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Stella James Vs Turilli: The Ethel James Owens Letter, Jesse died in St. Jo Missouri on April 3rd 1882. (c)

 On 05/10/2025, the following letter was shared online. It appeared on the Jesse James group Facebook page, and it was posted by a gentleman by the name of Robert Basil. According to Basil, his father C.W. Basil, a writer who was published in Lost Treasures Magazine, was corresponding with Jesse James granddaughter, Ethel James Owens because of his interest in Jesse James, I asked Robert about the story, and he told me:

"Back in those days he and a friend were always metal detecting, writing stories of the old west gangs such as Jesse James. He and his friend would write stories for lost treasures magazine. They just were into that really heavy back then. He just found a way to reach Ethel Rose James Owens Jesse's granddaughter and they hit it off. They talked quite a bit until her death. She actually told my dad that if he would have contacted her a week prior that she would have given my dad Jesse's guns. Instead she donated them to be museum in Kearny Missouri." 

The following letter was handed down to him by his Father. The letter written by Ethel James Owens tells the story of Frank Dalton who falsely claimed to be Jesse James. And tells the story of a law suit, filed by Stella James the widow of Jesse E. James (Jesse Woodson James’s son).

Quotes from the letter;

"I have received the books, and was quite surprised, with the book and wish I had known what its was all about - of more about it, I have read it and just can't believe that it is filled with so many lies."

"I am quite acquainted with Mr. Dalton who claimed to be Jesse James, them having killed a Mr. Bigelow to take Jesse James place in the casket. He was here in Los Angelas one time and I went to see him. I couldn't help but feel sorry for the "old" man, because he really didn't know what he was doing. It was just the promoters making a side show of him."

"(My mother) Got so many copies of affidavits from people who had seen Jesse James killed, etc. etc. The judge and jury decided in her favor, but she  never got the $10,000, as Mr. Turrili had no money, and died shortly after this in bankruptcy."

Stella James the widow of Jesse E. James (Jesse W James’s son) and her daughters knew that Jesse was shot and killed on April 3rd, 1882 by Robert Ford who pled guilty to the murder. the defendant Rudy Turilli, operator of the “Jesse James Museum” claimed that James was not the man killed and had lived at his museum under the alias of J. Frank Dalton into the 1950’s. Turilli was apparently so confident in his statement that he was willing to offer $10,000 to anyone that could offer evidence to prove him wrong. Upon hearing Turilli’s statement, Stella James had immediately sought to prove him wrong.

From Time magazine Oct 18th, 1971 The Law Decision:

"Rudy Turilli of Stanton, Mo., found a vocation in his belief that Jesse James was not killed in 1882, but lived into the 1950s under the alias of J. Frank Dalton. After meeting Dalton in 1948, Turilli opened the Jesse James Museum in Stanton and published a book arguing his thesis. In 1967 Turilli announced on a television program that he would pay $10,000 to anyone who could prove him wrong. Stella James, daughter-in-law of the outlaw, and her two daughters tried to collect after supplying affidavits from James family members that Jesse had indeed died in 1882. When Turilli refused to pay, the women sued and won in the Franklin County circuit court. The verdict, recently upheld on appeal, put the courts in the unusual position of considering an academic point of history. Turilli now says that he will ask for a new hearing on the grounds that his television boast was not legally binding."

The Law: Decisions | TIME

From the court of appeals:

