Beyond the Rio Gila - A Novel

Beyond the Rio Gila is, quite simply, a compelling coming-of-age story that brings history to life. It's highly recommended reading that should be in any collection strong in historical novels. -D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book ReviewAn epic adventure of hardship and endurance, Beyond the Rio Gila follows Moses Cole, a young Virginia farmboy, who runs away from home to join the First Dragoons and their expedition from Pennsylvania to California during the Mexican-American War. He discovers mentorship under a fellow private, Abner Black, a former professor chased by personal demons. A concurrent journey by Latter-day Saints fleeing religious persecution-the Mormon Battalion, which includes four laundresses, two of whom were pregnant-soldiers through the longest march in U.S. infantry history. Their stories converge in the daunting wilderness of the American southwest, where man was not master of the landscape, and the sanity, courage, and perseverance of each is tested. Based on events preceding the American Civil War, this literary historical novel places readers in the vast frontiers of the west ablaze with battles over land, religion, and politics. As an enthusiastic history buff, I was captivated by the retelling of this epic military expedition and its significance in the unfolding formation of the United States. -Susan Brown, Pacific Book Review

About the author

Scott G. Hibbard is a fourth generation Montanan where his family has owned and operated a cattle and sheep ranch for over one-hundred years. Scott attended public school in Helena and received a B.A. in English Literature from Williams College and two graduate degrees, an M.F.A in Creative Writing and an M.B.A., from the University of Montana. He worked for the family ranch for a number of years, and while continuing his involvement with the ranch he provided management and consulting services to other ranches. He lives near Helena, Montana.

Summary

Beyond the Rio Gila is, quite simply, a compelling coming-of-age story that brings history to life. It’s highly recommended reading that should be in any collection strong in historical novels.
—D. Donovan, Senior Reviewer, Midwest Book Review

An epic adventure of hardship and endurance, Beyond the Rio Gila follows Moses Cole, a young Virginia farmboy, who runs away from home to join the First Dragoons and their expedition from Pennsylvania to California during the Mexican-American War. He discovers mentorship under a fellow private, Abner Black, a former professor chased by personal demons. A concurrent journey by Latter-day Saints fleeing religious persecution—the Mormon Battalion, which includes four laundresses, two of whom were pregnant—soldiers through the longest march in U.S. infantry history. Their stories converge in the daunting wilderness of the American southwest, where man was not master of the landscape, and the sanity, courage, and perseverance of each is tested.
Based on events preceding the American Civil War, this literary historical novel places readers in the vast frontiers of the west ablaze with battles over land, religion, and politics.
As an enthusiastic history buff, I was captivated by the retelling of this epic military expedition and its significance in the unfolding formation of the United States.

—Susan Brown, Pacific Book Review

Foreword

KEY SELLING POINTS

·        
This book will entice readers
who enjoy: Cold Mountain, by Charles Frazier,
The Big Sky, by A.B. Guthrie, and Lonesome Dove, by Larry
McMurtry.

·        
Regions covered: A cross-continent march of the Mormon Battalion
beginning in Virginia, up through Iowa, across the Dakotas, Montana,
California, down through the Southwest, and back east.

·        
Unique qualities of this book: first known book in story form to
document the lives and struggle of the longest march in US Military history
performed by the only Mormon Battalion in US Military history.

·        
Stylistic approach: the characters in this novel are reminiscent
of the struggle and brutality found in Cormac McCarthy novels. The dialogue portrays the
dialect and mentality of the mid-nineteenth century in American history.

·         End material includes brief biographies of the historical characters mentioned in this book, such as: Jean Baptiste Charbonneau, Brigham Young, Andrew Jackson (A.J.) Smith, Maria Gertrudis Barceló, and more.
KEY SELLING POINTS

Product details

• Authors: Hibbard Scott G.
• Assisted by: Rice Daniel J. (Editor)
• Publisher: Ingram Publishers Services
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 09.08.2022
• EAN: 9798985398809
• ISBN: 979-8-9853988-0-9
• No. of pages: 328
• Subjects: Fiction > Narrative literature; FICTION / Thrillers / Military, FICTION / Westerns, War, combat and military adventure fiction, Adventure fiction: Westerns, FICTION / Historical / Civil War Era