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Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids: An 1864 Trail Diary Companion (The Rousseau Series) Kindle Edition

by Janelle Molony (Author), Kylie Louise McCormick (Foreword) Format: Kindle Edition
4.3 out of 5 stars 22 ratings
While the Civil War raged in the east, the Platte River Raids would begin an entirely new battle for the American West. In July of 1864, Northern Plains Indians in Idaho Territory (Wyoming) appeared to be on a warpath to cease all emigrant travel on the Bozeman, Oregon, and Overland Trails by any means. On a signal, hundreds of warriors launched a series of attacks and robberies on unsuspecting emigrants through the winding “Black Hills.” Shots rang out and arrows whizzed as miners, doctors, farmers, families, and war widows rallied their covered wagons together. Some fought to defend their stock and protect their families. Others helped bury the bodies of those who did not survive.

Read the eyewitness testimonies of nearly 70 survivors, vetted by living descendants, mapped out, annotated, and presented in one accord for the first time in literary history.
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  1. Reading age
    12 - 18 years
  2. Part of series
    The Rousseau Series
  3. Print length
    546 pages
  4. Language
    English
  5. Accessibility
    Learn more
  6. Publication date
    December 13, 2023
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
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From the Publisher

Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids

Book cover, 7 literary awards, and a review quote, "unapologetically comprehensive".

Nonfiction For the History Lover and Wild West Fan

In 1864, "Anyone who dared to appear on the trails to the south … became a marked man," according to Dr. Grace Raymond Hebard and E. A. Brininstool's 1922 research, but just how did that play out?

While the Civil War raged in the east, the Platte River Raids would begin an entirely new battle for the American West. In July of 1864, Northern Plains Indians in Idaho Territory (Wyoming) appeared to be on a warpath to cease all emigrant travel on the Bozeman, Oregon, and Overland Trails by any means. On a signal, hundreds of warriors launched a series of attacks and robberies on unsuspecting emigrants through the winding “Black Hills.” Shots rang out and arrows whizzed as miners, doctors, farmers, families, and war widows rallied their covered wagons together. Some fought to defend their stock and protect their families. Others helped bury the bodies of those who did not survive. In Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids, read the eyewitness testimonies of nearly 70 survivors, vetted by living descendants, mapped out, annotated, and presented in one accord for the first time in literary history.

Featured Family Surnames: Boone, Brown, Button, Curtis, Dickson, Earp, Forbis, Howard, Jongewaard, Kelly, Larimer, Merrill, Ringo, Roe, Roorda, Rousseau, Rysdam, Scroggin, Shoemaker, van Rossum... and SO many more!

Award-Winning Content: Emigrant Tales of the Platte River Raids (2023, M Press) has been recognized by numerous prestigious literary institutions and historical organizations, including: American Writing Awards - Winner, U. S. History (2024); Women Writing the West, WILLA - Winner, Scholarly Nonfiction (2024); New York Book Festival - Runner-Up, Non-Fiction (2024); Global EBook Awards - Silver (2024); Non Fiction Book Awards - Bronze Winner (2024); American Writing Awards - Finalist, Military History (2024); National Indie Excellence Awards - Finalist, General History & Western Nonfiction (2024); BookFest - Third Place, History (2024); Wyoming Historical Society - Honorable Mention (2024); Readers' Favorite - Five Stars (2024); and IndieReader - IR Approved (2024).

Four images left to right: Wyatt Earp, Johnny Ringo, John Brown, and Daniel Boone.

A Legendary Roll Call!

This is a Wyatt Earp, Johnny Ringo, John Brown and Daniel Boone fandom MUST-READ!

Author poses with a covered wagon

Descendant-Vetted & Expert Reviewed

Because Integrity Matters

Janelle Molony is a verifiable descendant of Dr. James and Sarah Rousseau, survivors of the Platte River Raids. As a descendant, it was extremely important to make sure her family's adventure was represented well. This prompted her to hold a year-long open call for other descendants to preview the material, comment on or correct the content, and provide additional sources to ensure their family histories were also preserved with integrity.

Also Reviewed By

Trail Historians and Enthusiasts, State Historians, Immigration Experts, Local Wyomingites, and Trail Grave Experts.

