Tag: #USHistory

Posted in #History

Shotguns and Stagecoaches: The Brave Men Who Rode for Wells Fargo in the Wild West

Posted on by BookReviews

“A rip-roaring history of moving the mail in the wildest of the Wild West days” from the New York Times–bestselling author of Texas Ranger (Kirkus Reviews).


Here are the true stories of the Wild West heroes who guarded the iconic Wells Fargo stagecoaches and trains, battling colorful thieves, vicious highwaymen, and robbers armed with explosives.
The phrase “riding shotgun” was no teenage game to the men who guarded stagecoaches and trains on the Western frontier. Armed with sawed-off, double-barreled shotguns and an occasional revolver, these express messengers guarded valuable cargo through lawless terrain. They were tough, fighting men who risked their lives every time they climbed into the front boot of a Concord coach.
Boessenecker introduces soon-to-be iconic personalities like “Chips” Hodgkins, an express rider known for his white mule and his ability to outrace his competitors, and Henry Johnson, the first Wells Fargo detective. Their lives weren’t just one shootout after another—their encounters with desperadoes were won just as often with quick wits and memorized-by-heart knowledge of the land.
The highway robbers also get their due. It wouldn’t be a book about the Wild West without Black Bart, the most infamous stagecoach robber of all time, and Butch Cassidy’s gang, America’s most legendary train robbers.
Through the Gold Rush and the early days of delivery with horses and saddlebags, to the heyday of stagecoaches and huge shipments of gold, and finally the rise of the railroad and the robbers who concocted unheard-of schemes to loot trains, Wells Fargo always had courageous men to protect its treasure. Their unforgettable bravery and ingenuity make this book a thrilling read.

About the Author

JOHN BOESSENECKER, a San Francisco trial lawyer and former police officer, is considered one of the leading authorities on crime and law enforcement in the Old West. He is the award-winning author of several books, including the New York Times bestselling Texas Ranger. In 2011 and 2013, True West magazine named Boessenecker Best Nonfiction Writer. He has appeared frequently as a historical commentator on PBS, The History Channel, A&E, and other networks.

Posted in #History

Animals in the Great War (Images of War)

Posted on by BookReviews

Tails from the Great War throws a spot light on the experience of creatures great and small during the First World War, vividly telling their stories through the incredible archival images of the Mary Evans Picture Library. The enduring public interest in Michael Morpurgos tale of the war horse reveals an enthusiasm for the animal perspective on war, but what of the untold stories of the war dog, the trench rat or even the ships pig? Through unrivaled access to rarely seen illustrated wartime magazines, books and postcards, discover the sea lions who were trained to detect submarines, and witness the carcass of the 61ft mine-destroying wonder whale. Meet the dog that brought a sailor back from the brink of death, and inspired a Hollywood legend. See how depictions of animals were powerfully manipulated by the propaganda machine on both sides, and how the presence of animals could bring much needed and even lifesaving companionship and cheer amid the carnage of war. As the centenary of the Great War is commemorated all over the world, take a timely journey via the lens of Mary Evans wartime images, and marvel at the often overlooked but significant contribution and experience of animals at war. By turns astonishing, heart-warming and occasionally downright bizarre, Tails from the Great War champions the little-known story of the bison, the chameleon, the canary et al in wartime.


Editorial Reviews

Review

“Lucinda Moore’s book Animals in the Great War is a comprehensive pictorial spotlight shining on the many ways a menagerie of animals, great and small, contributed their service and their lives to the cause of World War I. Using archival material from the Mary Evans Picture Library, Moore’s choice of images vividly tells their stories and gives the reader privileged access to the intimate relationships between humans and animals in dire and desperate conditions.”
Journal of Animal Ethics Volume 10.1 (Spring 2020)

About the Author

Lucinda Moore is a picture researcher at the Mary Evans Picture Library in Blackheath, London, where she relishes exploring the archive and writing about the hidden treasure that she uncovers. A graduate of classical archaeology and ancient history from Oxford University, she has more than a decade of archival research experience. She lives in Kent with her husband and baby son.

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Alaska Natives

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A Captivating Guide to the History of the Indigenous Peoples of Alaska

Did you know that Alaska is home to the oldest archaeological site in the US?

If you’re ready to take a journey that will explore the history of Alaska’s Native heritage, then Alaska Natives: A Captivating Guide to the History of Indigenous Peoples of Alaska is the trail for you to follow the cultures that have thrived for generations against the breathtaking backdrop of the Alaskan wilderness.

Alaska Natives is not merely a collection of facts and dates—it’s a captivating narrative that explores the Alaska Native cultures and their journey into the modern era. Discover the pathways on the Bering Land Bridge, share in the contemporary celebrations that honor their heritage, and witness the continuity of traditions that are intertwined with tales of resilience, artistry, and their incredible connection with the land.

In the pages of this book, you’ll find a world where the past and present coexist. Explore the Aleutian Islands, where strong communities thrive against rugged landscapes, revealing how the land shapes tradition. The journey through the heritage of the Alaska Natives is a story where cultures have thrived against all odds.

Are you ready to dive in? Here’s some of what you’ll discover in the pages of this guide:

  • Learn where the early Alaskans came from and how they connected with Europe
  • Uncover how they survived in such harsh conditions
  • Learn how the land shaped traditions and lifestyles
  • Discover how the native tribes survived the Russian invasion
  • Explore where the Alaska Natives stood when the US gained control
  • And so much more!

#History, , #WorldHistory, , #USHistory,

Posted in #History

The Pequot War

Posted on by Reluctant Retiree

A Captivating Guide to the Armed Conflict in New England between the Pequot People and English Settlers and Its Role in the History of the United States of America (Indigenous People)

If you want to discover the captivating history of the Pequot War, then keep reading…

Free History BONUS Inside!

The Pequot War (1636–1638) was a short-lived but extremely violent and bloody episode in United States history. This event represents one of the turning points in the entire history of North America, as the war changed the balance of power. The Dutch colonial authorities lost their status of being the dominant economic and political force, while the English took over this epithet. The end of the war also represented the first stage in England’s intensive expansion in that part of the world.

This historical event demonstrates the insurmountable antagonisms between two opposing cultures and perceptions. It was just the beginning of the conflicts between the European settlers and the Native Americans, as the Pequot War allowed the Puritans to have a testing ground so they could examine their military capabilities in the New World and observe the capabilities of the Native American tribes.

In The Pequot War: A Captivating Guide to the Armed Conflict in New England between the Pequot People and English Settlers and Its Role in the History of the United States of America, you will discover topics such as

  • The European Conception of the Native Americans
  • Who Were the Pequots?
  • The Massachusetts Bay Colony of New England
  • The Events That Triggered the Pequot War
  • Military Capacities, Organization, and Tactics of the Warring Parties
  • Conflict Escalation
  • Mystic River Campaign
  • The Mother of All Crimes
  • Analysis and Comparison of King Philip’s War and the Historiography of the Pequot War
  • Where Are They Today? A Look at the Pequots
  • And much, much more!

#History, , #WorldHistory, ,

Posted in #History

Year of the Pitcher

Posted on by BookReviews

Bob Gibson, Denny McLain, and the End of Baseball’s Golden Age

The story of the remarkable 1968 baseball season. “Seldom does an era, and do sports personalities, come alive so vividly, and so unforgettably.” —The Boston Globe

In 1968, two remarkable pitchers would dominate the game as well as the broadsheets. One was black, the other white. Bob Gibson, together with the St. Louis Cardinals, embodied an entire generation’s hope for integration at a heated moment in American history. Denny McLain was a crass self-promoter. He eschewed the team charter. He abandoned his Detroit Tigers teammates to zip cross-country in his own plane. For one season, the nation watched as these two men played remarkably. Their teams swept their respective league championships. They met at the World Series. Gibson set a major league record that year with a 1.12 ERA. McLain won more than 30 games in 1968, a feat not achieved since 1934 and untouched since. Together, the two have become iconic symbols. They gave the fans “The Year of the Pitcher.” Their performances changed the game. This is the story of a great sports rivalry. It evokes a nostalgic season and its incredible characters. It provides an indelible portrait of the national pastime during a turbulent year. It also tells about the two men who electrified fans from all walks of life.

“Explores so much more than the battle between two pitchers and their teams . . . A fine history of a vital period in the history of not only baseball, but America.” —Kirkus Reviews

“A compelling tale of all that America was in the turbulent year of 1968, told through a (mostly) baseball prism.” —New York Post

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I’m a Mom, a Grandmom, and a Veteran. Nothing scares me! That’s the saying on my favorite T Shirt. I’m enjoying life too much to let the little things slow me down. If you can’t tell from my Avatar, I live in Florida where I enjoy the sunshine and endure the hurricanes with good grace. Sometimes you have to take the bad with the good!

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