30 of the magazine in the Nonfiction category of the “Book Reviews” section. His latest book is available from Amazon and Barnes & Noble in paperback. Bob, as he is known to fellow Anthem Authors’ members, has written over twenty books, authored five articles in Wild West Magazine, and has been featured on the History Channel’s “Wild West Tech” television series.
On page 37 of the magazine you will find the announcement that my novel Bear Claws, The Iron Horse Chronicles–Book Two, will be released in a large print edition by Wheeler Publishing in February, 2016. This large print edition is available for preorder now in paperback from both Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Rod Miller reviewed Bear Claws in the December 2015 issue of Roundup Magazine.
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