As Seen/Heard In

  • Tombstone Epitaph
  • Annals of Wyoming
  • History Nebraska
  • Wake Up Wyoming
  • Wild West History Association
  • Cowboy Up! Podcast
  • Cowboy State Daily
Kylie Louise McCormick

Foreword by Kylie Louise McCormick

"Janelle is an incredible historian whose award-winning investigations have challenged standard historical narratives." - McCormick (2023)

Guest author Kylie Louise McCormick offers her professional insights on the Platte River Raids. Kylie is a local "Wyomingite" public historian. She is a content creator for both the Wyoming Historical Society and the Overland-California Trails Association. Her recent studies have centered on female movers and shakers in Wyoming's state history and she currently serves as the editor of the WyoHistory.org blog. Learn more at KylieTheHistorian.com

Critics' Reviews

WyoHistory.org: "A first-rate work of history!"

Women Writing the West: "Rich in detail! ... This work is one of the few that acknowledges the fact that the Northern Plains Indians were settled in the areas the Europeans traveled through.”

Western Writers of America: "A jewel of research and organization ... nearly every page compelling. - Nancy Curtis

Western Association of Women Historians: Emigrant Tales is making "important breakthroughs in scholarship!" - Erika Edwards

Readers’ Favorite: "This atmospheric and creative non-fiction work vividly captures the untold stories of the Platte River Raids in 1864, a tumultuous chapter in the American West overshadowed by the Civil War. ... Reading this book is like stepping into a time machine ... contributing significantly to the literary history of the American West." - K.C. Finn

IndieReader: "A sprawling, unapologetically comprehensive book. ... Author Janelle Molony succeeds in creating a compendium of surviving accounts of this frequently overlooked event in American history." - Craig Jones

Non Fiction Authors Association: "[Molony] is respectful to all of these early settlers and the Indigenous Peoples. The book is well documented, highly footnoted, and can serve as a reference for historians and descendants alike."

Arizona Author's Association: "A treasure for anyone interested in this subject, or even the wider subject of the general history of the West."

Editorial Reviews

Review


The 1864 Diary of Mrs. Sarah Jane Rousseau provides a valuable day-by-day account of what it was like to cross the continent overland in the middle of the nineteenth century. - Arizona Journal of History (Winter, 2023)

About the Author

Janelle Molony, M.S.L. Award-winning historian and journalist. 3rd great-granddaughter of the Rousseaus. Official: www.JanelleMolony.com

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0CQ7BG9VT
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ M Press Publishing
  • Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ December 13, 2023
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 38.3 MB
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 546 pages
  • Page Flip ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Part of series ‏ : ‎ The Rousseau Series
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 12 - 18 years
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 22 ratings

About the author

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Janelle Molony

Janelle Molony

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Janelle Molony, M.S.L., is a historian and journalist. Official: JanelleMolony.com Awards: National Federation of Press Women, BookFest, Reader's Favorite, National Indie Excellence Awards, Writer's Digest, Arizona Author's Association (and more!)

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
22 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the book's retelling approach positive, with one review noting how it uses personal journals to tell the story. The book receives praise for its readability, and customers appreciate the information quality, with one mentioning how it draws from diaries.

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7 customers mention "Retelling"7 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the retelling of this historical narrative, with one customer noting how the author uses personal journals to bring the story to life.

"...The author tells this story using the personal journals of those who took this journey, including her own ancestor. It is reader friendly...." Read more

"...A great retelling of a short but dynamic period of our Western American history that shows the tenacity of the Pioneer Spirit. Great read!..." Read more

"...raging in the eastern part of the U.S. -- did an incredible job in detailing the account of what happened seemingly minute by minute...." Read more

"An extremely powerful story of what the wagon trains endured on their travels westward...." Read more

5 customers mention "Readability"5 positive0 negative

Customers find the book readable and interesting.

"...It is reader friendly. The author introduces the travelers and their comrades first...." Read more

"...or stories of the Oregon Trail are interesting to you then this is must read...." Read more

"...This is a wonderful read and a very important part of our nation's history." Read more

"This is a tome so beware before you start. The book is interesting but I did not like how it was put together...." Read more

3 customers mention "Information quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers appreciate the information quality of the book, with one mentioning it draws from diaries.

"This book adds insights into how the Civil War helped drive westward expansion...." Read more

"...Interesting information but you had to work to parse out information...." Read more

"...Taking information from diaries and personal accounts at the time, Maloney pieces together the story of a few harrowing days along the journey,..." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Kathy Lay
    5.0 out of 5 stars A personal perspective to history
    Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This book adds insights into how the Civil War helped drive westward expansion. That came with its own set of challenges including conflict with the native Indians. The author tells this story using the personal journals of those who took this journey, including her own ancestor. It is reader friendly. The author introduces the travelers and their comrades first. And then the story unfolds as the various experiences are told and woven together. You will be transported back in time and experience this moment in history from a personal perspective.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Larry D Cundall
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read
    Reviewed in the United States on January 20, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    If true pioneer stories or stories of the Oregon Trail are interesting to you then this is must read. There is a great list of real pioneers, many you will be familiar with, telling first person accounts of well documented adventures. Along with citations that would make a college professor proud.
    As a life long resident on the this part of the Oregon Trail, the places and descriptions are quite accurately woven together from all the sources and diaries.
    These accounts show an array of the attitudes and politics of the time, influenced by the Civil War, increasing Indian conflicts, with scoundrels, abolitionists and gold searchers along with the Government, multiple Tribal interactions and Military dynamics mixed in.
    A great retelling of a short but dynamic period of our Western American history that shows the tenacity of the Pioneer Spirit.
    Great read!
    Larry Cundall
    One person found this helpful
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  • Thomas Kindry
    5.0 out of 5 stars History that is thrilling, exciting...and at times, also hard to swallow.
    Reviewed in the United States on January 25, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    In this day of rapid transit and burgeoning cities, it’s hard to imagine how people reacted to traveling across the country during the mid 19th century. Those arduous, anxiety ridden adventures of years past---a time long before calling “911” for medical emergencies or “AAA” for a broke down vehicle was imaginable--- contained numerous tales of courage and tragedy. There was also an unrelenting persistence for survival.
    Janelle Molony, who is a descendant of the Rousseau family--one of many unwelcome participants during this unnerving time when the Civil War was still raging in the eastern part of the U.S. -- did an incredible job in detailing the account of what happened seemingly minute by minute. This is a wonderful read and a very important part of our nation's history.
    One person found this helpful
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  • skydive
    2.0 out of 5 stars Like pulling teeth
    Reviewed in the United States on March 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The book was very disjointed. It used a novel format with a column outline format, along with an essay format including foot notes. Interesting information but you had to work to parse out information. I won't even go into details about author's misspellings , form and from, especially. Its to bad there was no flow to the book
    One person found this helpful
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  • Gary M. Buyachek
    3.0 out of 5 stars Not bad
    Reviewed in the United States on April 21, 2025
    Verified Purchase
    This is a tome so beware before you start. The book is interesting but I did not like how it was put together. After going thru the first 350 to 300 pages it became hard to keep concentrating as it seemed to jump around. Nice to hear the stories of the people who did the wagon train so that alone it is a good book to have.
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  • Babs
    5.0 out of 5 stars a Must Read
    Reviewed in the United States on December 15, 2023
    Verified Purchase
    An extremely powerful story of what the wagon trains endured on their travels westward.

    The incidents of the story are wholly absorbing.
    The trail conditions, the health of the travelers, the attacks from the Indians, the witnessing of lives slaughtered, dealing with heartbreak, enduring captivity from the Indians then being rescued and reunited with loved ones.

    Anyone reading this will feel and understand what these people went through to survive and make a better life for themselves.

    The author, Janelle Molony, has definitely brought back to life the lives of these travelers.

    Stephen King once wrote, “The truth is in the details” and Janelle Molony has gone above and beyond to bring us the truth.

    I know some of what to be true as I am the great great grandniece of Fanny Kelly and am very proud of how this book was written.
    Barbara Yates-Romine.
    One person found this helpful
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  • Amazon Customer
    5.0 out of 5 stars Thrilling retelling!
    Reviewed in the United States on February 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    This is a unique approach to telling the story of travel west on the Oregon Trail. Taking information from diaries and personal accounts at the time, Maloney pieces together the story of a few harrowing days along the journey, told from many different perspectives of people who were directly involved. I found myself fascinated by how the attitudes of the travelers were influenced by their political affiliation, standing in society and place of origin. Interesting read, highly recommend!
    One person found this helpful
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  • miladyjane3
    5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeping the Competition
    Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    The media could not be loaded.
    Emigrant Tales presents groundbreaking discoveries including three Civil War Era battles that have never before been documented. This book challenges pre-existing narratives and confronts readers with a slice of history that has been overlooked for 160 years.
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Top reviews from other countries

  • andrea
    5.0 out of 5 stars Captivating!!
    Reviewed in Canada on May 16, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Janelle Malony's storytelling is a perfect blend of history and narrative, a must read for history enthusiasts and adventure seekers alike. Five STARS without hesitation!!
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