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Wild West Podcast

Michael King/Brad Smalley

Welcome to the Wild West Podcast, winner of the 2026 Best of Western Podcast award, where fact and legend merge. We present the true accounts of individuals who settled in towns built out of hunger for money, regulated by fast guns, who walked on both sides of the law, patrolling, investing in, and regulating the brothels, saloons, and gambling houses. These are stories of the men who made the history of the Old West come alive - bringing with them the birth of legends, brought to order by a six-gun and laid to rest with their boots on. Join us as we take you back in history to the legends of the Wild West. You can support our show by subscribing to Exclusive access to premium content at Wild West Podcast + https://www.buzzsprout.com/64094/subscribe or just buy us a cup of coffee at https://buymeacoffee.com/wildwestpodcast

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Yesterday · 23 min
Nelson Miles's 1874 Southern Plains Campaign
Send us Fan Mail In August 1874, Colonel Nelson Miles launched an expedition from Fort Dodge into the Texas Panhandle to force hostile tribes onto reservations during the Red River War. His force—comprising eight cavalry companies, four infantry companies, and 37 scouts, including notable figures Bat Masterson and Billy Dixon—moved south across the Arkansas River. An advance detachment led by Lieutenant Frank Baldwin split off to scout toward Adobe Walls, where the scouts quickly engaged in sharp skirmishes with Native warriors, drove off an attack on a party of buffalo hunters, and tracked hostile trails deeper into the Canadian River country. The campaign escalated on August 30 when Baldwin's scouts were ambushed by hundreds of warriors entrenched along steep bluffs. Miles soon brought up the main column, deploying Gatling guns, artillery, and coordinated cavalry charges led by officers like Captain Adna Chaffee and Captain Tullius Tupper to dislodge the warriors from the heights. After a grueling 20-mile pursuit across the arid Staked Plains in punishing heat, Miles bivouacked his exhausted troops to await supplies, leaving Captain Wyllys Lyman's supply train wagon guard surrounded by Comanche forces near the Washita River. Continue the journey of The German Sisters: A Story of Survival with exclusive bonus chapters, in-depth historical profiles, and special companion podcast transcripts. Grab your copy online today at https://books.by/michael-d-king to discover the full frontier saga and directly support the production of future historical storytelling. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
Monday · 12 min
Ambush on the Prairie: The German Family Tragedy and Rescue
Send us Fan Mail On September 11, 1874, the John German family was journeying westward toward Colorado along the Smoky Hill River route in Kansas when they were violently ambushed by a band of 17 Cheyenne Dog Soldiers led by Medicine Water. In the surprise attack, John German, his wife Lydia, and three of their children—Rebecca Jane, Stephen, and Joanna—were killed and mutilated, while their wagon was set ablaze. Four surviving daughters—Catherine (17), Sophia (12), Julia (7), and Adelaide (5)—were taken captive by the raiding party and forced south into the Texas Panhandle, where the sisters were eventually separated among different Cheyenne bands. Following word of the massacre, General Nelson A. Miles launched a pursuit mission featuring scouts such as Bat Masterson to locate and rescue the abducted girls. On November 8, Lieutenant Frank Baldwin executed an aggressive surprise charge on Chief Gray Beard's winter camp near McClellan Creek, loading infantry into supply wagons to overrun the village. While the warriors fled, soldiers securing the abandoned site discovered young Julia and Adelaide hidden beneath a pile of buffalo robes. The two emaciated and traumatized young girls were successfully recovered, while search efforts continued for their older sisters. Continue the journey of The German Sisters: A Story of Survival with exclusive bonus chapters, in-depth historical profiles, and special companion podcast transcripts. Grab your copy online today at https://books.by/michael-d-king to discover the full frontier saga and directly support the production of future historical storytelling. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
Thursday · 29 min
Beyond the Ambush: Retelling the German Family Captivity Featuring Scott Dean
