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War Cry
A scout finds himself in hostile territory in this western from Spur Award-winning author Charles G. West.
Will Carson’s life once lacked direction, but now that he’s Fort Dodge’s best scout, no one is complaining. Will’s troubles begin when he saves a lovely widow named Sarah, who was helpless under Cheyenne Indian fire. His rescue has made him a mortal enemy of the Cheyenne—and his life has taken a deadly new direction.
Bloody Hand and his band of warriors are determined to avenge the deaths of their own. But Will has something other than good soldiers on his side—he has Sarah to live for....
Will Carson’s life once lacked direction, but now that he’s Fort Dodge’s best scout, no one is complaining. Will’s troubles begin when he saves a lovely widow named Sarah, who was helpless under Cheyenne Indian fire. His rescue has made him a mortal enemy of the Cheyenne—and his life has taken a deadly new direction.
Bloody Hand and his band of warriors are determined to avenge the deaths of their own. But Will has something other than good soldiers on his side—he has Sarah to live for....
- GenresWesterns
304 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published August 3, 2010
35 people are currently reading
45 people want to read
About the author
Charles G. West
71 books75 followersCharles G. West first arrived on the western literary scene in March, 1998 with his first novel, Stone Hand, published by Penguin under their Signet imprint. The book was the first of a three-book series, featuring Jason Coles, master tracker. The public response to those first three books called for more western fiction by West, and as of January 2014, Signet has published forty-five.
Inspired in his youth by great adventure authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher, West has always sought to be true to the men and women who braved the dangers of the savage frontier that was ultimately forged to become the American west. Novels by Charles G. West are classified as historical/westerns due to his diligent research in his subject matter, choosing to weave his fiction into the fabric of the actual places and events, being true to the times as well as the people. As a result, his protagonists are usually not heroes, but are often called upon to perform heroic deeds.
Insisting that his protagonists must be instilled with a sense of fairness in addition to courage. West readily admits that many of the characters in his books are patterned after his two sons, both of whom are graduates of the University of Montana, one still lives in Kalispell, Montana - and is the source of much of the author's detail on the ways of the mountain man. Both sons share West's love for the Big Sky Country.
Presently, the author resides in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Ronda, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.
Inspired in his youth by great adventure authors like A.B. Guthrie and Vardis Fisher, West has always sought to be true to the men and women who braved the dangers of the savage frontier that was ultimately forged to become the American west. Novels by Charles G. West are classified as historical/westerns due to his diligent research in his subject matter, choosing to weave his fiction into the fabric of the actual places and events, being true to the times as well as the people. As a result, his protagonists are usually not heroes, but are often called upon to perform heroic deeds.
Insisting that his protagonists must be instilled with a sense of fairness in addition to courage. West readily admits that many of the characters in his books are patterned after his two sons, both of whom are graduates of the University of Montana, one still lives in Kalispell, Montana - and is the source of much of the author's detail on the ways of the mountain man. Both sons share West's love for the Big Sky Country.
Presently, the author resides in Ocala, Florida with his wife, Ronda, whose name is found on the dedication page of every West novel.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
October 3, 2019
Another Western that is more like a Hallmark romantic movie than a shoot-em'-up.
January 22, 2026
There’s something incredibly satisfying in knowing that whenever you pick up a book by a certain author you’re going to be reading a great story! War Cry is the third book I’ve read by Charles G. West and it was just as good as the other two of his I read last year! The main character, Will Cason, is so likable that I can only hope we get to see him again. Though seeing that this book was published in 2010 I have a feeling that’s unlikely, but the way it does end is fitting for Will especially after all that he goes through in this book!
I do have to say that at first I was thrown off because the description on the back says Will Carson but on the first page his real name is Will Cason. Little typo! Will is an experienced scout working for the Army. He’s just reported back to Camp Supply when his boss, chief scout Ben Clarke, finds out that Will and a lieutenant had quite a spat on their last outing. This lieutenant told Will, and then ordered him, to help set up his tent despite Will saying that that’s more of a job for the troopers and that he really isn’t obligated to due to being a civilian. In the end, Will tells him where he can shove his tent and from that point on the lieutenant is out to get him fired.
