Longhorns East

by Johnny D. Boggs

From nine-time Spur Award–winning Western author Johnny D. Boggs comes the incredible story of the biggest, longest, wildest cattle drive in America’s history—from the heart of Texas to New York City. . .

Tom Candy Ponting was no ordinary trail boss. He didn’t smoke, chew, cuss, or even carry a gun. Unlike his competitors, he learned how to herd cows on a farm back in England—and how to handle cowboys in bareknuckle prizefights. But his skills and know-how were really put to the test when he accepts a bet he might live to lead a cattle drive from Texas to New York City. Not one to back down on a dare, Ponting assembles the motliest crew of cowboys ever seen—Texans, Englishmen, Mexicans, Freemen, Cherokee—and charts a course through the unfriendliest country to move seven hundred head of cattle, never easy in the best of times. Along the way, they’ll cross railroads and rustlers, hucksters and hustlers, with detours and dead ends aplenty. But if they succeed, the team will make more than just a whole lot of money. They will make history. . . .

Inspired by the real-life adventures of legendary cattleman Tom Candy Ponting, Longhorns East takes readers on an unforgettable journey as big and bold as the American Dream itself.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Westerns, Fiction

368 pages, Paperback

Published August 22, 2023

About the author

Johnny D. Boggs is a Spur- and Wrangler Award-winning author of the American West and frontier. Born in 1962, Boggs grew up on a farm near Timmonsville, South Carolina, around the old stamping grounds of Revolutionary War hero Francis Marion (chronicled in his frontier novel The Despoilers). He knew he wanted to be a writer at an early age. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico with his wife, Lisa Smith; son, Jack Smith Boggs; and basset hound, June.

Reviews

[Thomas Clagett · Rating 5 out of 5]

A cattle drive from Texas to New York City in 1854? Could it be?

Not only could it, it absolutely did happen. Award-winning author Johnny D. Boggs, inspired by that little-known story from the life of real cattleman Tom Ponting, tells an unforgettable tale of the West. But he begins his story in 1840 across the Atlantic in England where Ponting was born on a stock farm and learned as a lad to drive cattle to market a hundred miles away in London.

Boggs weaves a tale that is hard to put down. His ear for language and the cadence of speech is wonderful. “You are nothing more than the pidgeon-livered ragbag you have always been,” says a self-important English cattle buyer to Ponting’s drover boss who responds, “At least I am no malmsey-nosed hornswoggler.” Years later, Ponting’s cattle drive from East Texas to New York is spawned by one of those things that make for a great adventure: a bet.

While I have not read every book Boggs has written (and there are many), I have read some fine work. They include “Northfield,” about the James-Younger gang’s Northfield, Minnesota bank robbery, “Camp Ford,” set in a Confederate prisoner of war camp in Texas and the Union prisoners challenging the guards to a baseball game, and “Greasy Grass,” that tells the story of Custer’s Last Stand from both sides. “Longhorns East” may very well be his finest to date.

[V · Rating 5 out of 5]

So much wonderful history in this adventure it makes me want to learn more about the main character this story is based on. Tom came to America from England at an age most of us can’t fathom. He eventually settled in Illinois, where he will meet the love of his life. This was an era when young ladies were courted under austere parents. His determination to buy a special breed of Texas cattle and drive them all the way to NYC is an epic undertaking. Many diverse people, are represented - crooks, scammers, thieves, farmers, Indians, Germans and all sorts of immigrants to this new land. The saga follows Tom through the 1840’s and 1850’s and concludes near the end of his life. It was beautifully written and reminded me of growing up with cattle in a much different era thanks to people like Tom. If you enjoy western history, I certainly recommend this author and his wonderful rendition. I’m always excited to find a new author and he’ll be someone I watch for.
Many thanks to NetGalley for the digital advance reader copy of “Longhorns East” by Johnny D. Boggs, Kensington Publishing. These are all my own honest personal thoughts and opinions given voluntarily without compensation.

[Garth Mailman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Longhorns East
Johnny D. Boggs

Longhorns are a cattle bred by natural selection to survive the rigours of the arid Texas Landscape. Cattle drives are a part of Western history and lore that are now only a memory. Cattle drives that still occur in most cities are now a yearly event followed by street sweepers.

