Another Update
Our book is still selling, although not as much as when it was published, but we still continue to get little checks from the publisher every so often. Books have a life of their own and we had fun with this one. No plans to write another however.
The Sharps is now stored in a safe and we have moved to New Mexico. Some day it'll be with us again but for now it's secure and we are unpacking the rest of our life. My plan, once we get settled here, is to update the website if I can remember how to do that!
3 Years Later
Can't believe it's been that long since the book was published. It was fun to have our 15 minutes of fame. Even got to Las Vegas to do a book signing at a convention. So we didn't get rich publishing the book but it was an adventure and maybe in my retirement I'll update the web site and try to get some more publicity on it. May have some sites that are out of date but most should still be active so folks can still search. Our publisher sent us a letter saying he was dropping the price...so be it.
The website is done and other tidbits
Well, after several months of planning and writing and HTML lessons, our website is finally done. The link is
www.corporaldow.com - We hope that it will give users a good idea of the contents of the book as well as a feel for how our research was done. It's a "work in progress" as we plan to update links and information as time permits. But for a first attempt at creating a website, we're happy with it.
The response to our book has been good. Amazon.com is now carrying it, as is Ray Riling Arms Books Co,
http://rayrilingarmsbooks.com and of course the publisher,
www.precisionshooting.comWe are heading to the SASS Convention and Wild West Christmas in Las Vegas Dec 7-11.
www.sassnet.com They invited us to come to a book signing...what fun!! We'll be in their booth on Dec 8th and 9th twice daily so if you are in the area, stop in and say hello. We'll be Badlands Baldy and Ima Ranger!!
Book Reviews
Well, we're are slowly getting the word out to the world about "the book". Our publisher has sent copies to many book reviewers at firearms, history and genealogy sites and the reviews are good!! A couple that we know will be published shortly...even sent one to the Book Critic for the Seattle Times in hopes that they will list it in their weekly column of "new books by local authors".
We're planning on attending the SASS NWMatch on Sat Aug 5th in Renton to show the folks there the book and the rifle and the provenance. Won't be selling any books there but will have order blanks for folks. Too much hassle for us to sell them...sales tax, etc!! But it should be interesting to get reaction first hand.
Thursday this week we meet with the people that are going to do our web site..more on this later.
Whatever happened to the firearms taken from the Native Americans following the Custer massacre?
A few years ago, a Winchester rifle proven to have been used in the Custer battle by a Cheyenne warrior was sold for $684,500.00 Another weapon, also proven to be at the battle, brought over $220,000. Hundreds of weapons were used at this battle. What ever happened to the weapons ultimately confiscated from the Indians following Custer's Last Stand?
Chapter 6 of our book describes how the provenance for these weapons was proven to a level that it would stand up in a court of law by the forensic tests undertaken. In 1983 a grass fire swept across the Custer battlefield denuding the area covered with high prairie grass. Government archaeologists were brought in, the area was carefully gridlined in ten sq. ft. plots and the surface was carefully examined. Initially over 550 relics from the battle were located and before the entire area was examined over 5,000 items were discovered. The dry environment of that area meant that many items had survived in recognizable form since 1876. A lot of fired cartridge cases were located.
The Archaeologists, led by Doug Scott, were trained by the Nebraska Highway Patrol Forensics Lab on firearms identification by firing cartridges in weapons and comparing them to other firedcartridges. This study was rigorous and had to meet the high standard capable of being used in a court of law. Over 150 firearms that were claimed to have been used at the Custer battle were tested. Twenty-six of those firearms were proven to have been used because cases fired by the weapons were matched exactly to cartridge cases located on the battlefield by the archeological search. Several other of these weapons may have been used, but their deterioration over the years, due to rust, etc. made identification impossible. The majority of these firearms are now stored in museums in Nebraska, at the Custer National Park and at the Rock Island arsenal.
The tribal elders repeated the old remembered story that the English king had promised a place to stay forever when their tribes became allies of the English in the French and Indian war. So after the battle, the majority of the armed camp moved north into Alberta. What a sight it must have been for the first two Canadian Royal Mounties when they crested a hill in Alberta and saw an armed Indian encampment with the warriors possessing several near-new Colt revolvers and trap-door Springfield rifles, astride horses with the "U.S." markings on their flanks!
The winter of 76-77 proved so severe that the Indians decided to move south and return to the United States. At the border they were met by armed troops, their weapons were confiscated, and the Native Americans were assigned to various reservations with no attempt at keeping families and friends together. Ultimately all the firearms were gathered together and shipped to the Springfield Armory and held in a separate vault.
The book reveals what happened to these weapons, that caused the remainder of these them, made unique by their provenance attaching them to the Custer battle, to be gathered up and shipped to the Rock Island arsenal; where they remain today.
The ad for the book - researching antique firearms and their owners
The ad for the book is ready....unlike ads most of us ever read....hopefully it will make people realize what this book can help them with. Ordering info plus explanation of the book contents...get yours now!! Click on the picture to get a larger image that you can actually read!
The Search for Corporal Dow - Our book is published
Our book "The Search for Corporal Dow" is now published. We are really pleased with how it turned out - and look forward to helping people uncover the provenance of antique firearms and other objects, along with the genealogy of their owners, especially American veterans. Several years were spent poring over dusty files in museums and exploring the internet to research this book. But what a joy to have the information on Corporal Dow and his Sharps rifle.
The Search for Corporal Dow- Where To Buy the Book
Book can be ordered directly from the publisher at a price of $34.95 plus shipping
P S Inc
222 McKee Street
Manchester CT 06040
Phone: (860) 645-8776
Fax: (860) 643-8215
No email but also no voice mail. You talk directly to a real live person!!