Problem lies with the definition of the word “prove” Defendant says prove means “to determine or persuade that a thing does or does not exist” Court says it is an ordinary word spoken by laymen and we are unable to interpret it technically. Stella James had began to seek people close to the James family who could help prove Turilli wrong. On Feb 27, 1967 defendant publicly offers $10,000 to anyone who could prove him wrong on national television. In hearing this, plaintiffs submitted evidence from the James family each stated facts that Jesse James was “in fact killed as alleged in song and legend on April 3, 1882 by Robert Ford. One of the statements that was approved by the court was given by Thomas M. Mimm’s who stated “his sister had been a widow of Jesse W. James and on April 3rd 1882, his sister had sent him a telegram stating Jesse W. James had been killed, and he had in fact went to the funeral and viewed the body knowing it was that of Jesse W. James.” He claims the man killed on April 3, 1882 and buried as Jesse James is an imposter. He claims the real Jesse James lived under the name J. Frank Dalton in the museum into the 1950’s.Defendant says they (the plaintiffs) neglected “to establish what it was they were to prove me wrong about” He also claimed that the evidence given by the plaintiffs was insufficient and the jury had made an error as far as accepting the plantiffs statements. The Court decided that the statements given by the Plaintiff were admissible as independently relevant declarations and there was no hearsay rule violations. They stated that the evidence given by the plaintiff was not confusing to the jury as the defendant had claimed.

Therefore, the plaintiff shall be granted the money.

This video shows some of the things that Jesse James has done in the past

By Michael Haferkamp

Stella James v. Rudy Turilli

Court of Appeals of Missouri, St. Louis District

September 28, 1971

Rudy Turilli claims James was not the man killed in 1882

Turilli offers money to anyone who thought they were right

Stella James went to prove Turilli wrong

Jesse W. James (famous outlaw) was shot and killed on April 3, 1882

Overview; James submitted facts from Jesse James’ family to Turilli Stella James states “Jesse W. James was in fact killed as alleged in song and legend on April 3, 1882 by Robert Ford.” Turilli claims Jesse W. James lived as J. Frank Dalton with him into the 1950’sTurilli offered $10,000 to anyone who “could prove him wrong” on national television . The court decided that the plaintiffs claims were admissible and did not find any error. The judgment is affirmed Court’s Ruling The plaintiff is granted $10,000.

Additional Information:

Ethelrose Owens; Last Grandchild of Outlaw Jesse James - Los Angeles Times

Ethel Rose James Owens (1908-1991) - Find a Grave Memorial

There is no proof whatsoever that J. Frank Dalton Was Jesse James.

Jesse James and Turilli in c - Genealogy.com

Ruling on Jesse

J. Frank Dalton - Wikipedia

Note: I was given full permission by Robert Basil to use his information.

Copyright (c) 2025

Terms; Free to use, please cite the author and CSL&OH.A.

Pioneers, Maxwell Iowa: By G.C. Stevens 2025 (c)

 

A memorial dedicated to the early pioneers of Maxwell Iowa

I'd like to dedicate this article to Tom Logsdon, who I had a chance 

meeting with in Maxwell Iowa on a warm spring day in 2025. His family ran

 a mercantile store in Maxwell Iowa for 64 years.

The Country Store

by Anonymous

FAR OUT beyond the city's lights, away from din and roar,

The cricket chirps of summer nights beneath the country store;

The drygoods boxes ricked about afford a welcome seat

For weary tillers of the ground, who here on evenings meet.

A swinging sign of ancient make, and one above the door,

Proclaim that William Henry Blake is owner of the store;

Here everything from jam to tweed, from silks to ginghams bright,

Is spread before the folk who need from early morn till night.

Tea, sugar, coffee (browned or green), molasses, grindstones, tar,

Suspenders, peanuts, navy beans, and homemade vinegar,

Fine combs, wash ringers, rakes, false hair, paints, rice, and looking glasses,

Side saddles, hominy, crockery ware, and seeds for garden grasses.

Lawn mowers, candies, books to read, corn planter, household goods,

Tobacco, salt, and clover seed, horsewhips and knitted hoods,

Canned goods, shoe blacking, lime and nails, straw hats and carpet slippers,

Prunes, buttons, codfish, bridal veils, cranberries, clocks, and clippers.

Umbrellas, candles, scythes and hats, caps, boots and shoes and bacon,

Thread, nutmegs, pins and Rough on Rats, for cash or produce taken;

Birdseed, face powder, matches, files, ink, onions and many more,

Are found in heaps and stacks and piles within the country store.

