Dr. History's Tales of the Old West

1868, General George A. Custer led the 7th Cavalry in a surprise winter attack against Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle and his village. Custer reported a victory, yet there were only a dozen warriors killed and 23 soldiers killed. 1876, another attack along the Little Bighorn river, with much different results. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A small group of mountain men were trapped by a band of Blackfeet indians. It looked like the end, as they were outnumbered. An old Iroquois trapper decided he was going out in style. A very unusual charge was made by this man that saved the day. Russell was a true mountain man, trapper and explorer in the Northwest. One of the best accounts of a fur trapper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A legend in the Old West, with more movies, books, and magazine articles than any old west character but how many did he really kill, and what is the real story? (Originally Aired 5/15/2012) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The first Thanksgiving. Squanto, an english speaking Indian, taught the Pilgrims how to grow their own food and helped them survive. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Early ranchers put up with Indians, rustlers, squatters, drought, killing winters and prices that went up and down. Richard King was one of the success stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Born Robert Leroy Parker, his grandparents left England, joined a Mormon handcart company and settled in Southern Utah. Oldest child of Maxi and Annie Parker, Butch met outlaw Mike Cassidy and began his career as a bank robber and outlaw. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Law and Pinkertons were after them, so they left for South America. They bought a large ranch, but couldn't avoid robbing banks. So did they really die in Bolivia? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's famous song, "Christmas Bells" and how "Silent Night" came to be written and sung. Gate 67 and a Montana Christmas, two examples of the true spirit of Christmas. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

John Colter's horse was stolen by some Teton Sioux indians, this could have been the end of the expedition. Chief Black Buffalo demanded more gifts, so a visit to the indian village and a few "carrots" of tobacco and the expedition was able to continue. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Mountain man, scout, guide and war hero, his name was enough to prevent Indians from attacking. He fought with and against the Indians while traveling the entire west. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was never a chief, but led many war parties into Mexico and the U.S. This old warrior finally surrendered and lived on reservations until his death from pneumonia. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Was there a coward in the Alamo? Moses Rose made the difficult decision to leave rather than face certain death and was branded a coward and a deserter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

At age 56 he was considered the greatest scout in the West. He also told some tall tales around the campfire Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He explored most of the West, fought in the Mexican and Civil wars, discovered gold, ran for President and died poor. One of the West's greatest explorers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He became famous for 30 seconds at the Gunfight at the OK corral. But what happened in his later years. He traveled all over the west trying different business ventures that usually didn't work. This is his story of his Alaskan business dealings, his fortune and misfortune in the gold fields. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Organized in 1823, they had a questionable reputation, but survived off and on for many years. Re organized for good in 1935, they are the elite in law enforcement and respected around the world. Hollywood's portrayal of gunmen is not accurate, here you will read of famous and little known men who shaped the old west, some for good and others not so good. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

There was competition between fur trappers, until it came to fighting Indians. Struck in the head and with two arrows in his back, Jim Bridger survived the battle, but carried an arrow head in his back for three years. He was one of the greatest explorers and trappers, a legend in his own time. One of the most important scouts and guides in the West. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Cowboys lived by a strict code of the West, they were hard working and loyal. They faced danger from rattlesnakes, bad weather and wild cows. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was elected to represent all free-roaming Sioux and defeated the best army in the world at the Battle of the Little Big Horn. He was brave, wise, generous, and a legend among his people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The mid 1800's saw large numbers of settlers and others moving into Indian Territory. Broken treaties and invasion caused war as they tried to protect their land. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices