Counting Coup: The Odyssey of Captain Tom Adams

by Bob Stockton

The story of the way west in the early nineteenth century was often a tale of danger, death and unspeakable suffering. The early trappers and mountain men forged the trails westward for the pioneers that followed and became part of the legend of the American West. Of this hardy breed of early venturers one name stands out above the rest: Kit Carson. Many stories of his bravery, often wildly exaggerated filled eastern bookshelves of the day.
How much of what was written was true and how much was fantasy? Cavalry officer Captain Tom Adams vowed to seek the truth behind the legend and along the way faced near shipwrecks, attempted assassinations, Indian massacres, murder, and torture in an odyssey that he never believed would have been possible.

Genres: Historical Fiction

208 pages, Paperback

Published March 15, 2013

About the author

Bob Stockton was born in Trenton, New Jersey. Leaving school in his junior year Bob began a twenty year Navy career in 1957. During the course of that twenty year career Bob has sailed the seven seas while serving in surface vessels (destroyers), diesel electric submarines, auxiliary vessels, aircraft carriers, reconnaissance attack squadrons and patrol gunboats in Vietnam.

Following Navy retirement as a Chief Petty Officer, Bob has earned undergraduate and graduate degrees and has worked as a shipyard welder's helper, university adjunct graduate instructor, epidemiologist, pharmaceutical trainer, small business owner and radio host.

Bob currently receives full Veterans Administration disability compensation from exposure to Agent Orange while serving in Vietnam. He resides in Jacksonville, Florida in close proximity to his three children and three grandchildren.

Reviews

[Martin Turner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting tale from the wild west.

[Ron · Rating 3 out of 5]

Coup were the bragging rights earned by Plains Indians on the field of battle between tribes. Counting coup was the ceremonial recital of a warrior’s achievements, be they merely touching an enemy, striking, wounding or killing him and taking a scalp. This historical novel is a recital of episodes in the frontier life of trapper, scout, and Indian fighter, Kit Carson.

Plot. The central character is Tom Adams, formerly a captain in the Union Army during the War Between the States. Adventure has drawn him to California, and the novel is structured around his interviews with Jeb Ford, a man who knew Carson...

Read my review at my blog.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this historical-fiction western that sees Captain Tom Adams attempt to find and write the actual facts of Kit Carson and his expolits in the Western wildlands. A good historical fiction that any reader that enjoys westerns would read cover to cover. I thought the book ended to quickly, but a solid book for most of it.

I won this book through the Goodreads giveaway program. What a great program and I thank all those involved that saw this book end up in my hands to read.