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Mochi’s War: The Tragedy of Sand Creek

“Historians Enss and Kazanjian (coauthors, None Wounded, None Missing, All Dead) succeed in personalizing one of America’s most troubling memories, the brutal and unprovoked massacre of a sleeping village of Cheyenne and Arapaho peoples at Sand Creek (present-day Colorado) by troops of the Colorado Volunteers in November 1864. This still controversial military engagement (see Ari Kelman’s A Misplaced Massacre) sets the background in which Mochi, a Cheyenne woman, lost her entire family and barely survived herself, by killing a soldier and then fleeing her camp. She reinvented herself as a Dog Soldier and member of the Bowstring Society, one of the few females to claim association in these elite Cheyenne warrior groups.

She remarried, to Medicine Water, himself a military leader, and they in turn brutally raided and avenged themselves on American soldiers and settlers alike for over a decade. The authors have again collaborated to write Western history in an accurate yet accessible manner for mainstream readers. They provide a graphic account of the Plains Indian Wars from 1864 to 1875. VERDICT Highly recommended for adult readers of Western and Native American history, this biographical account provides a counterpoint to the many works that have mythologized such women as Pocahontas and Sacajawea.”

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Mochi’s War: The Tragedy of Sand Creek

It was a pleasure meeting with Pulitzer Prize winning author Doris Kearns Goodwin and producer Beth Laski today. I’m happy to report the documentary project we’re working on for the 250^th anniversary of the country entitled Plain Genius: The Women Who Built America is moving quickly toward production.

A gentleman at the restaurant where we had lunch took a picture of the three of us. Doris and Beth are of normal height, I’m the size of Hagrid from the Harry Potter films. I could hunt geese with a rake. When I was in college I can’t tell you how often I heard, “Wow, you’re so tall. I bet it’s hard for you to date.” My height was the least of my worries.

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Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him

Tilghman was appointed Chief of Police of Cromwell, Oklahoma, in September 1924. He found Cromwell to be as rotten a location as he was warned. The landscape was thick with oil derricks. Massive sections of pipe were stacked near mining shacks and mining equipment, stray tool pieces and wood shards from derricks that had been rocketed into the air by oil gushers were strewn about, and puddles of mud and oil were all around.

Among the businesses on the main thoroughfares were numerous taverns, dance halls, and houses of prostitution. “This is a bad place,” Tilghman wrote to his wife shortly after he arrived, “and these modern criminals are not like your old outlaws that had a sense of honor and gratitude, and decency in certain ways. These dope runners and the like would sooner shoot you in the back than meet you face to face.”

Tilghman wasted no time in helping to make Cromwell a safer and more desirable place to live. He functioned as sanitary officer and general welfare custodian as well as policeman. One of the first directives was the installation of water barrels for fire emergencies. He also ordered the trash and debris that littered the streets and alleyways around businesses to be cleaned up. By the end of the month his focus had shifted from the exterior of the store fronts to the businesses themselves. He shut down and padlocked the doors of twenty-five pool halls and arrested owners who had violated the Prohibition Act.

Not everyone applauded the lawman’s efforts. Deputy Sheriff of Seminole County turned federal prohibition officer Wiley Lynn, did not care for Tilghman, and resented his presence in Cromwell.

Since Chief Tilghman had come to town, he’d put a stop to drunken miners and oil field workers firing their weapons indiscriminately. Few had dared to violate the directive. So, when the lawman heard a gunshot outside Murphy’s Café where he was having coffee with one of his deputies, he hurried out of the building to investigate. As he exited the eatery, he saw Lynn at the end of the boardwalk holding a gun. “What the hell are you doing out here?” Tilghman asked gruffly. Lynn approached Tilghman with his gun in his hand and the lawman walked toward him holding his own gun.

School Commissioner Hugh Sawyer saw Lynn quickly walking toward Tilghman with his gun drawn and tried to intercede to disarm him. In the meantime, Tilghman moved in to meet Lynn’s attack. When the two met a scuffle ensued. Tilghman was using both arms to keep Lynn from pointing his gun at him. Lynn, seeing an opening and using his free hand, reached for another gun he had in his suit jacket pocket. He leveled the gun at Tilghman and fired three bullets into his chest. The veteran lawman sank to the street, unconscious, and his colleagues and townspeople rushed to him.

Wiley Lynn ran back to his car and sped away from the scene with his passengers by his side. Chief Tilghman was carried to a secondhand furniture store and placed on a sofa. He died shortly thereafter.

To learn more about the killing of Marshal Tilghman read

Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman and the Women Who Inspired Him

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Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him

“Synopsis: Step into the vibrant tapestry of the Old West with the enthralling story of Bill Tilghman—a man whose life was as adventurous as the rugged landscapes he roamed. A lawman, buffalo hunter, Indian fighter, rancher, horse breeder, saloon keeper, politician, and even a filmmaker, Tilghman stands out as one of the last true legends of his time. His life, filled with unique and daring escapades, is a testament to the spirit of the Old West.

His life was a series of daring escapades, but it was also a passionate love story. This love story, interwoven with the tale of the woman who cherished him, adds a poignant and personal touch to the narrative, making it a compelling read for all.

Tilghman’s captivating book invites readers to journey through the vibrant and exciting history of the fading Western frontier, a world of trials and triumphs. This is a unique opportunity to explore the history of a man who epitomized the spirit of adventure and a woman who was determined to preserve his legacy and honor the love of her life.

Critique: Tilghman—The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him is a captivating narrative that beautifully intertwines the thrill of adventure with a heartwarming love story. Imagine the dusty trails, the sound of hooves echoing against the vast, open plains, and the camaraderie of those who lived boldly in times of challenges and triumphs.

In their captivating narrative, Howard Kazanjian and Chris Enss not only transport us to the rugged landscapes of frontier life but also evoke a sense of nostalgia for a time of profound emotional connections amidst exploration challenges.  To say this book spoke to my heart and soul is an understatement.”

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The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him

Late in the summer of 1884, a pair of wild-eyed, trail-stained strangers wandered into Dodge. Both were heavily armed when they entered the Long Branch Saloon. The bartender noticed their guns and informed the men the weapons weren’t allowed in town. The men announced to all in earshot that they hadn’t any intentions of surrendering their guns and defied the law to take their six-shooters from them. The two grabbed a bottle of whiskey and a couple of glasses and proceeded to a nearby table where they started drinking. In between drinks the pair loudly threatened to kill anyone with a badge who came near them.

Marshal Bill Tilghman’s reputation as an effective peace officer had reached beyond Dodge City, and the belligerent customers dared the well-known lawman to square off against them. “We hear tell he’s fast on the draw,” they shouted. “He’s got a chance now to prove it. Somebody go tell him that if he’s tired of living, we’re ready to help him end it.”

A man named Sampson let the marshal know what was going on and, in spite of the informant’s warning to stay away, Tilghman picked up his pistols and headed out of his office. As he left, he told Sampson if he didn’t go, gunslingers from all over the Territory would ride into Dodge ready to oppose him.

When Marshal Tilghman entered the saloon, patrons and employees scattered. The resolute lawman made his way to the mouthy drifters and instructed them to give up their guns. “They’re not allowed in town,” he told them. The three men eyed one another for a few brief moments and then one of them quickly drew his weapon. Before he could get off a shot, Tilghman had drawn and fired his gun at the man. The second of the duo pulled his pistol but he didn’t get far. He was on the floor with a bullet in his chest before the smoke from Tilghman’s first shot had cleared. The marshal retrieved the dead men’s weapons and ordered a handful of cowboys who were taking refuge behind the bar to help carry the bodies to the mortician’s office.

To learn more about Marshal Tilghman read

Tilghman: The Legendary Lawman and the Woman Who Inspired Him