Book Blurb:
In the 1870s, the bonds of friendship between a Lakota warrior, Shadow Hawk, and a US cavalry officer, Joshua Tremaine Mackenzie, were tested as the Great Sioux War intervened. When Hawk's only son is born, he names him Tremaine "Running Deer" to honor his longtime friend. Throughout the conflict, Hawk's belief fades that one climactic battle over the US Army will return the Lakota to its former greatness. He fears for Tremaine's future life on a reservation.
Fate plays a deadly hand when Shadow Hawk is mortally wounded in battle. Having lost Tremaine's mother earlier, his worse fears may be realized. In a final act, he makes Mackenzie promise to raise Tremaine in the "white man's world."
"Tremaine" is the story of a Lakota warrior who stands in two worlds, maintaining his connection to his heritage while following the white man's ways. Tremaine's journey takes him from a boy to a man as an expert tracker and guide, a respected Deputy Marshal in the Oklahoma Territory, and a volunteer cavalryman with Theodore Roosevelt's First (Volunteer) US Cavalry Regiment (the Rough Riders) and the charge up San Juan Hill. His association with men like Roosevelt, Leonard Wood, and John "Blackjack" Pershing set a future path at the turn of the Twentieth Century.
Throughout his story, Tremaine must negotiate the highs and lows of being an Indian among the whites. It is a compelling story of clashing cultures and an overwhelming determination to succeed.
Book Buy Link: https://geni.us/ubdUYs
Author Bio:
A retired US Army officer and Defense executive with over 45-years of service in the Department of Defense. My professional writings include studies, concepts, and academic papers for the Chairman, Joint Chiefs, and the Deputy Secretary of Defense. He is the former editor of a quarterly periodical, "The Joint Air Land Bulletin." I am the author of a historical fiction series entitled “I am a Soldier, First and Always." The series includes "The Distinguished Career of General Winfield Scott Hancock, Volume One: Rebellion and Volume Two: Turning Point," and "These Sacred Lands," a story of friendship and sacrifice on the Great Plains.
A military career has allowed me to pursue my passion for walking history's battlefields. They have included the American Revolution, War of 1812, Civil War (through the Carolinas to Pennsylvania and New York); the Great Sioux War, World War II (in Europe and the Pacific Islands); and Korea. Always interested in why decisions were made and how actions were executed, one has a different perspective standing on the ground where Hamilton led a night attack at Yorktown or where Hancock sent First Minnesota against a much larger Confederate Brigade at Gettysburg.
In my research for "These Sacred Lands," one stands on the Rosebud battlefield in Montana, realizing that the battle was a prelude to the Little Bug Horn, less than two hours away, where Custer would meet his fate. Yet the story falls short when "Custer's Last Stand" takes place one week later. Placing fictional characters in historical settings allows me to be creative amid factual events and among historical characters. I want the readers to be intrigued by the fictional characters while the historians agree the events are accurately portrayed. The learning curve is steep when I am immersed in research.
Writing is a new career for which I am grateful. Winfield Hancock's story began when I was asked to lead a short presentation on the general to National Defense University students at Gettysburg. His story ultimately took five years to write. My latest work, “These Sacred Lands," followed a character from the Hancock story after the Civil War to the Great Plains. I first walked the ground on forts and battlefields in Nebraska, Wyoming, and Montana, where the U.S. Cavalry patrolled and Lakota Sioux roamed the region. The Black Hills, "Paha Sapa" to the Lakota, are sacred lands from which the novel's name was drawn. One could almost feel the spirits on battlefields like the Rosebud and the Little Big Horn.
My library is full of fiction and non-fiction, memoirs and letters, and stories of people and battles.
I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and two Masters of Science degrees in Business Administration and National Resource Strategy. My wife Linda and I left Washington D.C. behind in 2017 and reside in Venice, Florida.
Learn more: https://www.jharoldkellystories.com
Editorial Review:
From the first lines of "TREMAINE: A Lakota Warrior in Roosevelt's Rough Riders," James Harold Kelly draws the reader in, laying the groundwork for a narrative that spans decades and explores the core of the American spirit. The opening line hooks the reader right away with its promises of adventure, emotional depth, and a trip through a significant historical period.
June 1885, Fort Robinson, Nebraska
Tremaine “Running Deer” Mackenzie, a Lakota Brulé child, was perhaps two or three years old when he joined the Mackenzie family–too young to wonder how living with them came to be. When Erin Mackenzie looked at the little boy for the first time, about three years old seemed correct because Joshua and Erin Mackenzie never truly knew the exact year he was born. It mattered little, anyway. Tremaine’s grandfather, Lone Elk, once told him he was three summers old when he left the tribe. The Lakota had little use for clocks or calendars. Only the seasons mattered.