It was early May, and the weather was fine. Being semi-retired, I had begun to dread the explosion of humanity, housing and businesses in Ankeny Iowa. So... I began to want for quieter places to go.  I also had a built- in excuse to explore and visit as many rural towns and points of interested, that I wanted too. And that excuse was my dog "Frankie" who is truly the epitome of "man's best friend." Together with my wife Vicki, Frankie and I have explored Iowa one park at a time throughout Central Iowa. On this particular day, I woke up thinking of Maxwell.  I had been there one time while doing business, and I was compelled to visit there again to explore the area. I arrived in town in the afternoon, on the prettiest spring day that Mother nature could create. I walked Frankie in "Scout Park" and felt a real calm come over me. The fields there were fresh and green, and I could smell the grass of the open fields across Rock Creek.  While driving around town, I spied an old cemetery in the distance, and I couldn't figure out the best way to get to it, and I wanted to see it.  As I drove around trying to figure it out. I drove to the end of the road going back into Scout Park again, and I observed a gentleman in an SUV, coming out of the park on the narrow road, towards me, so I waited for him to pass before I moved. As he came by me, and because it such an awesome day, we all had our windows down. He slowed down and started to chat with me. and I explained to him that we (my wife and I Vicki, who was flying Co-Pilot, she the navigator and umpire.)  were trying to access the old cemetery from the direction from he was coming. He then told me to follow him and he would take me there. Once we got to the location, I continued to chat with the gentleman by his car. He started to tell me all about Maxwell, and I asked him his name, and said it was Tom Logsdon, and he explained that he was a long time resident Maxwell and that he and his family had run a Mercantile store in Maxwell for over 64 years, but they had to go out of business. We continued to talk, and Tom told me more about Maxwell, and he directed me to two museum locations on Main street. He also told me about the story of when the Mayor of Maxwell was murdered in 1887. A story which I determined to be true. It can be found online at Iagenweb.org  (also see 1887 History of Story County, Iowa by W. G. Allen) But like so many early western

towns, Iowa was no different, the town was plotted with intention by the railroads, "hell on wheels" was coming to Iowa and nothing could stop it.

 "Hell on wheels" was coming to Iowa and nothing could stop it.

Photo from the Authors collection

It was the Chicago, Milwaukee, and Saint Paul railways made the decision to come to the junction of the Calamus and Indian Creek valleys.  People had given up on the Ox and cart of the old settlers days, and began moving to the railroad. J. W. Maxwell and F. M. Baldwin had purchased some land near the railroad. They gave the land upon which the first town of Maxwell was platted. The town created by the donor. This was because he was the first to person to move there. However, soon, larger buildings were moved there from Iowa Center and Peoria City to what is now the site of the new town of Maxwell. The first building was of course the railroad depot. Several new buildings were constructed, But the largest of which was occupied by the Mercantile firm of Maxwell and Baldwin and was occupied by Logsdon's Grocery Store until they closed in 2024.

1881-1882

Because of the excessive wet season and heavy snow of the winter of 1881–1882, there was  considerable flooding. Both creeks, surrounding the town were out of their banks and flooding into one body of water just south of the train depot. The ensuing flood marooned many of the construction gangs who made their headquarters that winter in Maxwell. They could not work on account of the interference of the flood water. And two saloons sprang up and did a flourishing business. Before the close of 1882, there were twelve or more business houses in town, and more under construction. By 1887, there was a total 40 businesses located in Maxwell.

Maxwell incorporated in 1883, and the first town election was held. The town hall was located behind the Maxwell Baldwin building. It had a cupola with a bell to ring in case of emergencies. The first church met at the lumber yard owned by J. O. French. Planks were arranged as seats. Later, the Methodist and Presbyterian churches were built.

