Thirty-One Years on the Plains and in the Mountains

by William F. Drannan

This book was converted from its physical edition to the digital format by a community of volunteers. You may find it for free on the web. Purchase of the Kindle edition includes wireless delivery.

Genres: History

402 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1903

Reviews

[Sidney Weber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simple narrative of an extraordinary life

Will Drannan led a life filled with extraordinary adventures, as told in this simple narrative. But told only indirectly are the challenges he faced in preparation for concluding these adventures satisfactorily. Only a person of immense character and integrity could have achieved what he did.

While this book has literary limitations, the story of the accomplishments of this incredible individual more than make up for them.

[Pat McNamara · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this is catorgorized as a memoir it is more a nice piece of historical fiction based on the authors life. The only thing that surprised me is that the author wasn't present at Lincoln's assassination and then how he trailed and captured John Wilkes Booth.

[Liam Brosnan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apparently there's doubt as to whether this happened, or if a guy just took a bunch of other people's stories, combined them together, and called them his own. But either way it was an entertaining account of life in the west. It was easy to read and while maybe a little repetitive, I enjoyed it as a decent western.

[Juanita frankamp · Rating 4 out of 5]

Historically accurate/politically incorrect, demeans native Americans

The descriptions of the wildlife, mountain scenes was incredibly accurate and wonderful, however, his “matter of fact” attitude about all the Indians that he killed was seriously troubling.

[petersouthernwood]

Thouraly enjoyed reading this wonderful written book it really captured the imagination of what it was like in those days

Thoroughly enjoyed this book ,it captured the imagination an gave an insight as to what it was like in those early pioneering days

[Robby Robertson · Rating 5 out of 5]

A fine western adventure.

A fine story of a life well lived. An enjoyable read of a long past, often forgotten way of life.

[Deith Allies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Indian fighter supreme

A lot of day by day life of a mountain man, indian fighter, and scout. Had to be tough and quick

[Beau Pulse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting read

I enjoy reading about the history of the west. This book offers an excellent insight of one mans life, worth the read

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Adopted by Kit Carson and spent his working years as am army scout.
Gives a fascinating insight into the last days of the empty plains and filling settlement of the west. What is particularly notable is the casual murder of the plains Indians. They act savagely to be sure and the immigrant wagon trains needed to be protected, but Drannan mentions murdering the members of war parties as they sleep and scalping the dead and wiping out bands as casually as brushing off his jacket.
A very dangerous but interesting short period.
Drannan rides over much of the north west and sometimes comes to wide open spaces and announces things like, "Where Denver now stands" showing how fast the west was colonised.

[Francis Kiger · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting first-person account of the plainsmen and mountaineers of the early and mid 19th century. Drannan's journey takes him through Missouri, Kansas, Colorado and New Mexico well before these territories became states. The list of characters reads like a who's who of the territories east of the Rockies in the early 19th century. Those luminaries encountered by Drannan include the following: General John Charles Fremont, Kit Carson, Johnnie West, Jim Bridger, Charlie Jones, Jake Harrington and the notorious Taos Mountain Phil (aka "American Cannibal"). Throw into the mix a varied selection of indigenous people and you have hours of enjoyable reading.

[Hank Hoeft · Rating 2 out of 5]

Captain Drannan's account is difficult for me to rate. Do I rate it for its historical veracity, or for its qualities as a semi-tall tale? (That is, the truthfulness of his account is not 100% accurate...or even close.) It is interesting to read, and many of the events he claims to have witnessed or participated are events that I know to be true events...but are not ones that are a part of his personal story.

[Exanimis · Rating 2 out of 5]

An old frontiersman writes about his time as a scout for the U.S. Calvary. Written like a diary and tedious to read, I would recommend this only to the most hardy western fan. I downloaded this to my kindle hoping to learn about survival in the wast, there is no information in this book describing anything in any detail.

[Avis Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

I was looking for a real-life account of life on the plains, not a fictionalized memoir. There are plenty of good, genuine autobiographies from this era that you can read, so don't waste your time being deceived by the fake ones.

[Timothy Fluegge · Rating 4 out of 5]

Delightful tale purported to be the firsthand account of William F. Drannan. Who Drannan was is largely a mystery but he most likely was nowhere close to any of the events he describes.