Ben has great respect for Will and knows that he’s a damn good scout so he sends him on a job to deliver dispatches to Fort Dodge in an attempt for things to blow over with the lieutenant. One morning en route with his trusty horse Spades he hears gunfire in the distance, clearly rifle rounds but then there’s a shotgun blast. He decides to check out what’s going on and it’s a good thing. Before entering Will’s POV on this new day, the day before we’re introduced to a slimy man named Ned Spikes who was hired by the Lawton family as a guide. Edward, Sarah, and their six-year-old daughter Emma are on their way to Santa Fe. Ned has other plans that luckily don’t come to fruition. After Edward’s suspicions are confirmed and things with Ned are about to turn violent, they’re interrupted and Edward is cut down by a Cheyenne shooter. Ned flees, like the coward he is, and Sarah listens to her dying husbands last words and does as he says: she grabs Emma and rides off with their wagon.
From a safe distance, Will sees that a wagon is stuck in the water and under fire from nine Cheyenne Indians. Using his Henry repeating rifle, he takes down three of them and in a quick show of theatre makes a signal with his arm to give the Indians the impression that more men are behind Will. They run off and Will steps in to help Sarah and Emma, but not before Sarah gets off one more shotgun blast out of fear that thankfully misses Will! Out of respect, Will goes back to find Edward’s body and gives him the best burial he can with what few tools he has. They decide to follow Will to Fort Dodge in order to get their bearings and because they feel safe with him there. This turns into a wonderful little trio. Emma is exceedingly infatuated with Will and following a brief conversation between the two regarding the horses he begins calling her by a new nickname, Whiskers.
I really liked the fact that Sarah and Emma stayed around for the rest of the story. In the first book I read by Charles G. West the main character did rescue a woman who had been taken by Indians and after being returned home to her worried father that was pretty much the last we saw of her. I wasn’t sure whether or not to expect the same thing with this story even with the way Will managed to bond with them in the short time they were traveling to Fort Dodge. A significant part of that wonder also stemmed from remembering that you never really know what may happen next in western novels! When it’s truly the Wild West, you never know when you may come across an Indian war party or two or three hoodlums looking to rob you blind that’ll end up being gunned down by the quick shooter that is the main character, thus providing a source of food for some buzzards.
Will is in no rush to get back to Camp Supply and knowing that Sarah and Emma are safely parked outside Fort Dodge with their wagon, he links up with an old friend of his, Lieutenant Bordeaux of C Company, where he also befriends Corporal Kincaid, a man who ain’t paid to think! Will is asked to join a patrol that is heading out to a farmers property where some of their livestock was stolen. They fear that it may be the doing of Cheyenne war chief Bloody Hand. The group manages to find the abandoned camp of the Indians who stole the farmers animals. Will remarks that the tracks left by the thieves make it seem as if they’re not worried about being followed and that it’s likely been done on purpose to lead them someplace suited for an ambush.
Awaiting the patrol to get closer for a well timed ambush, with a goal to acquire more repeating rifles, Bloody Hand and his force of about thirty-five warriors look on and that’s when he recognizes one of the scouts as the man who killed three of their own days prior in a surprise attack from behind. The white man, whom Bloody Hand has dubbed Coyote, is his target. Bloody Hand is out for vengeance that consumes him. After the patrol is cornered, we get to see just how ingenious Will is as a scout who will do everything he possibly can to get out of a sticky situation.
To circle back to the point I made about not knowing what to expect with such stories, the thought crossed my mind again with this novel every time they managed to get out of a bad situation. I was always wondering what would come next to keep the pages turning and damn me if it wasn’t a fantastic ride all the way to the end! The way the reader may forget about one aspect introduced early on that’s brought back in the third act is brilliant, and the way the main conflicts can be resolved so quickly that you wonder, wait that’s it?!, it’s a terrific representation of realism!! Will’s story and his presence as a main character was well written. His moral thoughts before battle and the unexpected emotions he was feeling towards Sarah helped in that realm of storytelling tenfold, in my opinion!
I’m biased as the only western novels I’ve read have all been written by Charles G. West but it’s more proof than anything else that he knows how to tell a damn good story! When the action ramps up it’s riveting, the calmer times are a breeze to read, and dare I say even though it is the Wild West these stories tend to be easy enough to read that one could even classify them as a cozy read half the time! When I found War Cry last year at my library’s used bookstore I also found Tanner’s Law, another by Mr. West! I’m certainly eager to check out that book when I feel the itch again to dive into a western. I know it’d only be possible by reading more (if not all) of West’s books but I’d love to see if any of his characters are mentioned or at least referenced in others! It’s always fun seeing a universe full of familiar characters!