Pioneer Monument at the Pioneer Cemetery in Maxwell Iowa

Photo by the Author

Pioneer Monument at the Pioneer Cemetery in Maxwell Iowa

Photo by the Author (Backside)

                                                    Pioneer Cemetery in Maxwell Iowa

Photo by the Author

 

Doc Hinck Keeps the Wild West Alive in the Heart of Kansas: By G C. Stevens

 

Doc Hinck "The Flint Hills Cowboy" 

Whether he's out hunting turkeys, tracking mountain lions, singing country music, hunting for lost treasure on the Santa Fe trail, or organizing wild west reenactnent events, Doc is keeping the American West alive and well. I met Doc a few years ago at the big shootout on the Santa Fe Trail in Council Grove Kansas. It was an awesome event in a real wild west town on the Sante Fe Trail. Doc is also a published writer, singer song writer and quite a legend in Kansas. Doc is an Author who wrote "Return to Council Grove" Doc's resume, works and experience includes;

 Producer at Trailin’ a Vision Outdoors with Doc and Steph

Host/Ramrod/Organizer at Gunfight on the Santa Fe Trail

Bank, train and stage coach robber at The Council Grove Regulators

Author at The Return to Council Grove

Roughstock Cowboy at Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association

Country Music Artist at Doc Hinck "The Flinthills Cowboy."

Former Historian/Actor at The History Channel television

Doc is also song writer and talented musician. 

 He wrote and sung the song "Council Grove Blues"

You can find Doc on Facebook 

Some photos from the Gunfight on the  Santa Fe Trail. 

All photos by the author

                                    

                  See you on the Dusty Trail! CSL&OH.S.

John Wayne Birthday Celebration May 23 and 24th Winterset Iowa

 

Hello Pards! Looks like the schedule is in for the 2025 John Wayne birthday celebration

 in Winterset Iowa. 

Click here for more details

The Outlaw Who Quoted Shakespeare, Frank James: By G.C. Stevens

 

                                             Frank James, Photo from the Authors Collection. 

                                                Frank James: Found peace in Tennessee. 

Alexander Franklin James, born January 10, 1843, in Clay County, Missouri, was the older brother of the infamous Jesse James. While Jesse’s name became synonymous with the romanticized outlaw of the American West, Frank’s story is different in that it is one of rebellion, crime, and his deliberate choices to leave that life behind, particularly during and after his time in Tennessee. An intelligent man with a love for Shakespeare's works, Frank’s journey from Confederate guerrilla to law-abiding citizen reveals a very complex figure weary of the life of crime that he once pursued.
Frank’s outlaw career began after the Civil War, where he fought as a Confederate guerrilla alongside William Quantrill and “Bloody Bill” Anderson. Jesse and Frank James lives shaped by Missouri’s pro-Southern sentiments, turned to crime in 1866, robbing trains, banks and stagecoaches as part of the James-Younger Gang. Their exploits, including the audacious robbery in 1866 in Liberty, Missouri, that bank robbery, earned them both notoriety and a Robin Hood-like reputation which was fueled by public resentment toward banks and railroads. Though, Frank, unlike the fame-hungry Jesse, was a more reserved person, preferring books and family over the spotlight.
The turning point came after the disastrous robbery in 1876 at Northfield, Minnesota, during the bank robbery there, which wiped out the James-Younger Gang. Most of the members were killed or captured, but Frank and Jesse escaped, fleeing to Tennessee to evade the massive manhunt. Adopting the alias Ben J. Woodson, Frank settled near Nashville with his wife, Annie Ralston, a former schoolteacher he married in 1874. Tennessee offered a fresh start, and Frank embraced it. He worked as a teamster, raised Poland China hogs, and joined a Methodist church, befriending local notables like the sheriff and a state legislator. These years, Frank later recalled, were among his happiest, as “my old life grew more detestable the further I got from it.”
In Tennessee, Frank experienced the peace of civilian life. His son, Robert Franklin James, was born in 1878, grounding him further. While Jesse, restless under the alias John Davis Howard, chafed and eventually lured Frank back for more robberies, Frank’s heart was obviously not in it. Then in 1881 during the Winston train robbery, two innocent men were killed. This turned public sympathy and intensified Missouri’s resolve to stop the crime wave. After Jesse’s murder by Robert Ford in 1882, Frank faced a crossroads. In an article from the Kansas City Journal, on April 06th, 1882, it was reported that Frank was probably not 500 miles from where Jesse was laid in his coffin, and the paper expressed some fear of vengeance from Frank, but nothing could be further from the truth. Exhausted by decades of being hunted, he eventually surrendered to Missouri Governor Thomas Crittenden, declaring, “I have been hunted for twenty-one years, have literally lived in the saddle, have never known a day of perfect peace.”

