How much of what we know about the history of the Old West is true? In this new book, author Michael Rutter looks at the legend and lore behind such notorious figures as Billy the Kid and Calamity Jane and the stories of famous gun fights and battles, telling what really happened. Truth may be stranger than fiction, but these 12 legends stand up to scrutiny, and this book will be a must-read for all western history buffs.
| Introduction |
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ix | |
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The Seven Cities of Cibola: The Lost Cities of Gold---the Myth, the Hoax, the Legend |
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1 | (12) |
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The Battle of Adobe Walls: The Famous One-Mile Shot |
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13 | (14) |
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John Colter: Mountain Man and Explorer |
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27 | (10) |
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The California Gold Rush: The Gold Digger's Waltz ... Gold! Gold! Gold! |
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37 | (8) |
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The Mountain Meadows Massacre: The Mystery of a Bloody Mass Murder |
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45 | (12) |
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George Armstrong Custer: Risking His Career to Defend Indian Rights |
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57 | (10) |
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Sitting Bull: His Role at the Battle of the Little Bighorn |
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67 | (14) |
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Comanche: The Most Famous Horse in the West |
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81 | (8) |
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James Butler "Wild Bill" Hickok: The Gunman Who Held the Dead Man's Hand |
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89 | (16) |
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Calamity Jane: Facts and Fictions about Martha Jane Canary |
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105 | (10) |
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Billy the Kid: Vicious Killer or Victim of Bad Press? |
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115 | (18) |
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Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid: A Mysterious Ending |
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133 | (16) |
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Buffalo: The Extermination Order |
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149 | (10) |
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Grizzly Bears: Beyond the Tall Tale |
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159 | (10) |
| Bibliography |
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169 | (6) |
| Index |
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175 | (8) |
| About the Author |
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183 | |
Michael Rutter is a freelance writer who lives in Orem, Utah, with his wife, Shari, and two children. He is the author of more than 35 books. When not traveling or writing, he teaches English at Brigham Young University. His passion is the American West.