Send us Fan Mail This podcast episode explores the September 11, 1874 German family ambush near Fort Wallace, Kansas, during the Red River War, told from the perspective of guest Scott, the great-grandson of survivor Julia German. After years of post–Civil War poverty and arduous travel from Georgia in search of a better life in Colorado, the German family was attacked by a band of Cheyenne Dog Soldiers led by Medicine Water and Mochi. The parents and three older children were killed, while the four youngest daughters—Catherine (17), Sophia (12), Julia (7), and Adelaide (5)—were taken captive. The two youngest girls, Julia and Adelaide, were soon abandoned on the harsh Texas plains, surviving alone for nearly six weeks on wild berries, roots, and scavenged military rations before Cheyenne searchers recovered them on the chief's orders ahead of U.S. Army advances. Meanwhile, the older sisters, Catherine and Sophia, endured five months of arduous captivity, forced labor, and severe trauma within Cheyenne encampments during a brutal winter before their eventual release. Catherine coped by sewing clothing, learning portions of the Cheyenne language, and navigating a complex dynamic of protection and abuse from her captors. Throughout the discussion, Scott stresses the importance of approaching frontier history with empathy and a balanced perspective, acknowledging both the horrific suffering endured by the captive sisters and the preceding cycles of trauma, displacement, and violence experienced by Indigenous tribes during the Indian Wars. Continue the journey of The German Sisters: A Story of Survival with exclusive bonus chapters, in-depth historical profiles, and special companion podcast transcripts. Grab your copy online today at https://books.by/michael-d-king to discover the full frontier saga and directly support the production of future historical storytelling. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
Thursday · 7 min
Audiobook CHAPTER 7: Life in the Lodges
Send us Fan Mail Arriving at the sprawling Cheyenne encampment amidst the horrors of their family’s murder, Catherine and Sophia are immediately torn apart to endure harsh captivity in separate lodges. While twelve-year-old Sophia faces grueling physical labor in Grey Beard’s camp—bearing heavy burdens in absolute, defiant silence—Catherine is subjected to the cruelty of her captor’s wife, Wasita. Catherine quickly adapts by mastering the Cheyenne language, expertly working hides, and ultimately securing wary respect from the tribe after violently repelling an attempted assault with feral defiance. As winter deepens and General Miles’s cavalry columns advance across the plains, the pressure forces the Cheyenne to flee into the rugged refuge of Cedar Tree Canyon. Recognizing that the relentless soldiers are hunting specifically for the captive girls, Chief Stone Calf intervenes against the more militant leaders. Seeing that the prisoners have transformed from trophies of war into a dangerous liability that threatens the survival of his entire people, Stone Calf firmly resolves that the time has come to pursue peace. Continue the journey of The German Sisters: A Story of Survival with exclusive bonus chapters, in-depth historical profiles, and special companion podcast transcripts. Grab your copy online today at https://books.by/michael-d-king to discover the full frontier saga and directly support the production of future historical storytelling. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 26 · 6 min
Audiobook CHAPTER 6: The Rescue at McClellan Creek
Send us Fan Mail Lieutenant Frank D. Baldwin led a ferocious, five-hour cavalry and infantry assault against a Cheyenne camp at McClellan Creek, sending the encampment into chaos as warriors mounted a desperate rearguard defense. Amid the gunfire and smoke, soldiers shot a warrior just before he could kill seven-year-old captive Julia German, discovering her hiding beneath a buffalo robe while her five-year-old sister, Adelaide, was found unharmed in a nearby dry wash. Hardened troopers were moved to tears by the young sisters' emaciated, bruised state and bloodied feet, immediately wrapping the girls in heavy overcoats, feeding them rations, and placing them in the care of field surgeon Dr. Junius L. Powell. Dr. Powell escorted the rescued sisters north across the frontier—traveling by ambulance to Camp Supply, where officers' wives nursed their wounds, and onward by train via Fort Dodge to Fort Leavenworth. Arriving at the headquarters of General John Pope on December 1, 