Legends of the Old West

After four years of fighting, the war in the northern colonies settles into a stalemate. It rages in the southern colonies, but the American southern army suffers the worst calamities of the war. An army of frontiersmen known as the Overmountain Men deliver a spark of hope for the American cause at the Battle of Kings Mountain. Then, an American column led by Brigadier General Daniel Morgan stuns...

After boosting American morale with successes at Trenton and Princeton, the American main army suffers seemingly disastrous losses outside Philadelphia in 1777. The British capture the American capital, but the accomplishment comes with unintended consequences. A campaign by the British northern army to take control of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers starts well but then falters. Near Albany, New Yor...

During the American Revolutionary War, three pairs of battles were critical to the outcome. When the war begins in earnest in August of 1776 with the Battle of Brooklyn, it does not go well for General George Washington and the new Continental Army. The British army relentlessly pushes the American army out of New York. By Christmas, George Washington is desperate for a victory. He leads daring at...

In the 1870s, Bill Longley adds his name to the list of infamous outlaws of the Old West. He roams his home state of Texas, adopting different names and robbing and killing. In the summer of 1876, while on the run after a murder in Uvalde County, Longley lands in a small-town love triangle which leads to his downfall. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Free Shipping and 365-day retur...

In the closing days of the Old West era, Burt Alvord forms an outlaw gang to rob trains in southern Arizona Territory. As the constable of Willcox, Arizona he has the perfect cover story: he can plan the robbery and then make sure his fellow lawmen don’t catch the bandits. His idea works well the first time, but it hits a major roadblock the second time in the form of Wells Fargo express messenger...

Frank and John Reno become troublemakers at a young age in Jackson County, Indiana. After the Civil War, they form one of the earliest outlaw gangs of the Old West era. They rob post offices, stores, banks, and trains. The Pinkerton Detective Agency locates and arrests the outlaws, but the gang continually evades justice … until the Jackson County Vigilance Committee vows to deliver frontier justi...

Robert Clay Allison serves under Confederate cavalry commander Nathan Bedford Forrest in the Civil War and then drifts west to Texas. He works as a cowboy before starting his own ranch in Colfax County, New Mexico. There, he becomes a feared supporter of the settlers of Colfax County as they battle rich investors and the corrupt network known as the Santa Fe ring. After the so-called Colfax County...

In 1893, Crawford Goldsby suffers humiliation at a dance at Fort Gibson in the Cherokee Nation. His plan for revenge lands turns him into an outlaw who is on the run in Oklahoma Territory. He forms a gang with a pair of brothers and they become the terror of the territory before Cherokee Bill ends up in the courtroom of the Hanging Judge, Isaac Parker. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link...

Before James Middleton Riley becomes known as Doc Middleton, he steals horses in Texas, escapes from prison in Texas, and escapes from jail in Nebraska. From his base in the Sandhills of northern Nebraska, Doc Middleton becomes the king of the horse thieves, and powerful forces join together to stop him. Later in life, Middleton becomes one of the legends of the West who joins Buffalo Bill Cody’s...

On History Daily, we do history, daily. Every weekday, host Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers) takes you back in time to explore a momentous event that happened ‘on this day’ in history. So if you’re stuck in traffic, bored at work—wherever you are, listen to History Daily to remind yourself that something incredible happened to make that day historic. Preview Episode: Jul...

While Jack London tries to conquer the Chilkoot Trail, the town of Skagway explodes to life at the beginning of the White Pass Trail. Infamous conman Jefferson “Soapy” Smith sets up a criminal empire in Skagway, which leads to a deadly showdown with respectable citizens. Meanwhile, three Scandinavian men discover gold in a stream north of Nome, Alaska and ignite a second gold rush, one which lures...

Jack London and his companions race against time to travel 550 miles up the Yukon River before winter stops their progress. When they fall short of their goal, they survive for eight months of dire conditions in a tiny cabin before they can continue their journey. The experience forces an early end to Jack’s dreams of riches in the Yukon. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Free Shipp...

When news of gold along the Klondike River in Yukon Territory reaches the American west coast in the summer of 1897, the stampede begins immediately. Jack London, the soon-to-be-famous author, rushes north from San Francisco on the adventure of a lifetime. He quickly learns that the challenge of reaching the gold strike will push him to his limit. Go to Surfshark.com/legendsdeal or use code LEGEND...