I do have to say that at first I was thrown off because the description on the back says Will Carson but on the first page his real name is Will Cason. Little typo! Will is an experienced scout working for the Army. He’s just reported back to Camp Supply when his boss, chief scout Ben Clarke, finds out that Will and a lieutenant had quite a spat on their last outing. This lieutenant told Will, and then ordered him, to help set up his tent despite Will saying that that’s more of a job for the troopers and that he really isn’t obligated to due to being a civilian. In the end, Will tells him where he can shove his tent and from that point on the lieutenant is out to get him fired.
Ben has great respect for Will and knows that he’s a damn good scout so he sends him on a job to deliver dispatches to Fort Dodge in an attempt for things to blow over with the lieutenant. One morning en route with his trusty horse Spades he hears gunfire in the distance, clearly rifle rounds but then there’s a shotgun blast. He decides to check out what’s going on and it’s a good thing. Before entering Will’s POV on this new day, the day before we’re introduced to a slimy man named Ned Spikes who was hired by the Lawton family as a guide. Edward, Sarah, and their six-year-old daughter Emma are on their way to Santa Fe. Ned has other plans that luckily don’t come to fruition. After Edward’s suspicions are confirmed and things with Ned are about to turn violent, they’re interrupted and Edward is cut down by a Cheyenne shooter. Ned flees, like the coward he is, and Sarah listens to her dying husbands last words and does as he says: she grabs Emma and rides off with their wagon.
From a safe distance, Will sees that a wagon is stuck in the water and under fire from nine Cheyenne Indians. Using his Henry repeating rifle, he takes down three of them and in a quick show of theatre makes a signal with his arm to give the Indians the impression that more men are behind Will. They run off and Will steps in to help Sarah and Emma, but not before Sarah gets off one more shotgun blast out of fear that thankfully misses Will! Out of respect, Will goes back to find Edward’s body and gives him the best burial he can with what few tools he has. They decide to follow Will to Fort Dodge in order to get their bearings and because they feel safe with him there. This turns into a wonderful little trio. Emma is exceedingly infatuated with Will and following a brief conversation between the two regarding the horses he begins calling her by a new nickname, Whiskers.
I really liked the fact that Sarah and Emma stayed around for the rest of the story. In the first book I read by Charles G. West the main character did rescue a woman who had been taken by Indians and after being returned home to her worried father that was pretty much the last we saw of her. I wasn’t sure whether or not to expect the same thing with this story even with the way Will managed to bond with them in the short time they were traveling to Fort Dodge. A significant part of that wonder also stemmed from remembering that you never really know what may happen next in western novels! When it’s truly the Wild West, you never know when you may come across an Indian war party or two or three hoodlums looking to rob you blind that’ll end up being gunned down by the quick shooter that is the main character, thus providing a source of food for some buzzards.
Will is in no rush to get back to Camp Supply and knowing that Sarah and Emma are safely parked outside Fort Dodge with their wagon, he links up with an old friend of his, Lieutenant Bordeaux of C Company, where he also befriends Corporal Kincaid, a man who ain’t paid to think! Will is asked to join a patrol that is heading out to a farmers property where some of their livestock was stolen. They fear that it may be the doing of Cheyenne war chief Bloody Hand. The group manages to find the abandoned camp of the Indians who stole the farmers animals. Will remarks that the tracks left by the thieves make it seem as if they’re not worried about being followed and that it’s likely been done on purpose to lead them someplace suited for an ambush.
Awaiting the patrol to get closer for a well timed ambush, with a goal to acquire more repeating rifles, Bloody Hand and his force of about thirty-five warriors look on and that’s when he recognizes one of the scouts as the man who killed three of their own days prior in a surprise attack from behind. The white man, whom Bloody Hand has dubbed Coyote, is his target. Bloody Hand is out for vengeance that consumes him. After the patrol is cornered, we get to see just how ingenious Will is as a scout who will do everything he possibly can to get out of a sticky situation.
To circle back to the point I made about not knowing what to expect with such stories, the thought crossed my mind again with this novel every time they managed to get out of a bad situation. I was always wondering what would come next to keep the pages turning and damn me if it wasn’t a fantastic ride all the way to the end! The way the reader may forget about one aspect introduced early on that’s brought back in the third act is brilliant, and the way the main conflicts can be resolved so quickly that you wonder, wait that’s it?!, it’s a terrific representation of realism!! Will’s story and his presence as a main character was well written. His moral thoughts before battle and the unexpected emotions he was feeling towards Sarah helped in that realm of storytelling tenfold, in my opinion!