Fifteen year old Tom’s trail boss on his first cattle drive has a fondness for visiting the pub leaving Tom in charge of the herd. Hard to believe it ever happened on the streets of London.

Cross the pond and there are an entirely new set of challenges. Arid lands, dried up creeks, hostile Indians, rattlesnakes, raging rivers, cattle rustlers and criminal gangs not to mention keeping your crew out of bars, brothels, and gambling dens; best to avoid towns.

Tom C Ponting is a rare commodity, an honest and kindly man. That’s not to say that he’s naïve or willing to be cheated but he does not carry a gun or drink. He has attracted the attention of a girl back home to whom he tries to write but he is one person in this tale whose physique is not described. It is his ability to attract and keep the loyalty of the men who work for him that stands out.

[Naomi · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story is based on the life of Tom Candy Ponting, born in England and immigrated to the United States because he wanted to see as much of the world as possible. He was a cattle herder on a farm in England. He was a most unusual man for the times as he didn't smoke, chew, cuss, or even carry a gun. But once in the states he accepted a bet that he could lead a cattle drive from Texas to New York City. This was in the early 1840's, so you can imagine what a challenge that was. The author did a great job giving life to many kinds of characters that worked with Tom to get this done. They all mostly started
from Illinois. I felt as though Tom was prepared to handle any problem and men because he seemed to have an answer for everything. I am not used to the type of writing it took to produce this story and felt I was missing some of its magic. But the 'man, himself' was unbelievable.

[Jennifer Bohnhoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Longhorns East is based on the surprising, true story of an Englishman named Tom Candy Ponting. Ponting was just a teenager and had never been farther than a few miles from his home when a shyster talked him into driving a herd to London, then disappeared before paying him. The experience left him wiser, but, still hungry for cattle drives and eager to make his own way in the world, he moved to America. On a dare and for the love of a woman, he embarked on the biggest and longest cattle drive in the history of the American West: a drive that went from Texas to New York City. Johnny D. Boggs, a Spur Award–winning Western author nine times over, tells an action-packed story with a motley and interesting team of cowboys who are determined to make history and their fortunes. You'll find yourself cheering for them as they face rustlers and hustlers and the new-fangled iron horse.

[Russell Atkinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

According to the author this biographical novel was inspired by the story of Tom Candy Ponting, an Illinois cattleman who was the first to drive a herd of longhorn cattle from Texas to New York City. The author admits to having invented most of the characters and incidents, but the general facts of Ponting's achievement is reportedly accurate and the three or four main characters real persons. The book has many tense even deadly moments, a few funny ones, and even some near disasters. The life of a western cattle drover is delineated in considerable detail and is perhaps the most interesting thing in the book. I wasn't excited about the book, but it filled the time well. I listened to the reader who narrated in Tom's English accent, a rather odd one that took some getting used to. It was a rough accent, not received pronunciation (RP). I'm stretching my rating to 4.0.

[Howard Weinstein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nine-time Western Writers of America Spur Award winner Johnny D. Boggs skillfully blends historical research with imagination in this engaging fact-based tale of Englishman Tom Ponting, who really did set out to drive longhorns from Texas to New York City in 1853-54.

We first meet teenage Tom when he’s hired to help herd cattle from the English countryside to market in London—and discovers his calling. A dozen years later, after he moves to America, the ambitious drover conceives his audacious plan. Despite obstacles aplenty, Tom is determined to succeed, to turn a profit—and to impress the strict German father of Margaret Snyder, the worthy young lady he intends to marry.

Don’t be surprised if this sure-handed novel wins Mr. Boggs that tenth Spur Award.

[Joe Stack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Boggs takes a little known historical event - a cattle drive from Texas to New York City - and constructs a pleasing roadtrip and friendship story. The conditions of the cattle drive are kept to minimum. It's the roadtrip that gives the reader a feel for the regions covered in the story in the 1850s: Texas. Indian territory. Missouri. Illinois. NE railroad conditions.

The characters are likeable, so when events happen to them, you react appropriately. The buddy building aspect of the story's adventure comes out of the challenges of the roadtrip. These challenges have good and bad outcomes.