1874, the girls finally reached safety, only to have the tragic fate of their family confirmed. General Pope revealed that infantrymen had discovered the burned remnants of the German family wagon along the Smoky Hill River, finding the bodies of their parents and siblings alongside an untouched family Bible that identified their kin and brought a somber close to their plains ordeal. Continue the journey of The German Sisters: A Story of Survival with exclusive bonus chapters, in-depth historical profiles, and special companion podcast transcripts. Grab your copy online today at https://books.by/michael-d-king to discover the full frontier saga and directly support the production of future historical storytelling. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 26 · 7 min
Audiobook CHAPTER 5 Abandoned on McClellan Creek
Send us Fan Mail In late September 1874, as General Miles’s cavalry closes in, a fleeing Cheyenne raiding party abruptly abandons young Julia and Adelaide German in the high grass of the Texas Panhandle, forcing their older sisters to ride on and assume they are dead. Driven by sheer survival instinct, seven-year-old Julia leads five-year-old Adelaide along wagon ruts to a deserted army camp on McClellan Creek. For nearly three weeks, the two girls endure freezing nights burrowed in leaves, scavenge on discarded hardtack, wild onions, and hackberries, and comfort each other as prowling wolf packs circle their makeshift shelter. Their solitary ordeal ends on November 7 when Grey Beard’s fleeing Cheyenne band arrives at the creek, and women scoop up the emaciated, sore-covered children. That evening, their captive older sister Sophia spots them alive in the camp, though she is violently shoved away into the shadows before they can reunite. The following dawn, the village is plunged into total chaos as Miles’s blue-coated cavalry charges down from the ridge, storming the camp in a haze of gunfire and drawn sabers. If you'd like to add a physical or digital copy to your library, you can purchase the book online at books. by using the link provided in the description of this episode. Check out my new bookstore at https://books.by/michael-d-king. Explore the shop and pick up your next page-turner: https://books.by/michael-d-king Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 25 · 8 min
Audiobook CHAPTER 4 Into the Staked Plains
Send us Fan Mail Following the violent destruction of their family's homestead in Kansas, the German sisters—Catherine, Sophia, Julia, and Adelaide—are taken captive by a Cheyenne raiding party and driven relentlessly south. Traveling primarily under the cover of night to evade the pursuing U.S. Cavalry, the band endures severe plains rainstorms and survives on meager rations. Along the way, the raiders strike a Santa Fe trading store near Pierceville, staying well ahead of responding infantry as they press deeper into the wilderness. Throughout the grueling initial days, Catherine acts as a pillar of resolve for her younger sisters, urging them to endure the trauma, harsh elements, and unfamiliar food. The dynamic of their captivity fundamentally shifts at the turbulent Arkansas River crossing, where Catherine silences the captors' mockery by courageously wading through the dangerous current on her own, earning their grudging respect as someone with an "iron heart." Over the ensuing weeks, the war party covers more than two hundred miles through rugged canyons and mesas into the Texas Panhandle. By late September, the band establishes camp along McClellan Creek near the shadows of the Staked Plains, where the exhausted captives are left in cold isolation to confront their precarious and uncertain future. If you'd like to add a physical or digital copy to your library, you can purchase the book online at books. by using the link provided in the description of this episode. Check out my new bookstore at https://books.by/michael-d-king. Explore the shop and pick up your next page-turner: https://books.by/michael-d-king Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 24 · 12 min
Audiobook CHAPTER 3: Dawn on the Smoky Hill
