Lads: Just received my copy of Nicholas Cresswell's journal - his trip through Kangta-ke in 1774-77....read only the first few pages but it appears to be very well written and is a good read.
So often we see quotes from these contemporary sources, but don't read the originals. I have decided to do as much of that as possible. I found the Dodderidge papers fully digitized at Google Books...tough to read long text on screen, but it is a real treasure, regardless.
Col Boone
Posts: 174 | Location: Volcano, Hawaii | Registered: 22 September 2008
Well, I mislaid Seedtime in the Cumberland for a time and started something different. "The Conquest of the Illinois" is a good read. Particularly considering the author is George Rogers Clark himself!
I'll pick up where I left off with Seedtime when I finish this one.
All of this reading talk, I must confess. I started college this fall and one of my classes is American History. The teacher is fabulous and includes podcasts with the lessons. She includes little known facts about the prominent people in our history. I found out that John Quincy Adams went skinny dipping. What an eye opener! mattsgirl
matt'sgirl got me to thinking. If anybody wants to listen to some interesting podcasts, try jeffersonhour.org. This is a site that is set up with a Jefferson expert portraying him and answering questions related to today's events. Some of it is pretty interesting when you've got time to kill.
This book lasts past the 1840 cutoff, but starts before that--Blood and Thunder by Hampton Sides--the story of Kit Carson and the conquest of the west. It is and is not the story of Kit Carson--he is one central figure in it. It is perhaps the best book I have ever read on the history of the west--mainly the southwest. It convinced me, however, that Kit Carson deserved every bit of his legendary status alongside Boone and Crockett. An amazing story, very well researched and written. Highly recommended.
I've always found Kit Carson to be quite interesting and based on your recommendation have ordered a copy. I first got turned on to him when I lived in NW NM back in the late 80's and early 90's. Have visited several museums both there and in CO that had things attributed to him. Quite a guy. Thanks for the heads up.
Keep looking up! (He's coming back)
Posts: 508 | Location: Along the Humboldt | Registered: 06 December 2006
I've always found Kit Carson to be quite interesting and based on your recommendation have ordered a copy. I first got turned on to him when I lived in NW NM back in the late 80's and early 90's. Have visited several museums both there and in CO that had things attributed to him. Quite a guy. Thanks for the heads up.
You will enjoy it. How many folks knew that Kit led a force for the Union in the Civil War? In New Mexico at a major battle? Yeah, my son went to college in Soccoro [NMIT] and we used to get out there alot--been to Kit's house in Taos, etc.
I read Blood and Thunder a little while back and enjoyed it very much. I got very interested in Kit Carson because of that book and so I have just started reading Kit Carson and the Indians, by Tom Dunlay. This is a more scholarly book focusing on Carson's relationship with various tribes and individuals. So far it is well written and quite informative.
Lobo
Posts: 70 | Location: The Wet Side of the Cascade Mountains | Registered: 08 April 2008
Originally posted by matt'sgirl: All of this reading talk, I must confess. I started college this fall and one of my classes is American History. The teacher is fabulous and includes podcasts with the lessons. She includes little known facts about the prominent people in our history. I found out that John Quincy Adams went skinny dipping. What an eye opener! mattsgirl
Well, they didn't have swimsuits in those days. Anyone who swam went skinny-dipping. No rash from harsh fabrics and cleaners, either! Ben Franklin believed in swimming for exercise, too, I hear.
I just finished reading a book written by a good friend that was written while he was on the Recreated Corps of Discovery's journey to the ocean and back. The book is titled, "The Romance of Miss Victoria & Private Silas Goodrich" and is written as journal entries and letters.
Posts: 11 | Location: Michigan | Registered: 09 November 2009
Mike R, while you were at Socorro, did you ever make it to the Ft. Craig ruins? I always thought it was neat that you could stand in the doorway of the headquarters building just like Kit did while he was watching the Confederate forces form up before the battle of Valverde.
I am currently re-reading Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin Series. Just finished Master & Commander, and am starting Post Captain. Love a good sea tale, and O'Brian is one of the best. This time I'm doing it right..I have a copy of Dean King's A Sea of Words..A Lexicon & Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian Great for understanding 18th Century British terminology, and Mr. King's Harbors & High Seas..An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian
Posts: 373 | Location: Clovis, New Mexico | Registered: 21 March 2005
Originally posted by Deercop: Mike R, while you were at Socorro, did you ever make it to the Ft. Craig ruins? I always thought it was neat that you could stand in the doorway of the headquarters building just like Kit did while he was watching the Confederate forces form up before the battle of Valverde.
I am currently re-reading Patrick O'Brian's Aubrey/Maturin Series. Just finished Master & Commander, and am starting Post Captain. Love a good sea tale, and O'Brian is one of the best. This time I'm doing it right..I have a copy of Dean King's A Sea of Words..A Lexicon & Companion to the Complete Seafaring Tales of Patrick O'Brian Great for understanding 18th Century British terminology, and Mr. King's Harbors & High Seas..An Atlas and Geographical Guide to the Complete Aubrey-Maturin Novels of Patrick O'Brian
Yeah, we saw it, but at the time I knew little of the action there--spent alot of time looking at Indian ruins in NMex and at the geology.
Finally got around to reading Rufus Sage."Rocky Mountain Life" Have to read it on line(I hate that) as I don't have a hard copy. Just finished "The French and Indian war" by Walter R Borneman. I do believe I have read all of O'Brians books. The last one I read was "Blue at the Mizzen" I call them Hornblower for adults.
This message has been edited. Last edited by: Trail,
Shoot low,they may be crawling.
Posts: 52 | Location: South Dakota | Registered: 14 October 2009
Go to Gutenberg.org and search for Joseph Altsheler. He has a whole series of historical fiction That is really entertaining reading for folks like us. It was originally intended for young readers, but we're all just a bunch of kids playing with our toys anyway.
Posts: 56 | Location: South Coast (MS) | Registered: 16 September 2006
Pete G, I'll bet most of us can go back to tv shows, movies or books that got us hooked. For me it was the series of frontier adventures written for young readers by William O. Steele. My city library still carrys his books.
Posts: 373 | Location: Clovis, New Mexico | Registered: 21 March 2005
For me I snuck into see jerimiah johnson when I was a lad and my brother told my parents I got grounded for a month but I was hooked and at the same time I read the frontersman by Allan Eckert and there was no turning back I just finished undaunted courage by ambrose very good
fire away and fall back
Posts: 121 | Location: virginia | Registered: 06 August 2009
