Yankees & Rebels on the Upper Missouri: Steamboats, Gold and Peace [Paperback]

During the 1860s, the Missouri River served as a natural highway, through snags and rapids, from St. Louis to Fort Benton for steamboats bringing Yankees and Rebels and their families to the remote Montana territory. The migration transformed the Upper Missouri region from the isolation of the fur trade era to the raucous gold rush days that would keep the region in turmoil for decades. The influx of newcomers involved its share of dramatic episodes, including the explosion of the Chippewa triggered by a drunken crew member, the mystery of the fugitive James-Younger gang and Colonel Everton Conger's journey from capturing John Wilkes Booth to the Montana Supreme Court. Acclaimed historian Ken Robison reveals the thrilling history behind this war-weary wave of migration seeking opportunity on Montana's wild and scenic frontier. For some reason whenever I interview Montana author Ken Robison, I end up calling him a True Montana Jewel. I never go into the interview intentionally meaning to say it, but listening to his stories and all it just comes out. ...His tireless research continues and how he unearths gems of the past is truly remarkable.Voices of Montana