Ranking ‘76:The American West

Teenage Black Elk has lived a full life by the time he witnessed Little Big Horn and became a healer but there is so much left.  We discuss Sioux religious cerimonies, Wounded Knee and a somewhat decisive book Black Elk dictates in the 1930s.    Sources The Sacred Pipe by Joseph Epes Brown  Black Elk Speaks by John G Neidhart  Black Elk by Joe Jackson  Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic by Michael F. Steltenkamp   

Youve heard the vision but do you know the context? Black Elk lives through the most turbulent era in the Midwest with famous first cousin Crazy Horse and lives to see Harry Truman become President.    Sources The Sacred Pipe by Joseph Epes Brown  Black Elk Speaks by John G Neidhart  Black Elk by Joe Jackson  Nicholas Black Elk: Medicine Man, Missionary, Mystic by Michael F. Steltenkamp    https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cornus_sericea   

In the first of 3 episodes we treat you all with the soothing sound of Matt reading the vision that would guide Black Elk throughout his life.    to read alone click here!

Stay clear, she's feisty! Pearl Hart (Lily Davy) is a woman who demanded attention when she was alive. How well does she rank?   We are thrilled to announce that we have been invited to @intelligentspeechconf on  November 4th, 2023! Intelligent Speech brings you an  online conference that connects diverse and independent content creators with their audiences. Use the Promo Code: Rank to get 10% off your tickets! Sources Wildcat: The Untold Story of Pearl Hart by John Boessenecker

We get back from our hiatus by recapping the previous 10 (well 11) episodes, answer some emails we got while we were on break and let you know some exciting breaking news! For more information on Intelligent Speech see the link below and remember to use the Promo code "Rank" to get 10% off your ticket! https://intelligentspeechonline.com/

We leave Deadwood with the sheriff that cleaned up the mess that is Deadwood. Does he live up to legend and just as importantly does he live up to the hype his magnificent mustache commands?   Sources Seth Bullock: Black Hills Lawman by David A Wolff Old Deadwood Days by Estelline Bennett Legends of the West: Deadwood, South Dakota

A quick and definitely not a rambling update. We have been off few a few weeks and wanted to give you all the reason why.

Ever wonder what the REAL Al Swearingen was like.... let's just say.... not as charming as Ian McShane portrayed him in HBO's Deadwood. In this episode we review and rank the notorious foul mouthed Saloon Owner. How will he do?   Sources Deadwood's Al Swearingen: Manifest Evil in the Gem Theatre By Jerry L Bryant and Barbara Fifer Old Deadwood Days by Estelline Bennett Legends of the West: Deadwood, South Dakota    

The Nez Perce show up on the Lapwai Reservation just in time for a small group of Natives to kill nearby settlers. Joseph and his people must outrun the American Army on an epic journey. Will they escape?   Sources Thunder in the Mountains by Daniel Sharfstein  Chief Joseph & Flight of the Nez Perce by Kent Nerburn Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown https://ww2020.net/history-websites/walla-walla-treaty-council-of-1855/   Walla Walla Treaty Councils: 1855 Walla Walla Treaty Council https://www.historylink.org/File/5314   Political Elements of Nez Perce history during mid-1800s & War of 1877 by Stan Hoggatt (archive.org)   https://treaties.okstate.edu/treaties/treaty-with-the-nez-perces-1863-0843   Treaty of 1863 - Nez Perce National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

To celebrate the Deadwood's debut in 2004, Eric made Matt watch the pilot. If you wanted a reason to start watching HBO's Deadwood, this is your chance. 

The Nez Perce have a long history dealing with the Americans but in the aftermath of the Whitman Massacre, their world is divided between cultures. Joseph is born with a foot in each world. How will he and his people react to the incoming Americans?    Sources Thunder in the Mountains by Daniel Sharfstein  Chief Joseph & Flight of the Nez Perce by Kent Nerburn Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown https://ww2020.net/history-websites/walla-walla-treaty-council-of-1855/   Walla Walla Treaty Councils: 1855 Walla Walla Treaty Council https://www.historylink.org/File/5314   Political Elements of Nez Perce history during mid-1800s & War of 1877 by Stan Hoggatt (archive.org)   https://treaties.okstate.edu/treaties/treaty-with-the-nez-perces-1863-0843   Treaty of 1863 - Nez Perce National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

Our first couple! How sweet! Marcus and Narcissa travel from New York to The Pacific Northwest on a mission to turn the indigenous peoples there convert to Christianity! What could possibly go wrong?   Sourcing Murder at the Mission: A Frontier Killing, Its Legacy of Lies, and the Taking of the American West by Blaine Harden  The Letters and Journals of Narcissa Whitman 1836-1847 New Women in the Old West: From Settlers to Suffragists, an Untold American StoryBrave Hearted: The Women of the American West Brave Hearted: The Women of the American West  

