Bitter's Run: An Oregon Trail Adventure

by Rod Collins

Following Lee’s surrender of the Northern Army of Virginia to Grant on April 9, 1865 at Appomattox, Captain John Bitter of Abiqua Creek, Oregon musters out of the 40th Missouri. A loner, Bitter plans a quick ride home over the Oregon Trail. The good Lord, however, has other plans for him. After a month on the Trail, two gun battles, a bruising fistfight to settle a blood feud, a new wife, and two adopted sons, Bitter tells Rockford, his big, mean, black horse, “This sure complicates the business of getting back to Oregon.” Bitter now finds himself the leader of a mixed entourage going a black pioneer family earlier wagon trains shunned; an Irish rebel turned galvanized Yankee; a dispossessed Cherokee turned Cheyenne medicine man; the rescued sister of a Bannock chief; a white boy adopted by the Cheyenne; and a scout for the Union Army who is also one of the richest men in Oregon. Bitter’s Run is a spirited and adventurous tale. Told in three parts, it portrays the realities and uncertainties of life on the Oregon Trail, of the war-weary men seeking or returning to a homestead in Oregon, and of the courageous women who rode with them.

Genres: Westerns, Historical

419 pages, Kindle Edition

First published July 30, 2015

Reviews

[Richard Myers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful book

This is about John Bitter going home from the War Between The States and his trials on the way from the East back to Oregon. The descriptions of the characters he meets and the scenery are great.

[Donna Bell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great read!

I’ve read many, many books both fiction and non-fiction about the Oregon Trail. This is the first I’ve encountered that is set in the latter part of the 19th century, when so many had already made the journey. I had no idea the First Americans were so enraged at this point in time. I was assuming most had starved on a reservation, died on the trail of tears, died from disease the white settlers brought to them and the ones that managed to survive had just given up. The constant attacks on the wagon train made for some very tense times, and at times I wasn’t sure which side I was on. Very interesting to know the native Americans had that much fight left at that point in time.

I loved the characters, band of misfits that they were. Rockford and Lucifer, the stallion and mule that hated everybody and made it a point to kick, bite and throw off any and all, made the story. Then we have an ex-Cherokee turned Comanche turned medicine man that is a con man, a black family that gets rejected on every side and denied basic human rights by the very ones who fought to free them in the civil war. A galvanized Yankee, one who fought for the confederacy during the civil war, was captured by union troops and signed on with the union to fight Indians in the west so he could get out of the prison camp, a redhead named Morgan who chases her man, John Bitter, down and is forced into marriage by a judge, outlaws on every hand, several who meet their maker right after meeting John Bitter.

It was a very exciting read, one I couldn’t put down until I finished it in the wee hours of the morning. The 100 day journey to Oregon was much quicker and easier for our characters than it was for so many who’d made it before. Mules, instead of oxen, pulling the wagons helped, but the existing roads, numerous points to resupply, then the steamboats on the mighty Columbia sped the journey along too. I enjoyed this novel very much!

[D. E. · Rating 5 out of 5]

An End of the Civil War Western/St Joseph's to Oregon on the Oregon Trail

RD has penned an end of the Civil War Western With both Union And Confederate soldiers headed home after being relieved of duty. In this instance the primary character has joined the 40th Missouri from Willamette, Oregon. He accumulates a family as he fights his way through Indian Territory. They make the journey to find all is not well on the home front. This is an excellent read for the genre....ER

[Tim Fikse · Rating 4 out of 5]

I learned some history.

Volume one of this series was a good read. The characters were likeable and the action was believable. It was clear to me that Rod Collins, the author, had much more than a casual knowledge oaf the geography of the Oregon Trail and the daily lives of those who travelled it.

[Teresa B. Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb Read!

Overlook the grammatical issues and do not snub this read. It is funny, sad, heart-pounding, and full of little bits of sunshine.

Take the time to get to know these characters, you will be happy you did.

Stinging worms!

[barbara wilson · Rating 1 out of 5]

T

I hated this book so much I had to get It back from cloud to give it a review. I never read a Western book that all the men had tears in their eyes or crying! I truly can't say how much this book irritated me!!!!

[Ronny · Rating 5 out of 5]

Of you want to read a great western, this is it.

I would recommend this book to anyone that likes a great historical western with a touch of gunfight and. A lot of humor. I like the way he describes the kids and also the indians.

[Franklin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

It's been years since I last read a western and if they are all as good as this I might read nothing else. Naw, there are too many good books I've yet to read but if you haven't read a good western in a while this is as good as it gets.

[Woody Woodland · Rating 5 out of 5]

Engaging work of historical fiction.

I started this book in the morning and missed two meals before finishing it that same evening. Looking forward to reading more of this author's work.

[Heather Connolly · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent Story

I really enjoyed this book. Every character was well fleshed out, including Lucifer and Rockford. No 'pestiforous' typos - except an occasional missed space bar. I hope all of Beecher's plans come true for the families.

[Shari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Entertaining

I found the language of the main character corny which contributed to the entertainment factor. The language and behavior of the black family travelling along was very unrealistic. A few spell check issues but very minor. Overall an enjoyable read.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

She followed him to get a kis

I liked the way Bitter kept adding people to his group of friends along the Oregon Trail. The story taught a good moral on judice how the bad people got what was coming to them in the end.

[Elizabeth West · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bitter's Run

I enjoyed every page of the story. It's a tale of a family and the people they meet on their journey to Oregon.

[Michelle Kaeding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyable

Really loved going along on this adventure. Hope there will be more to this story in the near future maybe.

[David Norrenberns · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mighty good read

I have this book a 5 because I could not put it down. A well written
Exciting adventure of the days of the pioneers crossing the plains, exploring the west.

[Randy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent read

I have read hundreds of western novels and this ranks right at the top of my list. I found it hard to put down once I started reading.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

An entertaining Oregon Trail story with a cast of interesting characters - not your average Oregon Trail book.

[Margaret Garcia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Bitter's Run. I couldn't put it down. Gives you a real insight in to how
our for fathers had to live.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally I stay away from Westerns, however when looking for something a little different, I couldn't pass up a historical fiction about The Oregon Trail. I wasn't disappointed, enjoying the story from beginning to end. I felt the author could have offered more depth when describing the historical aspects of the "Trail", I still enjoyed the very readable story.

[Bonnie]

Fantastic book. Wish he wrote more of these types.

[Jim]

This book had all the elements to be a great book, but somehow fell flat.
A little on the generic side. Sure not up to the likes of John Jakes or Elmer Kelton