Frank’s decision to go straight was pragmatic and heartfelt. Remarkably, he faced trials in both Missouri and Alabama but was acquitted, partly due to lingering public fascination with the Jesse James legend and his alibi of being in Texas during the Winston robbery. For the next three decades, Frank lived quietly, working as a shoe salesman, theater usher, and telegraph operator. In 1903, he partnered with former gang member Cole Younger in the James-Younger Wild West Show, capitalizing on his past without returning to crime.

Returning to the family farm in Missouri after his mother’s death in 1911, Frank died peacefully on February 18, 1915, at age 72. His Tennessee years and choice to abandon outlawry highlight a man who, unlike his brother, valued survival and serenity over legend, proving that even an outlaw could rewrite his story.

Reference: Frank and Jesse James In Nashville by Terry Coats, Jesse James The Best Writings on the Notorious Outlaw and His Gang. By Herold Dellinger, https://ozarks-history.blogspot.com/2024/08/the-cole-younger-frank-james-wild-west.html?m=1

Good by Jesse James, by the Jesse James Bank Museum 1967

                                                                   

                                CSL&OH.A. On the move!

                                   Update by the Editor

The tracks are laid, the locomotive is buffing away on the tracks and the Conductor just shouted "ALL ABOARD! We are heading west, from Des Moines Iowa to Council Bluffs, Omaha Nebraska, to Scouts Rest in North Platte, onto Dodge City Kansas and out to Tombstone Arizona! The wild west is alive and well here at the Central States Lawman & Outlaws Historic Assn. I'm currently working on two new manuscripts. And I'll talk more about that as time goes on. I signed a contract with Arcadia books to write a book about the darker (but fun) side Iowa history. Iowa may be bucolic and folksy, but outlaws still roamed the hills of southwest Iowa, and Indian Massacres occurred just like the rest of the American west. We (My self and our VP Patrick Meguiar) are also working on a expose on an early Jesse James photo that came from the Nashville area. I will also be doing a book signing in Fort Dodge Iowa in June at the Pioneer days. I'll keep everyone posted on that.

See you on the dusty trail!

 

The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851

 

The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851:

Photo is public domain     

 A Historic Agreement
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 stands as a pivotal moment in the history of U.S.-Native American relations, reflecting both a rare attempt at diplomacy and the mounting pressures of westward expansion. Signed on September 17, 1851, near Fort Laramie in present-day Wyoming, this agreement brought together representatives of the United States and several Plains Indian tribes, including the Cheyenne, Sioux, Arapaho, Crow, Assiniboine, Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara. Its primary aim was to ensure peace and regulate interactions between these tribes and the growing number of American settlers moving westward along trails like the Oregon and Santa Fe Trails.
By the mid-19th century, the United States was experiencing rapid territorial expansion, fueled by the ideology of Manifest Destiny. The discovery of gold in California in 1848 and the passage of the Homestead Act further accelerated migration across the Great Plains. This influx disrupted the traditional territories and lifeways of the Plains tribes, whose economies and cultures depended heavily on vast hunting grounds, particularly the buffalo herds that roamed the region.
Tensions rose as settlers’ wagon trains, livestock, and military outposts encroached on tribal lands, depleting resources and sparking occasional conflicts. The U.S. government, seeking to protect its citizens and maintain order, recognized the need for a formal agreement with the tribes to secure safe passage and reduce hostilities. The result was the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851, one of the first major treaties negotiated with multiple Plains tribes simultaneously.
Key Provisions of the Treaty
The treaty was a landmark effort to define tribal territories and establish a framework for peaceful coexistence. Its main provisions included:
• Territorial Boundaries: The treaty assigned specific territories to each tribe, delineating their lands to reduce intertribal conflicts and provide clarity for U.S. authorities. For example, the Sioux were granted a vast region north of the North Platte River, while the Cheyenne and Arapaho received lands to the south.
• Safe Passage for Settlers: The tribes agreed to allow settlers to travel through their territories unmolested along designated routes, such as the Oregon Trail, and permitted the U.S. to establish roads and military posts.
• Peace Among Tribes: The agreement sought to end intertribal warfare, a frequent source of instability on the Plains, by encouraging the tribes to maintain peace with one another and with the United States.
• Annuities and Compensation: In exchange for these concessions, the U.S. promised to provide annual payments of goods—valued at $50,000 per year for 50 years (later reduced to 10 years by Congress)—including food, clothing, and tools. This was intended to offset the loss of game and resources caused by settler traffic.
The treaty was signed by notable figures, including U.S. commissioners David D. Mitchell and Thomas Fitzpatrick, and tribal leaders such as the Cheyenne’s Black Hawk and the Sioux’s White Antelope. Over 10,000 Native Americans reportedly gathered near Fort Laramie during the negotiations, a testament to the treaty’s significance.
Implementation and Challenges
While the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 was a diplomatic achievement on paper, its execution faced immediate hurdles. The U.S. government struggled to enforce the agreement among settlers and soldiers, many of whom disregarded tribal boundaries. Similarly, not all tribal members felt bound by the treaty, as leadership structures among the Plains tribes were decentralized, and the signatories did not always represent the entirety of their people.
The promised annuities often arrived late, were of poor quality, or were insufficient to meet the tribes’ needs as buffalo populations declined due to overhunting and habitat loss. Meanwhile, the steady stream of settlers continued to strain resources and provoke skirmishes, undermining the treaty’s goal of peace.
Legacy and Breach
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 ultimately failed to achieve lasting stability. Within a decade, escalating conflicts—most notably the Grattan Massacre of 1854, where U.S. troops clashed with the Sioux over a stolen cow—exposed the treaty’s fragility. The discovery of gold in Montana and Colorado further intensified settler incursions, leading to the abrogation of the treaty’s terms by both sides.
The treaty’s collapse paved the way for subsequent agreements, such as the Fort Laramie Treaty of 1868, which redefined Sioux territory and established the Great Sioux Reservation. However, the pattern of broken promises persisted, culminating in events like the Black Hills Gold Rush and the Battle of Little Bighorn, which underscored the U.S. government’s prioritization of expansion over treaty obligations.
Conclusion
The Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 represents a fleeting moment of negotiation in an era marked by conquest and displacement. It highlights the complexities of cross-cultural diplomacy and the challenges of reconciling the interests of nomadic tribes with a nation bent on westward growth. Though it failed to prevent the conflicts that followed, the treaty remains a critical historical document, offering insight into the aspirations—and limitations—of mid-19th-century efforts to forge peace on the American frontier. Today, it serves as a reminder of the enduring consequences of those early interactions between the United States and the Indigenous peoples of the Plains.

The above is and AI summary of the Fort Laramie Treaty

Book Review: A Terrible Glory, By James Donovan.

 

  Art work from xAI.

Book Review:

A Terrible Glory 

by James Donovan

Review by G.C. Stevens 
James Donovan’s A Terrible Glory: Custer and the Little Bighorn – The Last Great Battle of the American West (2008, Little, Brown and Company) is a meticulously researched and engaging account of the infamous Battle of the Little Bighorn in June 1876. This 500-plus-page work explores George Armstrong Custer’s “Last Stand,” at the Little Big Horn, where he and 210 soldiers of the Seventh Cavalry were soundly defeated by a coalition of Lakota Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho warriors. Donovan, aims to provide a comprehensive narrative, incorporating 25 years of research—archaeological findings, eyewitness accounts, and scholarly reassessments—to move beyond myths and offer a nuanced history. This review looks the book’s strengths, it's narrative style, and contribution to Little Bighorn historiography.