Send us Fan Mail On the cold, frosty morning of September 11, 1874, the German family's journey across the windswept flats of Logan County, Kansas, was violently cut short. As John and Lydia led their canvas-topped wagon toward Fort Wallace alongside their older children, a raiding party of seventeen Cheyenne warriors from Grey Beard’s band suddenly descended upon them from a nearby ravine. The attack unfolded with brutal speed, leaving John, Lydia, Stephen, Jane, and Joanna dead and scalped in the trampled grass within twenty bloody minutes. Amidst the chaos and destruction, the remaining four young sisters—Catherine, Sophia, Julia, and Adelaide—were taken captive by the raiders, with Catherine and several others suffering severe injuries during the onslaught. Spared from execution by the intervention of a Cheyenne woman who claimed little Adelaide as her own, the surviving children were dragged into a harrowing captivity. The raiders vanished southward into the hills, leaving behind a plundered landscape and a burning wagon that cast a dark scar across the Kansas prairie. If you'd like to add a physical or digital copy to your library, you can purchase the book online at books. by using the link provided in the description of this episode. Check out my new bookstore at https://books.by/michael-d-king. Explore the shop and pick up your next page-turner: https://books.by/michael-d-king Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 23 · 14 min
Audiobook CHAPTER 2 The Prairie Trail
Send us Fan Mail On a sweltering September afternoon in 1874, the exhausted German family trudges along the abandoned Smoky Hill stage road in western Kansas, their livestock near collapse and water rations nearly depleted. Relief arrives when two passing buffalo hunters inform patriarch John German that Fort Wallace is merely thirty-five miles away, promising safety, supplies, and shelter within a day and a half. Although the hunters offer a fleeting warning about keeping low fires due to rogue Native American parties roaming the plains, the prospect of reaching the garrison revitalizes the weary family with newfound hope. Heartened by the news, the family makes camp early in a secluded dry creek bed sheltered beneath a low ridge. As the evening chill sets in, they settle into a harmonious routine—John unearths fresh water from the sandy creek bed, Stephen milks the cow, and the sisters gather buffalo chips so Sophia can cook a warm cornmeal supper. Gathering around the flickering campfire, the family shares a rare, tender moment of optimism about the comforts awaiting them at the fort, completely unaware of the silent, predatory shadows gathering along the darkened rim of the ravine above. If you'd like to add a physical or digital copy to your library, you can purchase the book online at books. by using the link provided in the description of this episode. Check out my new bookstore at https://books.by/michael-d-king. Explore the shop and pick up your next page-turner: https://books.by/michael-d-king Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 16 · 2 min
A Voice from the Kansas Frontier
Send us Fan Mail Step beyond official military dispatches to uncover the harrowing, forgotten world of the 19th-century frontier wife. In late 1866, Isadore Bowman Douglass journeyed 240 freezing miles across the plains to Fort Dodge with three young children, weathering the brutal winter inside a damp sod dugout carved into the Arkansas River bank. Drawing directly from author Michael D. King's groundbreaking release, Isadore Douglas: A Voice from the Kansas Frontier, this episode illuminates her intimate letters detailing frontier isolation, rising Kiowa tensions, and her courageous battle against the lethal 1867 cholera epidemic before her tragic death at age twenty-six. Discover this essential historical account today. Secure your copy of Isadore Douglas: A Voice from the Kansas Frontier by Michael D. King online at books.by/michael-d-king . Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 10 · 15 min
Chapter One: The Shadow of the Blue Ridge
Send us Fan Mail A Legacy of Hardship and Hope In the spring of 1870, the impoverished German family—led by Civil War veteran John German and his wife, Lydia—prepares to flee the ruined soil and lingering trauma of Fannin County, Georgia. Struggling with a severe battle injury, John faces the daunting task of raising seven children in a devastated region picked clean by wartime guerrillas. The primary catalyst for their departure is their seventeen-year-old daughter, Catherine, whose delicate health and persistent cough signal the onset of consumption. Believing that the dry air of the American West is the only cure that will save her from the suffocating dampness of the mountain hollows, John and Lydia pack their few remaining possessions into a single ox-drawn canvas wagon and head toward the horizon. The Arduous Journey Westward Over the next four years, the