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The Plainsmen #5
Devil's Backbone
The Modoc Indians and American officials had been flirting with war in the Oregon Territory for some time. When Modoc chief Keintpoos murdered a Civil War hero during negotiations, the U.S. Army launched a deadly offensive against the rebel tribe. Besieged in the natural stronghold of the Lava Beds near Tule Lake, the Modocs waged bloody war for seven long months.
Sergeant Seamus Donegan, on the trail of his uncle, Ian O'Rourke, arrived at Tule Lake just as the conflict erupted. Soon Donegan and the brooding O'Rourke found themselves embroiled in what would be the costliest war in frontier history...
Sergeant Seamus Donegan, on the trail of his uncle, Ian O'Rourke, arrived at Tule Lake just as the conflict erupted. Soon Donegan and the brooding O'Rourke found themselves embroiled in what would be the costliest war in frontier history...
448 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 15, 1991
31 people are currently reading
134 people want to read
About the author
Terry C. Johnston
77 books102 followers Terry C. Johnston was born January 1, 1947 in Arkansas City, Kansas.
Nineteen publishers rejected Johnston's first novel, Carry the Wind, before it was printed in 1982. However, this first novel was to gain the honor of receiving the Western Writers of America Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award for best first fiction. Johnston is known for his eye for historical detail, and he is a stickler for accuracy. He is known for traveling and exploring down known and unknown dusty roads during the hot summer months, and traversing slippery, muddy roads and hiking through snow to stand upon a historical sight that he would tell his readers in an upcoming book. "Parking in the lower lot, I trudged up the hill to reach the spot where Colonel John Gibbon's infantry waited out the last hours before their attack on the unsuspecting camp. Standing there in the icy snowstorm I was totally overwhelmed by the sight of those skeletal cones of lodgepoles standing stark against the low, gray sky . . ." Some of the sites that he would stand upon were known to the world like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and others would be obscure to the average reader like the Weippe Prairie north of Lochsa. He is known to combine "a roaring good tale with fascinating insights into the lives and times of his principal characters, generally managing to employ his extensive knowledge to enhance a story rather than intrude upon it" (Whitehead, 1991). Johnston would say that he considered himself "not a literary writer but a storyteller." His desire was to reach and teach thousands if not millions of readers about the early western frontier.
He accomplished part of this goal, not only through his books, but through discussions given to elementary children, lectures at symposiums, and historical one-week tours "during which you will re-live the grit and blood, the tears and tragedy of the great Indian Wars." He would blend historical fact with human emotion to re-create the past during his historical tours each summer. One presentation he gave to a fourth grade class was about the Plains Indian culture. He held a discussion with a Honors English class in Castle Rock middle school about "research, writing, and editing that goes into producing two historical novels each year, when compared to their "term papers." He gave keynote speeches at seminars and lectures at symposiums. He traveled all around Montana to sign books for fans, and he signed the books at the local Albertson's in each town. He held radio interviews that "took me into cities, talking before audiences, I never would have managed to reach otherwise."
Nineteen publishers rejected Johnston's first novel, Carry the Wind, before it was printed in 1982. However, this first novel was to gain the honor of receiving the Western Writers of America Medicine Pipe Bearer's Award for best first fiction. Johnston is known for his eye for historical detail, and he is a stickler for accuracy. He is known for traveling and exploring down known and unknown dusty roads during the hot summer months, and traversing slippery, muddy roads and hiking through snow to stand upon a historical sight that he would tell his readers in an upcoming book. "Parking in the lower lot, I trudged up the hill to reach the spot where Colonel John Gibbon's infantry waited out the last hours before their attack on the unsuspecting camp. Standing there in the icy snowstorm I was totally overwhelmed by the sight of those skeletal cones of lodgepoles standing stark against the low, gray sky . . ." Some of the sites that he would stand upon were known to the world like the Little Big Horn Battlefield and others would be obscure to the average reader like the Weippe Prairie north of Lochsa. He is known to combine "a roaring good tale with fascinating insights into the lives and times of his principal characters, generally managing to employ his extensive knowledge to enhance a story rather than intrude upon it" (Whitehead, 1991). Johnston would say that he considered himself "not a literary writer but a storyteller." His desire was to reach and teach thousands if not millions of readers about the early western frontier.
He accomplished part of this goal, not only through his books, but through discussions given to elementary children, lectures at symposiums, and historical one-week tours "during which you will re-live the grit and blood, the tears and tragedy of the great Indian Wars." He would blend historical fact with human emotion to re-create the past during his historical tours each summer. One presentation he gave to a fourth grade class was about the Plains Indian culture. He held a discussion with a Honors English class in Castle Rock middle school about "research, writing, and editing that goes into producing two historical novels each year, when compared to their "term papers." He gave keynote speeches at seminars and lectures at symposiums. He traveled all around Montana to sign books for fans, and he signed the books at the local Albertson's in each town. He held radio interviews that "took me into cities, talking before audiences, I never would have managed to reach otherwise."
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
March 27, 2016
Reading a Terry Johnston book is like a long conversation with an old and dear friend who has sad tale to tell. Extremely satisfying and you feel as if you learned a great deal in the end. I knew virtually nothing of the Modoc War in 1873, nothing except the leader of the Modocs was a chief by the name of Captain Jack. I learned that Captain Jack was more of a tool of a virulent faction of Modoc priests and sub-chiefs with such colorful names as Shack Nasty Jim, Bogus Charley, Curly Headed Doctor, etc. The faction incited Captain Jack to murder peace commissioners under a flag of truce that so enraged the US Army it sent the entire military department on the Pacific Coast to crush the Modocs. There were several incidents that seemed stretched beyond belief but upon doing some independent research I discovered, Mr. Johnston's history was spot on. The author does an excellent job of painting the unearthly landscape of the Battle of the Lava Beds and he does a terrific job of portraying Captain Jack. It is heartbreaking to learn the eventual fate of the ill-advised chief of the Modocs. This is an amazing account of what had been at that time, the longest and most bloody wars of western conquest. It is fascinating to learn that although casualties were three to four times as heavy for the US Army as it was for the Modocs; the outcome was the same.
January 20, 2018
Terry C. Johnston (RIP) prided himself on writing 'historically accurate' fiction in his 'Plainsmen' series. Yes, the main character, Seamus Donegan, is fictional but he's just a device to travel through the events as they actually happened, the events being the Indian Wars on the plains in the 1860s an 70s. 'Devil's Backbone' is the fifth book in the series and deals with the Modoc War.
We follow Donegan in his ongoing search for his uncle. The fact that the author tries to put as much history in the story as possible, definitely slows the book down. Whole pages and chapters read like a non-fiction history book (which it apparently is, at those instances). In the previous novels, fact and fiction seemed better integrated to me. As a novel, it didn't appeal to me as much as, for example, 'Sioux Dawn' or 'Red Cloud's Revenge'. Still, it's a fascinating period in history and 'Devil's Backbone' is definitely very informative.
We follow Donegan in his ongoing search for his uncle. The fact that the author tries to put as much history in the story as possible, definitely slows the book down. Whole pages and chapters read like a non-fiction history book (which it apparently is, at those instances). In the previous novels, fact and fiction seemed better integrated to me. As a novel, it didn't appeal to me as much as, for example, 'Sioux Dawn' or 'Red Cloud's Revenge'. Still, it's a fascinating period in history and 'Devil's Backbone' is definitely very informative.
December 22, 2023
I find the Modoc War interesting. Less than 100 warriors hold off over 10 times their numbers for almost eight months. Frankly, I had little sympathy for the Modocs because of the trickery and murders they committed. However, the people were treated poorly and ultimately went to Oklahoma for a period before being allowed back. The book drags at times but it is mainly due to the fact that the conflict dragged at the time. I still like the series and will soon read another. Remember that the author thoroughly researched the history and weaves a fictional account around the history. Seamus is still a great character.
January 11, 2019
I think this is my favorite book of this series so far! This battle took place in Oregon Territory. I knew nothing of this battle or tribe. The characters are so well balanced. There were passages where I sympathized with characters on each side. The author added historical notes about the battle and the people.
April 29, 2023
A great historical novel abut how the Moroccan Indians were wiped out in California. Sean Donovan is again the fictional “glue” that makes the history come alive.
August 15, 2016
This was more of a historical narrative than historical fiction, which is not a bad thing. As I read this volume in the Plainsmen series I was reminded of Dee Brown's book on the Fetterman Massacre. This book showcased what was happening in the West in the name of progress. The Indians had to go. This time it was the Modocs a small tribe that just wanted to live on their land not the lands of another tribe. Seamus Donegan shows up in the Modoc War as a man, who has found a missing uncle. This propels him into the fight to subdue the Modocs, but only as a reluctant participant trying to help his uncle and others secure peace. Enough about plot what struck me was how a band of 70 Modocs were able to hold out for six months against the U.S. Army. If you don't know about the Modoc War then this would be a good place to start. The majority of the events occurred was they are writing.
July 8, 2012
It takes a little getting used to how Johnston writes but it gets easier with every book.
#5 in his Plainsmen Series gives good detail in the struggles of Captain Jack (Modoc chief Keintpoos) to maintain his standing as the leader of his people. It also details how a small group fighting for their home were able to keep a much larger US Army force at bay for a few months.
The added fiction with Seamus Donegan helps to pull in the factual parts of the story although I expected more drama after he finally found is uncle, Ian.
It an enjoyable series that I only started reading last fall and will continue on with #6 - Shadow Riders.
#5 in his Plainsmen Series gives good detail in the struggles of Captain Jack (Modoc chief Keintpoos) to maintain his standing as the leader of his people. It also details how a small group fighting for their home were able to keep a much larger US Army force at bay for a few months.
The added fiction with Seamus Donegan helps to pull in the factual parts of the story although I expected more drama after he finally found is uncle, Ian.
It an enjoyable series that I only started reading last fall and will continue on with #6 - Shadow Riders.
October 15, 2013
I lived in Klamath Falls for many years, visited Lava Caves National Monument frequently and became very familiar with the story of Captain Jack and his tribe's battle with the US army for the right to live in their ancestral home so I was eager to see if Terry Johnston's factionalized version would breath life into these historical figures and the events. I was not disappointed. Having walked the same ground where Canby was killed and hiked through the jagged landscape to where the Modocs held out for many months, I have no doubt that Johnston must have been there as well.
September 26, 2015
The Modoc War in Oregon Lava Beds (1872, 1873)
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews