The HISTORY of THEFT is NEVER-ENDING. In the Old West, they hanged you for horse theft. In Merry Olde England, they transported you to a colony for any kind of theft (over a certain monetary value). But in the Black Hills, the thieves who stole the Lakota’s sacred land went unpunished.
Buffalo Hunt by George Catlin. The Black Hills gave the Lakota everything they needed.
At the end of my last blog, I shared how…
- In 1875 after gold was found in Deadwood Creek, the U.S. government failed to honor the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty requiring them to protect the Lakota land from white intruders. Instead, the government offered millions of dollars to buy the land. The Lakota refused because it was their holy land. Their home was taken from them illegally and by force.
The Battle of the Little Bighorn by C.M. Russell.
But the thievery, of course, doesn’t start or stop there.
- The First Sioux War was fought between 1854 and 1856. It started after a small detachment of soldiers entered a large Sioux encampment to arrest a man accused of stealing a migrant’s cow.
- The Great Sioux War (also known as the Black Hills War) was fought between 1876 and 1877. It started after gold was found in Deadwood Creek and white intruders invaded and stole the Lakota’s land.
- After the Battle of the Little Bighorn (also known as Custer’s Last Stand), General Crook marched in pursuit of the Sioux. He took only enough rations for a few days. Which resulted in the Horsemeat March (also known as the Starvation March) when the soldiers had to eat their horses. I suppose one could say that Crook stole his men’s dignity by starving them and leaving them with no option for an alternative food source.
- Near Deadwood, the Battle of Slim Buttes resulted in more thievery (also known as the spoils of war) this time the soldiers took the Lakota’s horses and their winter food preserves.
- Finally, General Crook and his men’s march ended in Deadwood where they were entertained lavishly by the townsfolk.
It happened because of thievery – of all sorts.
Pictures: soldiers charge at Slim Buttes (by Charles Schreyvog) and surrender at Slim Buttes (by R.F. Zogbaum).
How did this particular HISTORY shape Rescuing Raven?
DEADWOOD, 1876… In a gold rush storm, can an unlikely pair rescue each other?
Raven is a rescuer at heart. First, a family member needs her help then her horse is stolen at the Battle of Slim Buttes. There’s no way Raven will allow her beloved Appaloosa to remain with men who eat their own mounts rather than pause their hunt for the Lakota to hunt for food.
She embarks on a rescue mission that takes her into the heart of Deadwood where she finds a man also in need of rescuing.
A man named Charlie Jennings who wants to rescue Raven in return.
Want to read more about Raven and Charlie and Deadwood?
Rescuing Raven Excerpt ~ Cover Creation Magic ~ Deadwood Early Years Facts
Can’t wait to share more about Deadwood with you, including another Deadwood story set a year after Rescuing Raven. Next time I’ll share my history inspiration for Healing Hope. I’m excited to finally be writing a story about a heroine who is a doctor!
Jacqui
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