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Fire Along the Big Muddy
Deserting his army fort to pursue his lust for battle, misfit soldier Miles Barclay is rescued from the wild frontier by a Sioux tribe that teaches him to temper his untamed spirit before returning to the white man's world. Original.
240 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published September 1, 1995
397 people are currently reading
19 people want to read
About the author
John Legg
98 books30 followersJohn Legg has had more than 50 Westerns published, including a number of series novels, and one book of Western nonfiction. He has also done a number of articles on Western history for national magazines. He has been a newspaper copy editor for more than 30 years. He also has edited novels, articles, short stories, and other works through his editing/critiquing service, JL TextWorks. He has an MSJ from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
June 3, 2020
John Legg – Fire Along The Big Muddy – Reviewed 6/2/20 – Read 5/24-25/20
Looking for action, giving lip, and desertion can get you killed… but loving can tame anything!
Young Miles Barclay was always looking for adventures, thinking that the Army could give him what he was searching for he joined up. Ending up in a fort that was winding down after the Indians were placed on the reservations. He just could not keep from mouthing off when he was commanded to do something that he thought was beneath him. He stayed in constant trouble, spending more time in the stockade that anything else. Assigned to repair the dock after the hard winter, again in trouble, one of the keelboats pulled in. As the men headed to the fort, one of them stopped and talked to Miles. He was impressed by the man and when he suggested that Miles try to stay out of trouble until his hitch was up, he could join the expedition that he was on. They would welcome him and teach him all that he needed to know to survive in the mountains, trapping and exploring.
Miles tried and for several weeks he did manage it, but Captain Pennington and Sergeant Noordstrom just had it in for him and it did not last. No matter what he did it was always wrong, or he was being insubordinate. Miles just had to hang on for just a few more months, and it would be all over for him. But the story is just beginning…
What did I like? I love the storyline in this book. It is funny, I have known several people in the past that would fit into this same category. They just never seem to get things right, and they were always in trouble. It is too bad that my two friends could not have found this method of taming their inner turmoil. Of course, I do not think either of them could have survived the 1800s. Just too spoiled to the twenty-first century! The history of the army forts is well told, along with the Native Americans and their many problems. The Native Americans indeed believe, if you save a life, that person is in debt to you until that debt can be repaid.
What will you like? Lots of humor, tons of incredible action, intense moments, interesting history, and thought-provoking mystery. The humor will have you chuckling throughout the story, the action is so descriptive that you will feel like you are in the middle of it. The emotional content will bring tears to your eyes, but the mystery of the book will have you hooked to the last page. Beautifully written and the research is amazing. I loved the interaction between the two friends, it was with friends like those as to how the west was won! Another awesome book to add to your Western Library.
• File Size: 5581 KB
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing (June 3, 2020)
• Publication Date: June 3, 2020
• Genre: Western Fiction
Looking for action, giving lip, and desertion can get you killed… but loving can tame anything!
Young Miles Barclay was always looking for adventures, thinking that the Army could give him what he was searching for he joined up. Ending up in a fort that was winding down after the Indians were placed on the reservations. He just could not keep from mouthing off when he was commanded to do something that he thought was beneath him. He stayed in constant trouble, spending more time in the stockade that anything else. Assigned to repair the dock after the hard winter, again in trouble, one of the keelboats pulled in. As the men headed to the fort, one of them stopped and talked to Miles. He was impressed by the man and when he suggested that Miles try to stay out of trouble until his hitch was up, he could join the expedition that he was on. They would welcome him and teach him all that he needed to know to survive in the mountains, trapping and exploring.
Miles tried and for several weeks he did manage it, but Captain Pennington and Sergeant Noordstrom just had it in for him and it did not last. No matter what he did it was always wrong, or he was being insubordinate. Miles just had to hang on for just a few more months, and it would be all over for him. But the story is just beginning…
What did I like? I love the storyline in this book. It is funny, I have known several people in the past that would fit into this same category. They just never seem to get things right, and they were always in trouble. It is too bad that my two friends could not have found this method of taming their inner turmoil. Of course, I do not think either of them could have survived the 1800s. Just too spoiled to the twenty-first century! The history of the army forts is well told, along with the Native Americans and their many problems. The Native Americans indeed believe, if you save a life, that person is in debt to you until that debt can be repaid.