The book traces the broader context of U.S.-Native American tensions during westward expansion, Custer’s flamboyant military and controversial career, and the battle’s climactic events, concluding with its aftermath and legacy. Donovan starts with the historical backdrop of the Indian Wars, then focuses on Custer’s journey from Civil War hero to frontier commander. The heart of the narrative reconstructs the battle using forensic evidence and diverse perspectives, including those of Native leaders like Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse. The final sections explore the U.S. Army’s attempts to deflect blame, framing Custer as a scapegoat.
Donovan claims A Terrible Glory is the first to fully integrate recent scholarship, such as battlefield archaeology and revised assessments of tactical decisions, offering a fuller picture than earlier works. This ambition drives its detailed exploration of not just the battle, but the personalities, strategies, and institutional failures that shaped it.

Donovan excels at merging rigorous research with a novelistic flair. The book is accessible yet scholarly, appealing to both casual readers and historians. Custer emerges as a bold, flawed figure—ambitious and brave, yet undone by overconfidence. Sitting Bull is a resolute visionary, Crazy Horse a tactical genius, and Major Marcus Reno a conflicted officer whose hesitation remains debated. These vivid portrayals bring the story to life.
The research is a standout feature, drawing on military records, Native oral histories, newspapers, and over 100 pages of notes and bibliography. Donovan uses battlefield evidence—like cartridge case patterns—to clarify troop movements, challenging myths that pin the disaster solely on Custer. He highlights poor communication, divided command, and underestimation of Native strength as key factors, offering a balanced critique. The aftermath, with its revelations of an Army cover-up, adds depth, showing how officials manipulated narratives to protect their image.
This blend of storytelling and evidence makes A Terrible Glory a compelling read. Donovan’s ability to present complex historical data—such as the chaotic final moments on Last Stand Hill—in a clear, gripping way ensures the book resonates beyond academic circles.

Despite its strengths, the book has limitations. Donovan’s focuses on Custer. However he presents the Native American perspective, while he humanizes Sitting Bull and Crazy Horse, the broader cultural stakes for the Plains Indians. 
The wealth of detail, while a boon for scholars, occasionally slows the pace. Early chapters on Custer’s career and U.S.-Indian conflicts delve into minutiae, delaying the battle’s momentum. A tighter edit could have streamlined the narrative without losing substance.
Donovan also avoids firm conclusions on some mysteries, like Custer’s final actions—heroic stand or panicked collapse? This restraint reflects his evidence-based approach, but may leave readers wanting clearer resolution. Still, it aligns with his goal of presenting facts over speculation, letting the evidence speak.
Contribution and Relevance
A Terrible Glory bridges romanticized tales (e.g., Libbie Custer’s hagiographies) and vilifying portrayals (e.g., Little Big Man), offering a balanced Custer: a courageous soldier felled by hubris and circumstance. By integrating modern research—like forensic studies and Native accounts—it surpasses earlier works, earning its claim as a landmark study. It’s a valuable resource for understanding the battle’s complexities and the American frontier’s violent legacy.
Beyond history, the book offers lessons in leadership, decision-making, and cultural misjudgment, relevant to modern discussions of power and conflict. Military enthusiasts will appreciate its tactical breakdown, while those interested in Native resistance will find the warriors’ resilience compelling.

A Terrible Glory is a triumph of historical narrative, blending deep research with a gripping tale of ambition, bravery, and tragedy. Its Custer focus and occasional pacing issues are minor compared to its clarity, depth, and fresh perspective. For anyone seeking to move beyond Hollywood’s Little Bighorn, this book is essential. Donovan illuminates a pivotal moment and invites reflection on the forces that shaped it, securing A Terrible Glory as a modern classic.

