Rangers And Pioneers Of Texas. With A Concise Account Of The Early Settlements, Hardships, Massacres, Battles, And Wars, By Which Texas Was Rescued From The Rule Of The Savage And Consecrated To The Empire Of Civilization.

A. J. SOWELL

Other works by A. J. SOWELL

Publication: Shepard Bros & Co, Printers And Publishers, 1884, San Antonio

First Edition. Original Reddish-Brown Cloth, with gilt imprint on front cover and spine, and decorative blind stamping to front and rear covers. 411pp. Illustrations. Preface. One of the rarest and best accounts of Indian fighting in the early settlement of Texas. "One of the basic sources on the vissitudes of the pioneer settlers in Texas, this work contains numerous accounts gathered from participants, as well as one of the best of all first-person ranger campaign narratives...This volume is divided into three sections. The first section consists primarily of Indian affrays as related to Sowell by participants...The second section includes the adventures of members of the Sowell family in Texas in the 1830's and 1840's, and material relating to the Texas Revolution and republic...The last section, comprising almost half the book, is Sowell's own narrative of his experiences in the Wichita Campaign of 1870-1871."-Basic Texas Books 192. The author was a native of Sequin, from a family of Rangers, Sowell served with the Rangers himself. The Wichita Campaign ranged from near San Antonio to the Wichita Mountains, lasted almost three months, and culminated in a fierce battle with the Comanches and Kiowas at the Cross Timbers. "One of the most important and authentic accounts of the Indian Wars in Texas.--Edward Eberstadt. Dobie, pp.58-60:"...all meaty with the character of ready-to-fight but peace-seeking Texas pioneers. Sowell will some day be recognized as an extraordinary chronicler...A graphic book down to bedrock." The Best Of The West 155--"a rugged chronicle of ambushes and reprisals on the West Texas frontier." A fine, bright copy with the slightest of wear to spine ends. An exceptional copy protected in a half-leather clamshell box with title, author, and year of publication in gilt on spine.

Inventory Number: 54107