What will you like? Lots of humor, tons of incredible action, intense moments, interesting history, and thought-provoking mystery. The humor will have you chuckling throughout the story, the action is so descriptive that you will feel like you are in the middle of it. The emotional content will bring tears to your eyes, but the mystery of the book will have you hooked to the last page. Beautifully written and the research is amazing. I loved the interaction between the two friends, it was with friends like those as to how the west was won! Another awesome book to add to your Western Library.
• File Size: 5581 KB
• Print Length: 240 pages
• Publisher: Wolfpack Publishing (June 3, 2020)
• Publication Date: June 3, 2020
• Genre: Western Fiction
June 3, 2020
An interesting story about a hot headed soldier harassed by a vengeful captain and and a brutal sargent. Upset that the captain has supposedly lost his enlistment paper and knowing his enlistment was up, Miles Barclay deserted and when he was arrested he killed the captain. Fortunately his buddies help him escape and while he will forever be branded a deserter hegained his freedom to rejoin his indian wife and tribe. Not a bad story and fairly well written.
October 22, 2020
Stop taking the Lord's name in vain!!!!
I only read 4 or 5 chapters, but am disgusted with the author continuing to take the Lord's name in vain. There are 100s of authors I can choose to read, but John Legg will NOT be included any longer. I read several books every week, many of the westerns. I do NOT recommend you reading this author unless you don't mind his profanity of using God's name in vain.
I only read 4 or 5 chapters, but am disgusted with the author continuing to take the Lord's name in vain. There are 100s of authors I can choose to read, but John Legg will NOT be included any longer. I read several books every week, many of the westerns. I do NOT recommend you reading this author unless you don't mind his profanity of using God's name in vain.
October 17, 2020
Barclay had many conflicts.
He had trouble with his commander. He finally deserted . He was captured by the Arikara Indians. He was rescued by the Sioux. He married one. He was captured and sentenced to hang. He escaped again. John Legg wound a lot of things to make an interesting story
He had trouble with his commander. He finally deserted . He was captured by the Arikara Indians. He was rescued by the Sioux. He married one. He was captured and sentenced to hang. He escaped again. John Legg wound a lot of things to make an interesting story
June 3, 2020
Lots of Action Keeps Readers Guessing!
John Legg demonstrates his exceptional creativeness as his main character quickly adapts cleverly to every new situation that would prove disastrous for most others! Every moment is suspenseful throughout this highly entertaining novel!
John Legg demonstrates his exceptional creativeness as his main character quickly adapts cleverly to every new situation that would prove disastrous for most others! Every moment is suspenseful throughout this highly entertaining novel!
October 7, 2020
I love the old mountain men stories, finally a very good one. Anyone that likes westerns will enjoy this book.
A lot of books I've read repeatedly explain the same things. I get board and loose interest. This book was, as I see it, well written.
A lot of books I've read repeatedly explain the same things. I get board and loose interest. This book was, as I see it, well written.
October 18, 2020
Fire Along The Big Muddy
This is a great read that covers all the things that we want to remember about the early days The characters are realistic,and down to earth, as we feel they should be.
This is a great read that covers all the things that we want to remember about the early days The characters are realistic,and down to earth, as we feel they should be.
December 21, 2020
A Good Read !!!
I’m a real fan of John Legg. He’s written some of my favorite books and this one is well worth the time and the price. I enjoyed this book and if you’ve read any of his novels then you will like it too.
I’m a real fan of John Legg. He’s written some of my favorite books and this one is well worth the time and the price. I enjoyed this book and if you’ve read any of his novels then you will like it too.
September 28, 2020
Very good read
Keeps the interest flowing with a good story line..not your usual western story line. Something different and I'm hoping for a second book to continue the story.
Keeps the interest flowing with a good story line..not your usual western story line. Something different and I'm hoping for a second book to continue the story.
October 16, 2020
Good book
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy it. Storyline continues to grow and develop. Characters are realistic and get better and better.
Read all of the books in order to really enjoy it. Storyline continues to grow and develop. Characters are realistic and get better and better.
January 19, 2021
Fire
I sure hope there is a sequel to this story!! This was a great story and I am anxious to find out what life holds for our friends!!
I sure hope there is a sequel to this story!! This was a great story and I am anxious to find out what life holds for our friends!!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews