1876: Year of the Gun

by Steve Wiegand

Veteran journalist and historian Steve Wiegand takes readers across the post-Civil War Wild West. Wiegand introduces--or re-introduces--us to lawmen such as Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp and outlaws such as the Younger and James Brothers, as well as larger-than-life figures such as Buffalo Bill and George Custer. He details the stories of these real-life legends, the aftermath and legacies they left behind, and the innumerable myths frequently attributed to them. Juxtaposing their real lives with the often-outlandish accounts of their exploits, 1876 swings from lighthearted humor to cliff-hanger suspense. It also portrays how the Wild West's initial, tantalizing promise of fame and glamour often disintegrated. But 1876 also offers readers a unique element noticeably absent from most Wild West books: historical context. Wiegand expands his contemporary spotlight on America's 100th birthday year to encompass what was going on in the rest of the country. On the very same day George Armstrong Custer was dying on a parched hill in southeastern Montana and immortalizing himself as both hero and villain, Alexander Graham Bell was at America's first World's Fair in Philadelphia, demonstrating his new invention--the telephone. At the same time Wyatt Earp was moseying into Dodge City to join the town's police force, Albert Goodwill Spalding was on a pitcher's mound in Chicago, establishing baseball as the national pastime and creating a sporting goods empire. And even as the James Boys and Younger Brothers were robbing banks, Democrats and Republicans were conspiring to steal the White House from the American voter. This book brings them all together in one place. Fueled by the author's childhood interest in cowboys, train and bank robberies, and high noon shootouts, and their portrayal in iconic TV shows, 1876 is a delightful homage to famous Wild West figures who, with media help, helped shape the American character.

Genres: History, Nonfiction

642 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 4, 2022

Reviews

[Clay Davis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good research done by the author on historical figures. Needed a last edit to correct run on words and spelling errors.

[Tim Deforest · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent examination of where our Wild West legends come from. Superbly researched and written with a witty, fun-to-read prose, "1876" covers the events of that year. It was the year Wild Bill Hickock was murdered, Custer and the 7th Calvery were wiped out, the James-Younger gang staged the the bloody Northfield bank job, and Buffalo Bill had one last real-life adventure before going full time into show business. Wyatt Earp and Bat Masterson were active as well, though Earp was a few years away from cementing his legend at the OK Corral.

The author also talks about what was going on elsewhere in the country, giving the events of the Wild West proper historical context. The last third of the book covers the history that followed 1876, intelligently discussing how fact and fantasy are mixed together in popular culture to make legends, while also talking about how the legends can have a value of their own. It's a great book--thoughtful and informative while still a lot of fun to read.

[Josh Liller · Rating 3 out of 5]

I picked this up from my public library new nonfiction shelf. Other than being a big fan of Tombstone, I'm neutral on Westerns as a genre and young enough that they had mostly gone out of style by the time I was a kid. I've read a little about the Wild West, including The Last Stand: Custer, Sitting Bull, and the Battle of the Little Bighorn, The Earth Is Weeping: The Epic Story of the Indian Wars for the American West. Blood and Thunder: An Epic of the American West, and The Last Gunfight: The Real Story of the Shootout at the O.K. Corral--And How It Changed The American West.

Wiegand undertakes the ambitious concept of connecting many of the big names of the Wild West through the year 1876, during which each had pivotal moments in their lives. He also puts the year into context with events like the centennial exhibition in Philadelphia and the infamous presidential election. Coincidentally, I recently read Seventeen and Oh: Miami, 1972, and the NFL's Only Perfect Season which puts a famous football team in context of other events. However, because of the broader scope of the people and events, I don't think the idea works as well here.

I did really appreciate the author's look at the historiography of the major characters: how they wanted to be portrayed in their lifetimes, and who shaped how we think of them today. The author also seems to have made an earnest effort to sift the facts out of the myths and legends, and general succeeds. The author is a former journalist and his writing style reflects that. He has a definite "voice" which I had mixed feelings about. Sometimes I enjoyed his wit, but other times it felt too snarky or dismissive.

There are endnotes for each chapter, and an index. In an odd choice, I assume by the publisher, some tangential sidebars (each of which spans multiple pages) are printed in the normal black text on gray boxes. The contrast isn't great, and it looked very odd.

Ideally, I would give this a 3.5; in the end I decided to round down. It's got interesting information and I don't regret reading it. However, there were some little things along the way, it feels a little too broad, and I feel like it could have been edited down to a tighter work. Mild recommendation.

[DeWayne Neel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Most of the "west " following the Civil War was wild, violent, and uncivilized, which attracted an interesting lot such as newspaper reporters looking for a story to entertain those back east. If a possible story presented itself, it was usually embellished to capture a new audience of readers. The "west" did not disappoint as it was filled with old soldiers looking to strike it rich, prospectors of gold, Indian fighters selling their skills to provide protection, and a few honest poor looking to scratch a living from the free untilled soil.
This combination of settlers, it attracted lawmen, sellers of alcohol, gamblers, prostitutes, preachers, and a few merchants looking to make a killing. Needless to say, this mix of people on a land that had belonged to the "natives" major conflict was expected. This author presents a fairly unbiased accounting of each of these groups that have made the history of the west.
"Heros" who would later be called "criminals" were common. Most of the inhabitants were far from perfect, they provided the "news reporters and authors of books" ample material to fill the ten-cent novels that were in demand often based on "lies, half-truths", and if they did not find that, they created their own "facts".
In reading post-Civil War material one must do a great deal of research since many existing tales are suspect. Mr. Wiegand does a great job doing an honest presentation of a difficult time in our history.

[Sipovic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Срез удивительного 1876 года, переполненного разнообразными событиями в истории Америки: от убийства Билла Хикока и банды Джесси Джеймса до изобретения телефона и стандартизации библиотечной системы. В одной половине страны расцветает Дикий Запад, в другой - цивилизация, перемешав всё в одном большом котле: появление бейсбола и покушения на тело Линкольна, чудовищную коррупцию и первую мировую ярмарку в Филадельфии, публичное становление фигуры Уайта Эрпа и смерть генерала Кастера, окончательный уход от рабства и уничтожение индейцев, активизацию борьбы за права женщин и беспрецедентную попытку украсть президентские выборы, причём с обеих сторон. Не сразу понятно, чего тут больше - хорошего или плохого, но нельзя не впечатлиться тому, как жизнь в Штатах прёт изо всех щелей, наглядно демонстрируя эволюционные преимущества настоящей федерации, в которой появившаяся инновация или идея по вполне дарвинистским соображениям немедленно начинает расползаться во все стороны, перед фиктивной, в которой развитие происходит лишь в двух столицах, да ещё на каторге, пока остальные кочумают в ожидании, когда и до них по инерции что-то доплывёт .

[Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very readable account which sorts through the myths, legends and truths regarding the wild west personas. I expect I am typical of most people in that I have a basic knowledge of these famous and infamous personalities that define the wild west. This book is very well researched and I enjoyed reading the full and accurate stories of these individuals. I have to admit I was a bit surprised at all of the key events which occurred in the year 1876.

[Mark Mears · Rating 5 out of 5]

1876: Year of the Gun

Steve Wiegand

I loved this book. It is one I will likely revisit in a couple of years. Mostly because I really enjoy highlighting unexpected connections in history. Mr. Wiegand does so very well in this book.

He covers Bat Masterson, Wyatt Earp (and his brothers) George Armstrong Custer, Jesse James and associates, Wild Bill and Buffalo Bill and more.

The fact there legendary incidents culminated in 1876 is amazing enough. The intersections are what I find fascinating. We think of the Wild West as a different time than the industrialization of America. It was not. Custer lay dying as Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone at the World’s Fair. Bat Masterson, one time Dodge City lawman and quasi-criminal, became the US Marshal for NY and a famed sports journalist with the recommendation and help of a cowboy he had met in the badlands… Theodore Roosevelt.

If you are an big fan of any of these people, you may not learn a great deal, but the connections and amazing lives they all led make this book fascinating.

[Bob Lamberti · Rating 3 out of 5]

If this book is your introduction to the "legendary " characters that fill its pages, then I would add a star. I found it to be well-written and researched . The author openly states that if you want to go deep about George Armstrong Custer, for example, then this is not the book for you. I appreciate that for each main character he talks about what is available if you want to know more, and what the quality and credibility of the book might be and does the same thing for movies, even critiquing the actors involved. It is also interesting to see his take on the role that media (first newspapers, then TV and movies) played in creating the lasting idea of "The Wild West". Speaking for myself, I finished the book knowing that the truth as presented has a lot more warts than the media let on, until very recently. Maybe that's his main point.

[Travis · Rating 4 out of 5]

SO much information in this book! It was a lot of good stories and super interesting details all about 1876 and the years around that time and the lives of a lot of influential people in that time period. For me, it was information overload. Too many stories combined too closely that I just had a hard time keeping things separated in my mind. A story about bat masters on could have been a story about Buffalo Bill or Jesse James for all I know. Basically for me the stories all jumble together and it’s hard to keep all the details separated and keep track of who did what.

Overall a great wealth of info and a good read.

[Steven Fowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Huh, go figure!

Extremely well researched, as indicated by the extensive footnotes and bibliography. Mr. Wideband does well in explaining the myths and revealing the facts. I grew up in the 60's with these mythical personas, and with no knowledge of the true reality one accepts them, bravo media and exaggerated story telling.
On a brief note, the "new" Little Big Horn monument dedicated to the native indigenous tribes. It was conceived built by my wife's cousins, the Collins family of Philadelphia.

[E. Paul · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love this idea of using different narratives and how they diverge and intersect. Also like the interludes about inventions and the election of 1876. Only complaint was some of it was only referenced with a secondary work which often uses the author of that work's opinion only, not researched evidence from multiple primary sources. Other than this (and it wasn't that much) I liked the writing, humor, and the overall theme. Worth the read.

[R. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very easy to read and informative. Wiegand argues that several loosely-connected events of 1876 are important foundations of the American concept of the Wild West. Then he proceeds to bust some myths about those events and highlight the distinction between history and legend.