A father and his daughter go missing in Labette County, Kansas in late 1872. A neighbor searches for them, and he never comes home. His wife sounds the alarm. Search parties descend on the Bender farm. The Benders are long gone, but the victims of their murderous deeds remain. Local authorities hunt for the Bender clan, but justice proves elusive. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for F...

In 1870, a “family” called the Benders moves to Labette County in southern Kansas. There are four people in the group, but no one in the area fully understands the relationship between them. They build a small cabin near a well-used trail and offer the space as an inn for travelers. Before long, strange activities and criminal acts are reported at the Bender cabin. And then, travelers go missing....

WARNING: This episode contains descriptions of cannibalism. The Donner Party experiences the worst case scenario. They’re starving and living in crude shelters. A small group begins the trek over the mountains to find help, but it loses members along the way. The people who remain trapped near Truckee Lake become increasingly desperate. But early in the new year of 1847, rescue parties start to ar...

The Donner Party faces another punishing trip across a desert before it finally reaches the Sierra Nevada Mountains on the border between Nevada and California. The party has lost a ton of time, but the travelers still believe they can make it over the mountains and into central California before winter. They make it as far as Truckee Lake – now Donner Lake – before they become trapped by blizzard...

The Donner-Reed caravan passes the halfway point of its journey to California, and now the real problems begin. After meeting legendary mountain man, Jim Bridger, the caravan chooses to take an unproven road across central Utah. They believe it is a shortcut which will save them hundreds of miles. It turns out to be a disaster, and the trip across the Great Salt Lake Desert leads to a heartbreakin...

In 1846 in Springfield, Illinois, the Donner family teams up with the Reed family to form the core of a caravan that will travel to the rich farmland of California. The problem is, they’re already late. They soon discover that they’re among the very last travelers to begin the journey to the West, and the hardships begin almost immediately. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Free Shi...

In April of 1889, Major Joseph Wham receives orders to deliver U.S. Army payroll to five forts in eastern Arizona. He brings Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th Infantry and the 10th Cavalry as an army escort. At a place called Bloody Run outside of Fort Grant, a gang of bandits ambushes the payroll convoy, and the soldiers end up in a fight for their lives. For the full story of the Wham paymaster robbe...

After Victorio’s War, an old Apache leader called Nana rises to lead a small band of fighters into New Mexico for a month of devastating raids. At Carrizo Canyon, they lead a detachment from K Troop of the 9th Cavalry into an ambush. During the firefight, the actions of Sergeant Thomas Shaw and Sergeant George Jordan earn them the Medal of Honor. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Fr...

In 1879, Apache leader Victorio leads a campaign of deadly raids across New Mexico Territory. For nearly a year, the 9th Cavalry skirmishes with Victorio’s warriors, but can’t end the raids. In 1880, Victorio crosses into Texas and faces new tactics from the 10th Cavalry. The Buffalo Soldiers win decisive victories and force Victorio down into Mexico where he soon meets his end. Thanks to our spon...

In northern Colorado, a column of the 5th Cavalry becomes trapped near Milk Creek during an ambush by Ute warriors. Two days into the siege, a troop of 9th Cavalry arrives to help its struggling comrades. Sergeant Henry Johnson leads a life saving mission to bring water to the wounded. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this link for Free Shipping and 365-day returns: Quince.com/lotow Thanks to ou...

A small detachment of the 9th Cavalry from Fort Bayard in southern New Mexico Territory tracks a band of Apache who were likely responsible for an attack in Arizona Territory. The detachment follows the Apache into the Florida Mountains where the soldiers quickly find themselves surrounded. In the fight to escape the trap, the brave actions of Corporal Clinton Greaves help save his unit. Thanks to...

In 1867, Company K of the 9th Cavalry spends a long summer rebuilding Fort Lancaster on the road between El Paso and San Antonio. At the end of the year, a force of 400 fighters – led by Kickapoo warriors – attack the fort. In the first serious frontier action of Company K, the Buffalo Soldiers engage in a fierce battle to protect the fort and their horses. Thanks to our sponsor, Quince! Use this...