Just glancing at its title, one would be forgiven for thinking that Matthew P. Mayo’s collection of brief historical anecdotes stays with the more mainstream-classroom elements of Western lore, but don’t be fooled. There are pistoleros galore. Army/Indian conflict is not suggested in the title, but COWBOYS, MOUNTAIN MEN & GRIZZLY BEARS: FIFTY OF THE GRITTIEST MOMENTS IN THE HISTORY OF THE WILD WEST contains stories about the usual collection of military mishaps and massacres.
There was Capt. William Fetterman, who bragged that with a mere 80 cavalrymen, he could cut a swath through the entire Sioux Nation — and was then, along with 80 soldiers, lured into a trap by Crazy Horse and wiped out. And there was Col. John Chivington, an even bigger loudmouth, who led a raid on Black Kettle’s camp of peaceful Cheyenne in 1864. This action was once referred to as The Battle of Sand Creek, but is now more accurately called the Chivington Massacre. When asked after the fact why the men under his command killed children, Chivington answered appallingly, “Nits make lice.”
But even the batch of mountain-man stories contains some chillers. Read about the Donner Party, and Alferd Packer, a Colorado mountain guide who, in 1874, led a group of five ill-equipped prospectors into the wilderness. Only Packer returned, and the five men in his care were later discovered murdered … and partially consumed. At Packer’s trial, Gen. Charles Adams (now that’s an appropriate name) served as judge:
“Shannon Bell,” Adams said, “shot a fellow named California something-or-other and then you shot Bell in self defense? And then you ate him?” to which Packer replied, “It was a long winter.”
I’ve always loved this condemnation from the judge: “Alferd Packer, there were only seven Democrats in Hinsdale County and you ate five of ‘em, you son of a bitch.” Unfortunately, it’s apocryphal, although …
after the trial someone did yell out, “You hungry now?” to which Packer gave a sly grin and replied, “No, but maybe later.”
Very Hannibal Lecter. Mayo also tells us that the University of Colorado at Boulder operates the Alferd Packer Memorial Grill.
Among the gunmen, you’ll find stories about Wild Bill Hickok, John Wesley Hardin, Wyatt Earp, Bass Reeves — a black U.S. Deputy Marshal who once had to arrest his own son for murder — Tom Horn and others, including such wanton females as Belle Starr (shot) and Cattle Annie (hanged).
Mayo is a breezy yarn-spinner, the kind you’d like to sit around a spot-bellied stove with on a cold night. With 50 tales in a little more than 200 pages, you know there’s no room for details, but the book includes a comprehensive bibliography so you can do a little digging on your own for more information.
This one is fun and the kind of book you’d see in the gift shop in places like Tombstone or Deadwood. If you can’t hit the trail, this is the next best thing. —Doug Bentin
Related posts:
- Gunslinger and Nine Other Action-Packed Stories of the Wild West
- Ultimate Blogs: Masterworks from the Wild Web
- Wild Fire
- Fifty Grand
- Wild to Possess / A Taste for Sin
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
The writer is a virtual friend of mine – virtual, doesn’t that sound terrible! OK – a cyber friend. And this is a great book, well researched and written with a storyteller’s voice. I’m a western nut and I have a large library of non-fiction but there were some events in this book I knew nothing about. Matthew’s a nice guy but even if he were a low down son-of-a-bitch, this would still be a great book.
Thanks, Doug, for the fine review. I’m pleased you like the book! Oprah wasn’t too keen on the maulings….
And thanks, Gary, for the support –this lowdown sumbitch appreciates it.
Cheers,
Matt