Tin Jesus on Horse-back, Buffalo Bills Bitter Business: By Matthew Kerns

Buffalo Bill and Nate Salsbury displayed on Buffalo Bill's Wild West, promotional poster

Photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

 Tin Jesus on Horseback:

 Buffalo Bill’s Bitter Business and Personal Feuds: 

By Matthew Kerns

Buffalo Bill Cody was a legend, but legends are not built alone. His rise to fame depended on key business partnerships, yet those partnerships were often fraught with conflict. Cody’s inability to manage money, his loyalty to problematic associates, and his drinking habits created tensions that led to dramatic fallouts with some of his closest allies. Nowhere was this more evident than in his feuds with two of his most notable partners—Nate Salsbury and Dr. William “Doc” Carver.

                                          Nate Salsbury, Photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

Nate Salsbury was the driving business force behind Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show, handling logistics, finances, and promotion. Without Salsbury, the show might not have achieved its enormous success, but the partnership was strained. Salsbury grew frustrated with Cody’s reckless spending and poor financial decisions, particularly when Buffalo Bill invested heavily in the irrigation project that founded the town of Cody, Wyoming. Their relationship was further tested by Cody’s drinking and his tendency to surround himself with friends who drained money from the operation. Before his death in 1902, Salsbury documented his grievances in a memoir he never published, referring to his years working with Buffalo Bill as “Sixteen Years in Hell.” He derisively described Cody as a “Tin Jesus on Horseback,” a man with a grand vision but little control over his affairs.

Buffalo Bill and Doc Carver, photo courtesy of Matthew Kerns

Salsbury’s unpublished manuscript was filled with venom. “Buffalo Bill makes a virtue of keeping sober most of the time during the summer season, and when he does so for an entire season, he looks on himself as a paragon of virtue,” he wrote. “But when the fever gets into his brain, he forgets honor, reputation, friend, and obligation in his mad eagerness to fill his hide with rotgut of any kind.” He went on to accuse Cody of breaking promises, saying, “He becomes so utterly lost to all sense of decency and shame that he will break his plighted word and sully his most solemn obligation.” Even in death, Salsbury’s words remained a testament to the bitter dissolution of their once-lucrative partnership.

As Salsbury’s health failed, he became increasingly paranoid that Buffalo Bill would find a way to cut his family out of the profits of the Wild West show. “All the brutal things that Cody is capable of are well known to me,” he wrote. “I want this record to stand so that when he starts in to malign me, as he will do, my friends will have my answer.” The mistrust between them had become irreparable, yet Salsbury remained with the Wild West show until his dying day, unwilling—or perhaps unable—to sever ties completely. His family, however, did not share his attachment. When he passed in 1902, his heirs moved quickly to protect what was left of his legacy, selling off his interests in the show and ensuring that Buffalo Bill would no longer have control over Salsbury’s share of the profits.

Another significant rift occurred between Cody and Doc Carver, a sharpshooter and showman who initially partnered with him to launch the Wild West spectacle. Carver’s ego matched Cody’s, and their differing visions for the show led to an early split. While Carver saw himself as an equal partner, Cody ultimately sought a larger spotlight. Carver, embittered, went on to create his own show, claiming that he was the true mastermind behind the Wild West performance. The rivalry between the two became personal, with Carver challenging Cody’s version of events and attempting to outdo him in the show circuit. Carver’s bitterness persisted long after their partnership dissolved, and he spent years trying to compete with the Wild West’s enduring popularity.

Despite these conflicts, Buffalo Bill’s charisma kept his name at the forefront of entertainment. However, his poor business sense and fractured relationships left him vulnerable. After Salsbury’s death, Cody’s financial troubles worsened, forcing him into questionable business deals that led to the eventual loss of control over his own show. He had once been the undisputed star of a global phenomenon, but by the twilight of his career, he was a performer in another man’s circus, haunted by the ghosts of his past feuds and failures.