I’m biased as the only western novels I’ve read have all been written by Charles G. West but it’s more proof than anything else that he knows how to tell a damn good story! When the action ramps up it’s riveting, the calmer times are a breeze to read, and dare I say even though it is the Wild West these stories tend to be easy enough to read that one could even classify them as a cozy read half the time! When I found War Cry last year at my library’s used bookstore I also found Tanner’s Law, another by Mr. West! I’m certainly eager to check out that book when I feel the itch again to dive into a western. I know it’d only be possible by reading more (if not all) of West’s books but I’d love to see if any of his characters are mentioned or at least referenced in others! It’s always fun seeing a universe full of familiar characters!
April 13, 2019
If you like western fiction this is one of the best that I've read! It's a 'page turner"!
July 4, 2019
SPEAK YOUR MIND
Will Carson a scout for the Army(Calvary)and on his way to Fort Dodge, he heard gun shoots, he goes to investigate because it means someone is in trouble. That was the situation, a wagon stuck in creek bank and under attack by Indians.
The wagon contained a young woman and her daughter, the woman husband was dead. The reason she gave why they were alone, was that the escort had alternative of robbing the family, killing the little girl and raping the mother. But the Indian attack actually saved the mother and daughter from the ruthlessness of Ned the scout whose intentions were to rob the family.
So now the mother and daughter are alone without any help, other than to return to her parents home to live with them. Will Carson fell in love with Sarah and her daughter, whom he Nick named Whiskers.
Jealousy rears it's ugly head and a wounded man is left after he had gone back to rescue Lieutenant
Braxton from Cheyenne warriors.
This adventure had both romance and a sense of entitlement because of a West Point graduate who felt husband wise he was better than a desert tramp as Will Carson was referred to.
Enjoyable reading 📚 some sadness especially when Will's horse Spades is shoot and Will is told by Sarah Lawton, she's getting married. They !I've fast in the West regarding courtships, mainly because life was unpredictable here today gone tomorrow, so they didn't dally when men as well as women had feelings of love for each other they jumped that broom.
Will Carson a scout for the Army(Calvary)and on his way to Fort Dodge, he heard gun shoots, he goes to investigate because it means someone is in trouble. That was the situation, a wagon stuck in creek bank and under attack by Indians.
The wagon contained a young woman and her daughter, the woman husband was dead. The reason she gave why they were alone, was that the escort had alternative of robbing the family, killing the little girl and raping the mother. But the Indian attack actually saved the mother and daughter from the ruthlessness of Ned the scout whose intentions were to rob the family.
So now the mother and daughter are alone without any help, other than to return to her parents home to live with them. Will Carson fell in love with Sarah and her daughter, whom he Nick named Whiskers.
Jealousy rears it's ugly head and a wounded man is left after he had gone back to rescue Lieutenant
Braxton from Cheyenne warriors.
This adventure had both romance and a sense of entitlement because of a West Point graduate who felt husband wise he was better than a desert tramp as Will Carson was referred to.
Enjoyable reading 📚 some sadness especially when Will's horse Spades is shoot and Will is told by Sarah Lawton, she's getting married. They !I've fast in the West regarding courtships, mainly because life was unpredictable here today gone tomorrow, so they didn't dally when men as well as women had feelings of love for each other they jumped that broom.
November 10, 2024
Will is an army scout.
Coming on an Indian attack, he saves a mother and daughter.
Taking them back to a fort, for safety.
He begins falling for the woman, and her daughter. Maybe a new direction for his lonely life.
Yet he must also contend with the Indian leader, that views him as a threat.
Bloody hand wants to kill Will, claiming his magic for himself.
Renegade warriors out for blood, and revenge on the white soldiers and Will.
A dangerous and wicked outlaw. Using the uprising to raid, settlers killing and stealing.
As well as a pompous officer, rival for the woman's affections.
Will has much to overcome.
Not a bad western outing. The good guy, not always squeaky clean and playing fair.
Only drawback for me.
The author, is very skimpy, describing some of the characters.
Don't even think he gives the hair color or details about the lady.
Simply she is very attractive.
Anyways if you like westerns. This may be an author to give a look at.
Some good, and steady action.
Coming on an Indian attack, he saves a mother and daughter.
Taking them back to a fort, for safety.
He begins falling for the woman, and her daughter. Maybe a new direction for his lonely life.
Yet he must also contend with the Indian leader, that views him as a threat.
Bloody hand wants to kill Will, claiming his magic for himself.
Renegade warriors out for blood, and revenge on the white soldiers and Will.
