11/21/2025
Wildcat Mountain
In 1782 the State of Kentucky did not exist. The land we now call a State was a vast largely unexplored wilderness. The City of Lexington was a small settlement with less than 10 houses. Mount Sterling, Clay City, Wi******er, and Stanton were still a long way from coming into being. Most of the land was heavily wooded and settlers had only been venturing into the area for around two years, thanks to the efforts of Daniel Boone, who had blazed a trail through the Cumberland Gap. There were no roads and travel was by packhorse or walking. The military (Militia) and some families did possess horses but these were still fairly uncommon.The events in Wildcat Mountain are based on actual recorded documents and eye witness accounts, a small number of incidents are fictitious. But not all of the characters portrayed. A list of Fictional Characters is included in the appendices as is a biography of the main real life characters, this is to dramatize the story and bring it to life. However the accounts of the Estill Battle of Little Mountain, and the battle of Blue Licks were real events and are accurately depicted, as recorded by those who were there.William and Elizabeth Chenault, James Estill, and Daniel Boone are real people. The Chenault's direct ancestor William Tandy Chenault still lives in Mount Sterling and assisted with some of the historical details. Although Wildcat Mountain is a work of historical fiction, this novel is a stark, accurate, and uncompromising view of life on the frontier in 1782.I have reflected in it, the views of society as it was at the time. I make no apology for doing so, and in no way imply approval or otherwise of the practices of racism, slavery or savagery that the novel
Storm of the Shawnee is a sequel to Stephen Challis' Wildcat Mountain; set 5 years after the battle of Blue Licks, William and Becky have married and have a 5-year-old son, Billy. They have settled in the small outpost of Little Mountain in the Virginia County of Kentucky. While attending a wedding for frontier scout, Simon Kenton, William and Becky have their son kidnapped in a raid by the Shawnee Chief, Blue Jacket, bringing the War on the Frontier right to their doorstep.William, now a captain in the militia, desperately tries to keep Becky in check while he joins with Kenton and Boone in negotiating a prisoner exchange with the Shawnee. The exchange is scheduled, but some Kentuckians attack the Shawnee and attempt to recover what they see as stolen horses, making it short-lived.As the situation deteriorates, the Shawnee and Miami tribes unite under Chief Little Turtle; and in response, President Washington orders an army raised to fight them. The scene sets the stage for the bloodiest encounters so far, as General Harmer leads the US forces to annihilation on the banks of the Wabash River in November 1791. The North-West Frontier is the setting for this novel, which is a period of great uncertainty. The United States had finally produced a Constitution and a Bill of Rights that the colonists could live with. They had also elected the country's first president, General George Washington. In the soon to be state of Kentucky, politicians and land speculators had sown mistrust and anger with the Native American tribes, and this had led to increased raids on settlers who had settled on land given to the Shawnee and Mingo by treaty. The Kentuckians felt no obligation to abide by any treaty that restricted what they considered their right to claim land anywhere they chose. To make matters worse, the British who were still smarting from losing the war of Independence were happily supplying arms and ammunition to the Tribes, besides providing advisors such as Simon Girty. Another war with Britain was on the horizon. Although Storm of the Shawnee is a fictional story as far as the main characters of Becky and William Tritt are concerned, the Historical figures are very much real. The events described are totally accurate and based on letters, reports, and eyewitness testimony.
Ignominious Victory
This is a dramatized Historical account of the Indian wars on the Northwestern frontier between the years 1790 to 1795. It is the third book in a series following the fictional characters Rebecca and William Tritt from Kentucky. The book details the culmination of the war leading up to the battle of fallen timbers and the signing of the Treaty of Greenville in 1795. Apart from the fictional characters personal stories, all persons and accounts depicted are real and fully documented. It is suitable for all ages, but some scenes may be unsuitable for young children. The book describes the violent and bloody conflict of that time. When possible, accurate speeches and illustrations are used.
