C. Stephen Badgley

Lewis Wetzel: the Renowned Virginia Ranger and Scout C. Stephen Badgley

Lewis Wetzel, a famous scout and ranger on the early American frontier just west of the Appalachian Mountains. He is a true American icon, but is he a hero or a villain? Almost all of the early settlers considered him a hero because he vowed to "kill any Indian" who crossed his path and in doing so deterred the Indians from striking the settlements. Others of the time considered him a barbarous, psychotic murderer for killing innocent Indians, including women and children and thus incited the Indians to warfare against the growing population of whites. They claim Lewis Wetzel did everything in his power to prevent peace between the Indians and the settlers so he could keep on killing with impunity. "Deathwind" is what the Indians called Lewis Wetzel for whenever he made a kill, he would throw back his head and let out a scream of hatred, rage and defiance that echoed throughout the hills. Other Indians, upon hearing that scream, would know that one of their own had just met his end at the hands of the best woodlands warrior that ever lived. The author of this book wrote the story of Lewis Wetzel in almost novel-like form which makes for very interesting reading and he attempts to keep the middle ground as to whether Wetzel was a hero or a villain. He has left it up to you, the reader, to decide.