Miller, George E (University of Delaware)

The Lone War Cry: A Western Novel Miller, George E (University of Delaware)

The Oregon Territories circa 1850 are home to the Blackfoot, Shoshone, and Crow, among many other warring tribes. The majesty of the untamed rivers and mountain ranges have provided a backdrop to the ever-present conflicts between these proud peoples, but contact with the white man is changing the balance of power in unimaginable ways. Bitter events make enemies of Lame Elk of the Shoshone, tragic in his rise to prominence, and Two Horns of the Blackfoot, reluctant in his call to leadership. Separately, these two warriors must lead their people against a myriad of threats, not the least of which include disease, famine, and almost constant battle. As life continues unabated in the Indians' struggle for dominance, the white man is making deeper inroads into the western United States, with adventurers and criminals seeking their fortunes in a lawless land. Driven into the mountains to escape a manhunt, a falsely accused young man named Corby ends up saving Donovan, the ex-marshal pursuing him. The two unlikely friends travel through the Oregon Territories, where Corby finds he has an uncanny ability with a gun -- and establishes something of an unwanted reputation. The Lone War Cry follows these unforgettable characters through numerous hardships and challenges until circumstance links their stories together, driving them to their dramatic conclusions.