Editorial Content for The Summer of 1876: Outlaws, Lawmen, and Legends in the Season That Defined the American West

Journalist Chris Wimmer assembles a remarkable cast of characters in this tribute to the turbulent foundations of what most Americans regard as a celebrated piece of their history: the “wild west.”

For the centerpiece of THE SUMMER OF 1876, Wimmer has chosen the Battle of the Little Bighorn, an epic event that caused the death of the early and arguably best-known Indian fighter, George Armstrong Custer, and the slaughter of more than 200 valiant soldiers. Attempting to quell an increasing land grab among competing Native American tribes, Custer and his men were unprepared for the fierce, organized resistance that they would meet. As Wimmer points out, the resulting defeat would be among the most storied in American lore, while bringing to well-deserved light and respect such Native American warriors/sages as Crazy Horse and Sitting Bull.

"That [Wimmer] has diligently researched the subjects explored here is clear, providing him the opportunity to showcase his talents as a wordsmith by bringing a host of illustrious characters and their escapades to life for a new generation."

Occupying the same significant time frame was Mark Twain with his publication of THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER, which released that year. There were the continued news-making exploits of the outlawed James brothers, Frank and Jesse, and their occasional companions in crime --- the Younger brothers, Cole and Jim. 1876 marked the initiation of baseball’s National League in its first full season and the growing popularity of the brutal, but enjoyable to watch, game of American football.

Wild Bill Hickok was a well-known Western hero of the time, as admired for his law-abiding efforts as for his gambling, cattle rustling and the many outrageous tales he told about himself. After he was murdered in a poker game in the famously disreputable town of Deadwood, South Dakota, the brazen Calamity Jane gained wider notoriety by bragging about her relationship with Hickok. Law breakers like Jesse James were gaining attention through dime novels that had the power to turn bad guys into heroes. Law enforcers included Bat Masterson and Wyatt Earp striding the streets of Dodge City, Kansas. Buffalo Bill Cody was garnering fame as the first and best wild west promotional entertainer. Once television was firmly established in America’s homes, all of these folks and their legendary, sometimes apocryphal, deeds and careers would become highly popular fare.

Wimmer, the host and producer of the podcasts “Legends of the Old West” and “Infamous America,” puts the events of 1876 and the actors of that year’s dramas in bold focus. He notes that the “old west” is said to have developed between 1865 and 1900, with 1876 as a vibrant standout. That he has diligently researched the subjects explored here is clear, providing him the opportunity to showcase his talents as a wordsmith by bringing a host of illustrious characters and their escapades to life for a new generation.