Category Archives: Pioneers

Legends and Such

Posted on April 26, 2021 by Mustang

The story of David Crockett and Mike Fink Some Background A few weeks ago, at Fix Bayonets, I posted an account of the 8th Marine Regiment following its activation in 1917.  The regiment formed as a contingency for possible service … Continue reading →

Posted in American Frontier, American Indians, American Southwest, History, Indian War, Pioneers, Politicians, Texas | 6 Comments

Frontier Capitalists

Posted on April 12, 2021 by Mustang

. . . and Tough Hombres Europeans have competed against one another since the end of the Roman Empire, first as tribal entities, and later as nation-states.  It is, perhaps, an element of human nature.  Christopher Columbus’ exploration of 1492 … Continue reading →

Posted in American Frontier, American Indians, History, Mountain Men, New France, Pioneers | 4 Comments

Black Mountaineers

Posted on April 5, 2021 by Mustang

Occasionally, one learns something by stumbling across information previously unknown.  At other times, one learns by asking questions and then begins a process to find the answers.  That’s the way it was with me in these stories of black mountain … Continue reading →

Posted in American Frontier, American Indians, Cheyenne, History, Indian Territory, Mountain Men, Pioneers | 2 Comments

America’s Bloodiest Range War, 1890 – 1916

Posted on March 29, 2021 by Mustang

Following the establishment of Mission San Fernando Rey de España in 1797, Spanish officials realized that they would require more land for agriculture and livestock.  They looked to the Santa Clarita Valley to establish their estancia.  Using this land necessitated … Continue reading →

Posted in California, Gunfights and such, History, Pioneers, Range War | 1 Comment

Dog Soldiers

Posted on March 15, 2021 by Mustang

Violent conflict didn’t suddenly manifest itself upon native people at the moment Europeans arrived in the Americas.  Native Americans (Indians) have been at war with one another for thousands of years before the white man appeared, and if you happened … Continue reading →

Posted in American Indians, Cheyenne, Civil War, History, Indian Territory, Indian War, Kansas, Minnesota, Pioneers | 2 Comments

The Dakota war

Posted on October 26, 2020 by Mustang

Prologue One of the problems with public education is that curricula, teachers, and teaching materials oversimplify history.  We may certainly understand why this is so at the elementary level, but not as children progress into secondary schools.  Another possible explanation … Continue reading →

Posted in American Frontier, American Indians, History, Justice, Minnesota, Pioneers, Sioux Indians, Society | 1 Comment

Sally Scull: Mean as a snake

Posted on October 19, 2020 by Mustang

One axiom of the old west was that good-hearted cowboys were as mythical as unicorns.  The saying probably does some injustice to stockmen, cowhands, ranchers, and trail drivers.  The truth is that the term cowboy had, at one time, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Civil War, Pioneers, Society, Texas | 2 Comments

The American Frontier

Posted on August 24, 2020 by Mustang

Some background Human migration could be the most important factor in understanding the development of North America.  While it is true that the story of humankind is one of migration, our American story began when people decided to risk their … Continue reading →

Posted in American Frontier, Colonial America, History, New France, New Spain, Pioneers, Society, Westward Expansion | 5 Comments