[patrick Lorelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Based on a true story you follow Tom Candy Ponting from England where he learned about cattle and life. How to fight and what to do when you get taken by a swindler. He ends up in America and then eventually to Texas where he decides to raise cattle and then drive them to New York city or close. A very interesting story that was entertaining and very surprising at the amount of money he got even though he lost a lot of steers. The ending was good as well he ends up in Canada with his wife, a very good story.

[Robert Craven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very promising first third of this novel is let down by the overly detailed and at times plodding plot Boggs uses. At £11.30 for the Kindle, its the most I have spent and in truth, £0.99 is closer to the value.

A pedestrian western, lacking the grit of Elmore Leonard or Louis L'Amour, apparently based on true events but fails to hold the readers interest.

I gave it 4 (when 3 would be more honest), but the starting chapters are very, very well written

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

While this isn't a genre I would normally read, I really enjoyed this book. It's the story of a man who moves to the U.S. from England, and his adventures of taking a herd of cows and hogs from Texas to NYC. Lots of adventure. The author does an excellent job of developing the characters, so you get totally involved in them. Just an excellent story. I received an advance copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Liz · Rating 3 out of 5]

So, that was something. I never thought I'd read a book about a cattle drive, but there you have it.

It was pretty interesting, but the author often skipped from one time block to another and left me hanging, waiting for details on what would have happened next. I realize the book would have been ridiculously long otherwise, but the jumps were awkward and rough.

Overall, it was better than I expected, but I will say, one book about a cattle drive is probably enough for me. lol

[Jane Botkin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this narrative built upon history regarding an early longhorn drive from Texas to NYC by Englishman Tom Pointing. Boggs did his homework, though the reader does not fully understand this until the end of the book when Boggs explains the fictional vs historical aspects of the Pointer story. The novel is both entertaining and enlightening, told in Boggs's characteristic, easy manner. An unusual western, to be sure.

[Ryan Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was fine, but not very exciting. Learning that it was based on a real life, and extensively researched by an author concerned with maintaining historical accuracy (perhaps more than tightening an expansive plot line), explains some of the plot choices that made this book feel more like a generalized biography than a gripping drama.

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny Boggs does not disappoint. Based on the true life experience of Tom Candy Ponting. a longhorn cattle drive from Texas to New York City. This is the first time I read a book by Mr. Boggs. I enjoyed it so much I put two more of his books on my wish list.

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

Narrative history from one of literature’s preeminent Western writers, Johnny D. Boggs? It just doesn’t get any better than this. Boggs’ skill at delivering historical details that make you think combined with his fantastic storytelling make for one entertaining and compelling read.

[Chaya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the story of a 19th century cattle drive, and of the man who leads it. It's a great story, with a great protagonist. Powerful writing and action-based plot, good twists, and if you like historical fiction you will love this

[Diane · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done!

A truly fascinating, fictional story, about a real part of US history. I've already started to read the autobiography of T.C. Ponting. A creative idea for pulling Information together to get an exceptional story. Enjoyed very much 😁

[Charis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an excellent choice for my first foray into western novels. Historical fiction as it should be; fantastic dialogue; I learned so much from this book, not least of which the phrase "the gloaming," which made it on my list of favorite words. Absolutely enchanting.

[Jill Gibson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Was easy to read and kelp me indrawed in this tale. Hope to read more books like this one.

[Carolyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story

[Doris Combs]

A young man came to America from England and became a trail boss. He never carried a gun, drove the biggest, wildest cattle drive in America from Texas to New York.
Easy read, highly recommend.

[Michael Wilson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Johnny Boggs is such a good author of westerns. This story was an unknown historical event told in a smooth Elmer Kelton way. Highly recommend.

[Sharron · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Received a copy in a Goodreads Giveaway.

Seemed uneven. Most of the adventure seemed to be on the way to Texas before there was any cattle.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Started out okay. Ended kinda slow.

[PottWab Regional Library]

SM

[Alisha · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first hundred pages or so were super boring and I thought about giving up. Then it did get more engaging, but it still just did not keep my attention very well. A book this size will usually take me a few days to a week to read. This one took me almost a month to slog through.