Geronimo was just arrested. How will he respond? Retire? Farm? lets find out shall we?    Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Geronimo by Robert Utley Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief by Edwin R Sweeney The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson

Geronimo, a name that stuck fear into anyone in his path but how did he become a legend? in the episode we talk about his early life and what leads him to become the face of Apache resistance!   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Geronimo by Robert Utley Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief by Edwin R Sweeney The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown The Three-Cornered War by Megan Kate Nelson

We begin part 2 after The Bascom Affair. How will Cochise respond? if there is anything we learned from episode one...it won't be peacefully.    Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief by Edwin R Sweeney The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown Geronimo by Robert Utley

And we are back, with a giant of a man that you may not have heard of, as we introduce Cochise and we ask ourselves, just how much is TOO MUCH raiding?!   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Cochise: Chiricahua Apache Chief by Edwin R Sweeney The Apache Wars by Paul Andrew Hutton Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown Geronimo by Robert Utley

No new episode this week but we did want to provide everyone with what has been going on with the schedule and also give you all something to listen too. We were fortunate enough to part of Battle Royale's Bastille Day celebration back in July 2022 where we discuss what a RexyPod is and what it means to us to do a show.     to check out Battle Royale, listen to their show HERE To know more about Tudoriforus, listen their show HERE   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE  

We could not be more excited to FINALLY Launch our YouTube Channel and what better way to do with a couple games with a few friends! Join us as we find out who is the best of the RexyPod class of 2021   To check out the video go to our YouTube channel here   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE  

Dentist, shootist, gambler.....huckleberry? Doc Holliday is a big name, but does he deserve the hype? How this simple dentist from Georgia become one of the biggest names in the West? join as we discuss and rank Mr. John Henry Holliday.    Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Doc Holiday: Life and Legend by Gary L Roberts Tombstone: The Earp Brothers, Doc Holliday, and the Vendetta Ride from Hell

Tombstone. The Ok Corral, and Huckleberries? In this episode, we introduce Tombstone and if you squint talk a little bit about John Ringo!   Sources  John Ringo, King of the Cowboys: His Life and Times from the Hoo Doo War to Tombstone by David Johnson Doc Holiday: Life and Legend by Gary L Roberts https://www.amazon.com/Tombstone-Earp-Brothers-Holliday-Vendetta/dp/1250214602/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1664850267&sr=1-1

This is the end. 5 total episodes, over 8 hours of the Corp of Discovery, so what else could we possibly cover? Well, it turns out William Clark did MUCH more than the trip to the Pacific. How will he fair compare to Sacagawea and Lewis?   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE     Sourcing Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose   William Clark Shaping the West Landon Y. Jones

We continue with the Corp of Discovery, this time from the perspective of a 16-year-old new mother. What does she do? how important was she on the trip and was Charboneau a fool or misunderstood?   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Interpreters with Lewis and Clark: The Story of Sacagawea and Toussaint Charbonneau by W. Dale Nelson Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose Lewis and Clark among the Indians by James P. Rhonda The Lewis and Clark Journals by M. Lewis and W. Clark, edited by Gary E. Moulton

After 3 episodes, we conclude the EPIC journey that was the Corp of Discovery. How do we think Lewis did?  *Listener discretion as we do discuss suicide near the end of the episode*   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sources Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose Lewis and Clark among the Indians by James P. Rhonda The Lewis and Clark Journals by M. Lewis and W. Clark, edited by Gary E. Moulton

We left the Corp of Discovery and their pointy river sticks on a sad note after the passing of Sgt. Floyd. How will Matt's prediction of 8 deaths fare out in the end?   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sources Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose Lewis and Clark among the Indians by James P. Rhonda The Lewis and Clark Journals by M. Lewis and W. Clark, edited by Gary E. Moulton

Today we head off into the wilderness on a journal as good as any ever written. As we approach the anniversary of The Corp of Discovery's return, we begin our coverage and ERIC COULDN'T BE MORE OF A NERD ABOUT IT!   *Slight warning the audio does have some distortion, Eric recorded in a hotel room and the audio isn't quite up to our normal standard. this does fix itself in the next 2 episodes *   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sources Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West by Stephen Ambrose Lewis and Clark among the Indians by James P. Rhonda The Lewis and Clark Journals by M. Lewis and W. Clark, edited by Gary E. Moulton

No Ranking on this off week we discuss the previous ten episodes. if you have missed an episode this is a good quick review!   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE  

HI HO SILVER! join us as we cover the possible inspiration for the Lone Ranger, Bass Reeves. We talk about his incredible 32-year career as a lawman   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE     Sources Black Gun, Silver Star: The Life and Legend of Frontier Marshal Bass Reeves by Art T Burton Bass Reeves - The Real Lone Ranger Documentary    

"Little Sure Shot" is the best shootist we will likely cover. Born to a destitute family in Ohio, Annie Oakley becomes a nationwide celebrity and secret heartthrob of thousands of men who watched her.    Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Annie Oakley by Shirl Kasper Annie Oakley, Woman At Arms: A Biography by Courtney Ryley Cooper  

we have reached the man who gets credit for killing Custer at the Little Big Horn. How did he reach that point, how did his life change after? Join as us we talk.... Sitting Bull!   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Sitting Bull by Bill Yenne Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee by Dee Brown The Heart of Everything That Is by Tom Clavin and Bob Drury The Journey of Crazy Horse by Joseph M Marshall III

Crazy Horse is a giant in American West history but other than the name, the monument or that he was at the Little Big Horn he is a hard man to track down and talk about. He is our 2nd figure we are covering as we march toward The Battle of the Little Big Horn on June 25th.  Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE Sourcing The Journey of Crazy Horse by Joseph M. Marshall III The First Sioux War: The Grattan Fight and Blue Water Creek, 1854-1856 by Paul Norman Beck THE BATTLE OF BLUE WATER Crazy Horse, Ta-sunko-witko The Heart of Everything That Is by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin Gratten Massacre Article  

So, it turns out you can only rush into so many fights before you pay the price. Custer is fresh off the Civil War and has no place to put all his ego. What could go wrong?   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE Sourcing Custer's Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America by TJ Stiles Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors The Civil War: An Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward , Ric Burns and Ken Burns

"The Long-Haired Hero of the Shenandoah" certainly stayed busy for the first 25 years of his life. Listen and see just how far the combination of luck and fortitude can take a man. We also introduce Jimmy!   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Custer's Trials: A Life on the Frontier of a New America by TJ Stiles Crazy Horse and Custer: The Parallel Lives of Two American Warriors The Civil War: An Illustrated History by Geoffrey C. Ward , Ric Burns and Ken Burns

Tom Horn is one of the most divisive men we will cover. A respectable military career and a..... not so respectful job after his military days. his fate rests in the hands of a murder of a 14-year-old and a power struggle between the state of Wyoming and wealthy cattle ranchers who dominate the state.    Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE Sourcing Tom Horn in Life and Legend by Larry D. Ball Tom Horn: Last of the Bad Men by Jay Monaghan Life of Tom Horn: Government Scout and Interpreter by Himself History.net Article

*Listener Discretion Advised* Born in Illinois and moving with her family to California to help her ailing mother, Sarah Graves fates meets the Donner Party and after taking bad directions struggle to survive. Join us as we review and rank the Donner Party! Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing The Indifferent Stars Above: The Harrowing Saga of the Donner Party by Daniel James Brown Desperate Passage: The Donner Party's Perilous Journey West by Ethan Rarick  PBS Documentary - Donner Party- 1992 Forlorn Hope Expedition-Finding the lost trail of the Donner Party  

Hell on Wheel fans will recognize her right away. Eva Oakes is based on Olive Oatman. The blue tattoo was Olive's most identifiable feature but there are loads of questions on how she got it, how she felt about it and just who controlled her life. She has a story different from any other we will cover, join us as we discuss Olive's life.  Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing The Blue Tattoo by Margot Mifflin Olive Oatman: Captivity of the Oatman Girls California Historical Society Quarterly Vol. 41, No. 4 (DECEMBER 1962)  

If you have not heard the name John Wesley Hardin, you will not forget him after this! He has been described as the "Worst in the West" and "Was easily the deadliest gunfighter of all time.” what did he do that was so bad?  Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing A Lawless Breed: John Wesley Hardin, Texas Reconstruction, and Violence in the Wild West The Life of John Wesley Hardin by Himself Stutton-Taylor Feud Killing of Charlie Webb  Newspaper reporter “W. A. F.”, of the Galveston Weekly.

We react and review an life altering treaty for the Sioux and tribes on The Great Plains. What's in it and just how much do the Americans want the tribes to farm? Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE    

Red Cloud was a force on the Great Plains through the 1850 and 1860, thought the US Government didn't have him listed as a leader. He then forced The US to do something no other Native leader was able to do. Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE     Sources Chief Red Cloud 1822-1909 by Judy Monroe Peterson The Heart of Everything That Is by Bob Drury & Tom Clavin Oglala Lakota Chief Red Cloud by William Sanford  The Encyclopedia of the Great Plains Gratten Massacre Red Cloud's War Fetterman Fight  

Surprise! On this off week, we are taking a some time to talk about what stuck out to us from the last 10 episodes and plus our brand new Wordpress site! you can visit it here! 

We have reached the Alamo and are talking about the man in charge.  He enters a 26 year old rising star and is expected to hold the makeshift garrison against the Mexican Army with 2 more famous names. How does he do?  Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing:  Three Roads to the Alamo by William C Davis Anahuac Disturbances Travis's involvement

James Bowie is not someone you want to get in a fight with. He is the 2nd of the big 3 defenders of the Alamo we are covering, and he comes will a really big knife.... Listen as we cower from James Bowie.  Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing: Three Roads to the Alamo by William C Davis   Internet Articles Feud with Norris Wright- Bowie Knife Fighters. blogspot.com Sandbar Fight- Legends of America  The San Saba Mine- TSHA Online James Bowie- TSHA Online  

As we approach the siege of the Alamo ending on March 6th, we cover probably the most famous name to enter the missionary.... a place he may not have known the name of. What made his name famous in the Jacksonian Era? Does he live up to his grand 1950's theme song?   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing: Three Roads to the Alamo by William C. Davis David Crockett: Lion of the West by Michael Wallis An Autobiography of Davy Crockett

Hundreds of written and film works have used Jesse James as the ultimate outlaw. Does he live up to the hype as we discuss (and cower from) Jesse James.    Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Jesse James: Last Rebel of the Civil War by TJ Stiles Jesse James: Legendary Rebel and Outlaw by J Dennis Robinson True West Article : Jesse James: The Birth of a Killer Centralia Massacre By Claire Wolnisty True West Artile Jesse James Vs Joseph Witcher

We are using this off week to read Calamity Jane's (very) short autobiography. The link to the LibriVox recording is here    If you are interested in more Free Public domain audiobooks, you can find them in your phone's store or visit them at LibriVox | free public domain audiobooks   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE

She wore a lot of hats, couldn't stay in one place and was a lot of fun to be around but who was Martha Cannary AKA "Calamity Jane" Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Calamity Jane: The Woman and the Legend by James D. McLaird The Autobiography of Calamity Jane by Herself   Legends of American Article Black Hills visitor Article Spearfish Area Historical Society Article

Our first Indigenous Person and is the first of 2 episodes because these two are impossible to talk about without talking about the other. How does he do in the shadow of his older brother, Tecumseh?   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Tecumseh: A Life by John Sugden Tecumseh and the Prophet By Peter Cozzens http://www.fantasy-epublications.com/shawnee-traditions/Genealogy/Tecumseh_Family/Lineage.html Thinking and Believing: Nativism and Unity in the Ages of Pontiac and Tecumseh PBS "We Shall Remain" episode "Tecumseh's Vision"  

We just reviewed his brother. Does Tecumseh live up the hype? Does he outscore his brother? Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE   Sourcing Tecumseh: A Life by John Sugden Tecumseh and the Prophet By Peter Cozzens Thinking and Believing: Nativism and Unity in the Ages of Pontiac and Tecumseh PBS "We Shall Remain" episode "Tecumseh's Vision"

Daniel Boone was a man. YES A BIG MAN and one of the O.G.'s of opening The West. Where does he stack up against Billy and Wild Bill?   Sorry, not sorry getting that song stuck in you head. You're welcome!   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE Sourcing: Daniel Boone: The Life and Legend of an American Pioneer by John Mack Faragher   Blood and Treasure: Daniel Boone and the Fight for America's First Frontier by Bob Drury, Tom Clavin   The Taking of Jemima Boone: Colonial Settlers, Tribal Nations, and the Kidnap That Shaped America By Mathew Pearl  

He was a Jayhawk, a spy, a lawman, a showman and a gambler. What didn't this man do but more importantly, where does he rank? Sourcing 1. Wild Bill: The True Story of the American Frontier's First Gunfighter by Tom Clavin 2. Wild Bill Hickok: The Man and His Myth by Joseph Rosa   Documentaries Watched Gunslingers AHC- Marksman... Marked Man   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE

Biography number one starts with one of the biggest names in The West! spoiler....that beer went unfinished...   Sourcing Main Source- Billy the Kid: The Endless Ride by Michael Wallis Secondary source- The West of Billy the Kid by Frederick Nolan   Documentaries  Watch Billy the Kid | American Experience | Official Site | PBS Gunslingers (AHC)  Episode 2. Billy the Kid - The Phantom of Lincoln County Billy the Kid - Legend of the Wild West - YouTube   Social Media To review the scores and the teams, visit our website site HERE Find us on Instagram HERE Find us on Facebook HERE Find us on Reddit HERE