family's journey unfolds as a grueling ordeal marked by financial ruin, harsh weather, and relentless physical labor. To survive, John, his young son Stephen, and the elder daughters work exhausting manual jobs—from clearing fields in Tennessee to picking cotton in Arkansas—for meager wages. Drought ruins their attempt to farm in Missouri, eventually forcing them to surrender their homestead deed just to afford a fresh team of oxen. After settling briefly in Elgin, Kansas, Catherine's health deteriorates once again, prompting John to make a desperate final decision. In late 1874, abandoning their brief stability, the family turns their wagon toward the high plains of Colorado, risking everything on the hope that the mountain air will finally heal Catherine. If you'd like to add a physical or digital copy to your library, you can purchase the book online at books. by using the link provided in the description of this episode. Check out my new bookstore at https://books.by/michael-d-king. Explore the shop and pick up your next page-turner: https://books.by/michael-d-king Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 9 · 9 min
Echoes of the High Plains:
Send us Fan Mail Step into the brutal reality of the 1874 High Plains with the debut episode of The German Sisters: A Story of Survival, a gripping new audiobook series from Books on Tape, expertly brought to life through ElevenLabs narration. Drawing directly from preserved 1928 Kansas State Historical Society records, military dispatches, and primary memoirs, author Michael King strips away a century of cheap dime-novel exaggeration to uncover the raw, heart-wrenching truth behind the German family tragedy. When a peaceful journey toward Colorado turned fatal along the Smoky Hill stage road, four young sisters—Catherine, Sophia, Julia, and Addie—were thrust into a harrowing fight for endurance across the frozen Texas plains. This powerful premiere strips back sensationalized myths to expose both the unfathomable horror of the ambush and the unexpected acts of human empathy that emerged during five brutal months of captivity amidst the Red River War. Covering the book’s Introduction and Preface, this initial chapter sets the stage for a unique, dual-layered audio experience that seamlessly bridges objective historical documentation with vivid, immersive storytelling. Listeners will experience the frontier through a masterfully blended structure, feeling the crunch of parched earth under wagon wheels while tracing the strategic military campaign led by General Nelson A. Miles to bring the girls home. Born from four years of meticulous research and dedicated refinement, this definitive account captures the unbreakable will of two young girls left alone on the wilderness prairie. Available for a limited run of just one month as a serialized audio release, there is no better time to anchor this incredible piece of American history in your permanent library; listen to the opening chapter today, and purchase your complete copy online at books.by via the link https://books.by/michael-d-king. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
August 3 · 54 min
Unraveling the True Frontier: The Hidden Legacy of the Texas Longhorn
Send us Fan Mail Step into the captivating world of the American frontier, where history, grit, and surprising truths converge to reshape everything you thought you knew about the Old West. In this engaging address, our speaker Dr. Frank Sharp peels back the layers of myth to reveal a astonishing reality: post-Civil War Texas was pulled from deep economic depression not just by hard-working cowboys, but by the legendary Texas Longhorn itself—a drive that infused what would be billions of dollars in modern currency into a devastated economy. Drawing on decades of firsthand research and vivid field experience, the narrative takes listeners from the original 1493 Spanish cattle imported by Columbus straight to the dusty trails of Fort Griffin and the iconic Western Cattle Trail. Yet, this isn't merely a nostalgic walk down memory lane; it is an urgent rally for historical preservation. Listeners will be hooked as the speaker exposes a startling modern tragedy: while hyper-selective breeding has filled associations with crossbred "freaks" valued solely for oversized horn spans, the true, genetically pure, small-bodied Texas Longhorn is actually on the brink of critical extinction. With a perfect blend of Third-Grade math, sharp wit, interactive banter, and authentic passion, Dr. Frank Sharp offers an unforgettable look at the animal that quite literally carried American civilization forward. Tune in to discover why saving the true Texas Longhorn means safeguarding the very heart of Western heritage. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