A dangerous and wicked outlaw. Using the uprising to raid, settlers killing and stealing.
As well as a pompous officer, rival for the woman's affections.
Will has much to overcome.
Not a bad western outing. The good guy, not always squeaky clean and playing fair.
Only drawback for me.
The author, is very skimpy, describing some of the characters.
Don't even think he gives the hair color or details about the lady.
Simply she is very attractive.
Anyways if you like westerns. This may be an author to give a look at.
Some good, and steady action.
March 21, 2021
This is a western in the tradition of the great westerns as written by Louis L’Amour. The main character is a US Cavalry civilian scout named Will Cason. He scouts for Custer’s 7th Cavalry shortly after the Washita campaign in 1868. Don't be mislead though as Custer has an insignificant role in this story. Will must deal with hostile Indians, greenhorn cavalry lieutenants and criminal bushwhackers. On the bright side, there is an attractive young widow with a six-year-old daughter that Will rescued from hostile Cheyenne Indians. So, danger abounds and Will’s scouting skills and survival skills on the expansive prairie are needed time and again. If you enjoy western novels filled with action and adventure, you’ll like War Cry.
November 15, 2019
The Cheyenne are on the warpath. A scout carrying dispatches saves a woman from bad guys and Indians after her husband is killed. He takes them to the fort. There is a love interest there, but a young Lieutenant asks first and she is engaged. The Scout is a good character. The other characters are less developed. The scout saves the fiance of the woman he saved. Generally a good book but could have been better.
July 27, 2023
I gave this a 5 star rating. Every time I put the book down, I was picking it back up to continue reading. This is the fastest that I ever read a book in 3 days' time. A civilian scout working for the Calvery. His adventures are outstanding searching for the Indians and saving people along the way.
It's labeled a Kindle, but I read the book. An interesting story for all the western readers.
It's labeled a Kindle, but I read the book. An interesting story for all the western readers.
September 28, 2018
Good reading
Great Western story.... Will is one tuff cookie! The story was well written and fast moving with true to life dialogue. It's easy to predict the ending but.....there should have been more shows of affection(and love)at the ending.
Great Western story.... Will is one tuff cookie! The story was well written and fast moving with true to life dialogue. It's easy to predict the ending but.....there should have been more shows of affection(and love)at the ending.
July 11, 2019
Man, this is an excellent book. One of my favorites for sure. Theres lots of action, and it’s pretty unpredictable. 10/10 if you like westerns this one is a must read.
February 20, 2022
OK reading.
August 8, 2010
When Will Cason checked out the distant shooting, he ran into Bloody Hand and his Cheyenne attacking a wagon. Quick action kills three and drives them off and he meets Sarah Lawton and her young daughter, Emma, she a widow now because her husband had been killed in the attack after being deserted by their guide, Ned Spikes.
In the days that follow, as he accompanies the two females on the long trail to safety, a bond develops between them. At twenty-seven, a scout for the army, Will had never been around children often. Seven year old Emma adores him, and earns the nickname Whiskers from him.
Will, unknown to himself, had also earned the ire of Bloody Hand, the Cheyenne leader, getting his own nickname, Coyote, after continually frustrating him throughout the book.
Unsure of himself around women, especially one so recently widowed, he gains a rival in a young lieutenant. Sarah is torn as she wants to do the best by Emma, despite her feelings.
It all comes to a showdown in the battle with Bloody Hand, Ned Spikes pops up again, and the two rivals are forced to work together to survive.
In the days that follow, as he accompanies the two females on the long trail to safety, a bond develops between them. At twenty-seven, a scout for the army, Will had never been around children often. Seven year old Emma adores him, and earns the nickname Whiskers from him.
Will, unknown to himself, had also earned the ire of Bloody Hand, the Cheyenne leader, getting his own nickname, Coyote, after continually frustrating him throughout the book.
Unsure of himself around women, especially one so recently widowed, he gains a rival in a young lieutenant. Sarah is torn as she wants to do the best by Emma, despite her feelings.
It all comes to a showdown in the battle with Bloody Hand, Ned Spikes pops up again, and the two rivals are forced to work together to survive.
Read
February 11, 2017A VERY GOOD WESTERN.
September 11, 2013
Pretty good western as army Indian scout must rescue a fellow he really doesn't like(detests) from a marauding band of Cheyenne. I liked the way Mr. West didn't follow all of the cliches that standard westerns do. Recommended!
December 9, 2012
Another very good novel by Charles West.
Read
October 10, 2014quite good
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews