Photomechanical reprint of the 1888 reprint (of the even rarer original 1811 Book) by Archibald Loudon. Limited edition.
Near mint condition. Hardcover. Appears unread.
This is another of Wennawoods Publishing's "Great Pennsylvania Frontier" series. Originally published in a two volume set in 1808 and 1811, this collection of Indian captivity narratives written by Archibald Loudon was one of the most popular and widely read of all the many books on this subject that would appear over the next 100 years. In fact, it was so popular that it has become a rarity to find a complete copy of the original 19th century editions. Wennawoods reprinted the 1888 edition as seen here to bring these rare and fascinating captivity narratives to a modern audience.
This work is replete with tales of white settlers and soldiers who were captured by Indians during the late 18th and early 19th centuries on the trans-Allegheny frontier. Among the more than 25 accounts included here is that of the famous Col. James Smith and his more than 5 years captivity with the Wyandots in northeastern Ohio. This work also includes extensive accounts of Indian life, religion, food ways, hunting, warfare, and, of course, torture. It is understandable how this book became so popular, as it was written at a time when the danger from Indian raids along the frontier was still a viable threat, and it is easy to picture frontier families huddled together on a cold winter night around the fireplace, reading of tales of Indian depredations and scalping and torture, all the while listening for the faint echoes of the war whoop in the dark woods nearby.