Over the next ten years, the Mackenzies had four children, and Tremaine lived happily with his step-siblings at Fort Robinson, Nebraska. Tremaine then looked for the answer to one question. “Why was he given to Joshua Mackenzie?”
Lieutenant Joshua Tremaine Mackenzie had only recently told Tremaine about his friendship with the Lakota warrior and Tremaine’s birth father, Shadow Hawk, and the life-changing promises made. Now a curious twelve-year-old, Tremaine wanted to understand his short history. He never desired to change his condition. He was a Mackenzie, loved by Joshua, Erin, and his siblings. If there was a difference between adoption and blood, he could never tell. They were his family.
We are immediately drawn in to the story of this little boy, a Lakota, raised by the only family he ever knew, the Mackenzies. From the first paragraphs, we want to know the answer to the same question as Tremaine. Why was he given to Joshua Mackenzie?
Through the story of Tremaine "Running Deer," Kelly gives readers an insight into the mind of a nation grappling with its identity, which keeps the book gripping from start to finish. It’s a story that honors the human spirit's ability to persevere in the face of hardship and builds a bridge between two very different cultures.
Pulling you in page after page is a plot that is both compelling and thought-provoking. Tremaine's development as he navigates his background, and the world of the white man illustrates a journey full of obstacles, successes, and self-discovery. It's an engaging read because of the depth and complexity of the plot, which keeps the reader interested.
In fact, the character development is one of the book's best aspects. As the primary character, Tremaine is a fully developed figure whose development from a young guy torn between two cultures is sensitively and nuancedly portrayed.
The portrayal of the supporting cast, which includes historical personalities such as John Pershing and Theodore Roosevelt, is nuanced enough to enhance rather than overpower Tremaine's trip. Character dynamics that change throughout the story provide depth and realism to their interactions.
The book is also notable for its careful layout and editing, which makes for a smooth reading experience. The story is made more authentic by Kelly's attention to detail in both language and historical correctness. The text's layout, which clearly distinguishes between various time periods and locations, makes it easier to follow the intricate history of events without becoming lost.
May 1886, San Antonio Army Post, Texas
Joshua stood in the kitchen gazing out the window as the sun set over the Robinson Bluffs. His thoughts were interrupted by Erin’s question.
“Should we mention this to the children right now?” Erin asked, concerned the children may not understand. “Joshua, all they have known is Fort Robinson. This post is their home.”
Joshua shrugged. “I don’t see why we must wait. The regiment is moving, and it isn’t just the Mackenzie family. They should look forward to a new post. They should know before the word spreads, and they hear it from friends or in school.”
“Well, at least wait until dinner is over. I want to make sure each of the children has finished eating.”
Joshua knew there was a chance that the meal would end after hearing the news.
Four-year-old Brigette and one-year-old Liam were too small to understand; however, Tremaine, Catherine, and Connor were old enough to realize that leaving the only place they have lived may change their young lives.
Kelly keeps the plot's many story arcs together by ensuring a fluid narrative flow. The reader is kept focused on Tremaine's life narrative and the changing American environment even with the years and historical events depicted. This is achieved by the skillful handling of transitions, and it never feels dry or boring along the way.
The book ends in a way that is both rewarding and heartfelt. To sum up without giving away any surprises, Tremaine's voyage completes the circle and provides a resolution consistent with the novel's themes of identity, legacy, and reconciliation. The conclusion, which attests to Kelly's talent as a storyteller, leaves the reader feeling both fulfilled and reflective.
"Tremaine" is notable for offering a distinctive viewpoint on a troubled era in American history. Kelly offers a novel and intriguing perspective to the historical narrative genre by concentrating on the life story of a Lakota warrior overcoming the difficulties of juggling two different cultures. The investigation of friendship, identity, and the price of advancement gives the narrative a unique touch.
With a sharp eye for detail and the ability to conjure the settings, feelings, and turbulent times of the story's setting, Kelly writes in a rich and evocative style. We see Kelly’s skills in storytelling in the deft treatment of speech, especially in capturing the subtleties of several cultures and eras.
“I am a Soldier, First and Always”
Every stage of Tremaine's life adds to his growth and the plot's forward motion. The arc reflects the greater themes of change, resiliency, and the search for knowledge by taking the reader on a trip that is both historically significant and intensely personal.
To sum up, James Harold Kelly's "TREMAINE: A Lakota Warrior in Roosevelt's Rough Riders" is an exceptional book that shines in every way. It is a narratively complicated story with a wealth of historical background and emotional depth. Anyone interested in the ways that history, culture, and identity connect should definitely read this book.
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“Tremaine” by James Harold Kelly receives five stars and the “Highly Recommended” Award of Excellence from the Historical Fiction Company
Award:
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