George at the Fort; Or, Life Among the Soldiers

Metadata

Gutenberg ID

21664

Title

George at the Fort; Or, Life Among the Soldiers

Language

en

Book source

Project Gutenberg

Description max 80 words

A spirited adventure following young George Ackerman and his friend Bob Owens as they navigate life among the cavalry at Fort Lamoine. Blending frontier danger with youthful camaraderie, this tale explores themes of loyalty, redemption, and the harsh realities of Indian warfare, offering an engaging glimpse into 19th-century military life.

Summary up to 500 words

In Harry Castlemon's *George at the Fort; Or, Life Among the Soldiers*, the narrative follows George Ackerman, a skilled Texas rancher, and his impulsive friend Bob Owens, who enlist in the cavalry to escape poverty and past mistakes. The story opens at Fort Lamoine, where Colonel Brown struggles with rampant desertions. Tension mounts when Mr. Wentworth, a grieving rancher, fears his young sons have been kidnapped by Kiowa raiders. George proves his worth immediately as a capable scout, tracking the raiders and aiding the troops in a daring assault on Fletcher's stronghold, a notorious cattle-thief's hideout. The regiment subsequently deploys to the Staked Plains. George demonstrates his expertise in trailing and survival, often acting as a counselor to the brave but reckless Bob. The expedition culminates in a chaotic but successful attack on Fletcher's ranch, where the thieves flee and the fort is secured. Following this victory, the 'Brindles' company is ordered to join General Terry's campaign against Sitting Bull in Dakota. The narrative covers the grueling march and the tragic Battle of the Little Bighorn, where Bob Owens witnesses the defeat of Custer's column. Despite heavy losses, Bob survives the engagement. The novel concludes with Bob receiving an honorable discharge and returning home a hero, having redeemed his past actions. George returns to his peaceful ranch life, having gained wisdom and respect from his frontier experiences. The book balances high-octane action with deep character development, highlighting the bonds formed between soldiers and exploring the moral complexities of frontier justice, from the vengeance sought against Indian raiders to the harsh realities of war.

LLM editorial rating

4.2/5

Download URL

https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/21664.epub.noimages

Local file path

data/epubs/pg21664.epub

Removed after upload

Downloaded at

2026-07-04 01:28 UTC

Categories

• Adventure
• Fiction