July 29 · 22 min
Five Thousand Strong: Caught in the Stampede
Send us Fan Mail Imagine standing atop Pawnee Rock in May of 1872, looking out over the vast, windswept plains of Kansas. As far as the eye can see, the earth itself seems to move—a living, breathing ocean of dark fur and thunder. Welcome to The Wild West Podcast. Today, we invite you to travel alongside Colonel Richard Irving Dodge: soldier, keen naturalist, and eyewitness to the final, awe-inspiring days of the American frontier. In this episode, written and produced by Mike King and narrated by Brad Smalley, Colonel Dodge takes us into the heart of the Great Plains. You'll hear his firsthand account of standing above a staggering buffalo herd—an unbelievable spectacle spanning twenty-five miles wide and fifty miles deep—and feel the pulse-pounding terror of being caught in a sudden stampede of five thousand charging bison. This remarkable chapter of history unfolds just two months before Colonel Dodge would take command of Fort Dodge on the north banks of the Arkansas River, a mere five miles from where the legendary Dodge City was about to be born. At the time, Dodge was stationed at Fort Larned—a crucial outpost serving as a disbursement point for Indian annuities and a vital shield for the workers laying track for the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad. Step back in time with us to May 1872, and experience the frontier through the eyes of the man who lived it. Tune in now to The Wild West Podcast. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
July 25 · 16 min
"Whiskey, Wagons, and Warning Shots: The Birth of Buffalo City”
Send us Fan Mail Journey into the raw, untamed frontier of June 1872 with former buffalo hunter turned saloon owner George W. Brown. In this gripping episode, Brown details the chaotic birth of Buffalo City—a bustling boomtown sparked when a strict military ban on alcohol at Fort Dodge sent thirsty soldiers, hunters, and freight drivers searching for a new watering hole just beyond government lines. From makeshift tent bars and 25-cent whiskey shots to the rapid, wild rise of a frontier outpost, listen as history comes alive through firsthand accounts of ambition, lawlessness, and the men who built the Old West one wooden plank at a time. Expect high-stakes drama, authentic period storytelling, and an unfiltered look at true frontier grit. You'll hear how a military ban on whiskey sparked an entire town, how wagonloads of gamblers and dance hall girls transformed a desolate prairie, and how an explosive, bullet-riddled saloon shootout unfolded over a midnight feud. Whether you're a history buff or just love a compelling, cinematic story filled with larger-than-life characters, this episode offers an unforgettable front-row seat to the wildest days of the American West—hit play and tune in today! Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
July 24 · 11 min
Buffalo Days: The Prairie Dog Business
Send us Fan Mail Step back in time to the summer of 1872 and experience the raw, untamed spirit of the American frontier. Narrated through the vivid recollections of George W. Brown, this episode transports listeners directly onto the sun-drenched plains of Kansas, following the massive buffalo herds alongside legendary frontiersmen. Richly atmospheric soundscapes—from the crackle of evening campfires to the distant howl of coyotes—bring to life the gritty reality, unexpected humor, and rugged camaraderie of hunters like "Prairie Dog" Morrow and Thomas Nixon as they navigate a rapidly changing wild West. Whether you are a historical enthusiast or simply love a compelling, well-told story, this immersive audio journey offers an unvarnished window into the lives of the men who shaped frontier lore. Listeners will be captivated by the colorful anecdotes, sharp wits, and larger-than-life tales of early entrepreneurial ventures and epic hunts along the Arkansas River. Tune in to hear history brought to life through authentic voice acting and traditional acoustic instrumentation that will leave you feeling as though you're sitting right beside the campfire. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
July 22 · 23 min
Uncover the Truth of the Trail: The Wild West Podcast Takes You Inside Dodge City’s Longhorn Legacy!
Send us Fan Mail Saddle up and tune in to this thrilling episode of the Wild West Podcast, hosted by Brad Smalley! The show shines a spotlight on an upcoming doubleheader event in Dodge City, Kansas, featuring Dr. Frank Sharp—an educator, author, cattleman, and lead educator for the State of Texas Herd of Longhorns at Fort Griffin. In a captivating interview, Dr. Sharp dismantles common misconceptions about Texas Longhorns, revealing the shocking truth that genuine historical longhorns are actually critically endangered—far closer to extinction than most realize due to modern breeding trends prioritizing extreme horn length over pure historical traits. It’s an eye-opening conversation that bridges the rich, shared history between Texas and Dodge City, leaving listeners eager to learn more about the true identity of these iconic animals. Beyond the rich livestock history, this episode delivers an irresistible invitation to a hands-on, high-energy community experience! Dr. Sharp previews his upcoming July 31, 2026 events at the Ford County Historical Society Museum, including an interactive morning session titled "Music on the American Frontier". Forget dry museum lectures—this session brings history to life by inviting adults and kids alike to grab spoons, maracas, or rhythm bones and jam along to authentic 19th-century cowboy trail songs. Between the fascinating frontier history, vivid historical artwork previews, and the promise of a foot-stomping good time, this podcast episode is a must-listen that will have you eager to dust off your boots and join in on the celebration! Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
July 20 · 7 min
Part 6: Blood, Mud, and Wasted Hides
Send us Fan Mail In episode 6 of Buffalo Days, the narrative opens with a sudden and intense prairie storm that triggers a massive buffalo stampede. As lightning strikes and kills a bull in the herd, the animals scatter in panic, threatening to crush the hunters and their heavily loaded supply wagons. The men are forced to make a desperate run through the blinding rain and mud, barely escaping the thundering herd when the storm runoff carves out a massive rut in the earth, redirecting the buffalo away from their path and slowing the animals down in a nearby river. The following day, after the storm passes, the hunters venture out onto the prairie to survey the aftermath, following the winding, crooked trails left by the buffalo. Along the way, they witness the grim reality of the hide-hunting trade, coming across hundreds of decaying carcasses and spoiled hides left behind to rot by other hunters. After continuing their hunt for two more weeks to fulfill their quota of 557 hides, they haul their haul back to Fort Hays to collect their pay. The episode closes on a reflective note as the group splits up, leaving the narrator alone in a saloon to ponder his descent into becoming a hardened, cold-blooded "buffalo runner." Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
July 18 · 14 min
Part 5: The Sharpshooter's Stand
Send us Fan Mail Before sunrise, Josiah Wright Mooar sets out with Jim White to learn the technique of buffalo hunting from a stand. Moving six miles out, they locate a massive herd, utilizing the cover of sandhills and a riverbank to approach the animals while the skinners wait with a freight wagon nearby. As the buffalo draw close, Jim criticizes the animals' lack of intelligence and explains their tendency to stampede blindly. He then demonstrates how to set up a tripod shooting stand for his single-shot, lever-action Sharps .50 rifle. Jim methodically accounts for distance, wind, and bullet arc before opening fire. Using his specialized tripod, Jim systematically drops one buffalo after another; the narrator watches the animals lose their wild dignity as forty of them are killed without alerting the rest of the herd. Once the hunt concludes, Jim signals the team to begin the arduous work of processing the kill. The skinners move the wagons forward and immediately begin skinning the carcasses using specialized knives and a horse-hitch to peel the hides away. While Jim White remains on high ground to keep watch for potential Indian threats, the rest of the crew spends nearly the entire day skinning and cutting the animals. By late afternoon, they finish harvesting the hides for curing and secure the hindquarters of meat—valued at three cents a pound—to ensure a profitable haul for the camp. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.
July 18 · 8 min
Part 4: Echoes of the Saline: Buffalo Soldiers, Indian Fight and Jim White's Confession
Send us Fan Mail Part Four of Buffalo Days details the intense encounters between the U.S. Army and 400 Native Americans and a regiment of "Buffalo Soldiers"—and the resilient Indigenous warriors of the Great Plains. The section also features a memorable account from Jim White, who shared a campfire story about the harsh realities of life on the plains. White’s tale illustrated the unpredictable nature of the landscape and the constant threat to survival, grounding the historical military engagements in the personal, often harrowing experiences of those living through the era. This anecdote provides a humanizing perspective, contrasting the formal military history of the Buffalo Soldiers with the rugged, everyday existence of scouts and settlers in the American West. Support the show If you'd like to buy one or more of our fully illustrated dime novel publications, you can click the link I've included.

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