Mudeater : the story of an American buffalo hunter and the surrender of Louis Riel

Born the son of a Wyandot Chief in Kansas in 1849, Irvin Mudeater was a celebrated buffalo hunter—killing 126 in just one day—who ran wagon trains to Santa Fe, was caught up in the Civil War, and lived as a plainsman on the lawless frontier. To escape punishment for an unspecified crime, Mudeater moved to Canada in 1882, adopted the name "Robert Armstrong," and portrayed himself as white. Three years later, he played the lead role in bringing the fugitive Métis leader Louis Riel into custody. John D. Pihach scrutinizes the sensational incidents in Armstrong/Mudeater's life, grapples with the opposing stories of Riel's surrender/capture, and, with the inclusion of Armstrong's unpublished memoir, allows this consummate storyteller to speak in his own voice. Acknowledgements Introduction A Note on Terminology Maps : U.S. Plains, circa 1870s ; Southern and Central Saskatchewan and Alberta, circa 1880s Part One : The Life of Robert Armstrong Chapter One. Before Robert Armstrong : identity ; Wyandot history ; Armstrong's ancestors ; Matthew Mudeater, fatehr of Robert Armstrong ; Armstrong's siblings Chapter Two. Youth to 1885 : boyhood, wagon trains, and school ; adventuring in the Southwest ; moving North ; to Canada Chapter Three. 1885 : the conflict; whose scout was Armstrong? ; capture or surrender? ; prior knowledge of Riel's location? ; famous deed ; how it happened ; reward for Riel's apprehension? ; after Batoche Chapter Four. 1885 to 1940 : Prince Albert, Rosthern, and return to roots ; retirement in Calgary and death in California Part Two. Preface to Robert Armstrong’s Memoir ; Robert Armstrong’s Memoir Appendix 1. Riel’s Apprehension : Many Versions General Middleton's accounts Newspaper reports Contemporary accounts, early histories and reminiscences, and more recent histories Appendix 2. Riel’s Apprehension : Accounts by the Three Captors Robert Armstrong's account Tom Hourie's account William Diehl's account Notes Bibliography Index. A Really Interesting Read. -- Keith Carlson, Author Of The Power Of Place, The Problem Of Time Born The Son Of A Wyandot Chief In Kansas In 1849, Irwin Mudeater Was One Of The Last Great Frontiersmen Of The Old American West. Hired To Run Wagon Trains Heading To Santa Fe, He Fought Off Indian Attacks, Was Caught Up In The Civil War, Drove A Stagecoach, And Lived The Life Of A Plainsman On The Lawless Frontier. Most Of All, He Was A Buffalo Hunter--killing As Many As 126 In One Day. In 1882, Mudeater Moved To Canada, Adopted The Name Robert Armstrong, And Portrayed Himself As White. He Came Into The Service Of General Middleton, And, Shortly After The Fall Of Batoche, Played The Lead Role In Bringing The Fugitive Metis Leader, Louis Riel, Into Custody. Mudeater Attempts To Resolve The Opposing Stories Of Riel's Surrender Or Capture, Scrutinizes The Sensational Incidents In Armstrong/mudeater's Life, And, With The Inclusion Of His Unpublished Memoir, Allows This Consummate Story Teller To Speak In His Own Voice. "Born the son of a Wyandot Chief in Kansas in 1849, Irvin Mudeater was one of the last great frontiersmen of the American West. Hired to run wagon trains to Santa Fe, Mudeater fought off "Indian attacks", was caught up in the Civil War, drove a stagecoach, and lived as a plainsman on the lawless frontier. Most of all, he was a buffalo hunter--killing 126 head in just one day. In 1882, Mudeater moved to Canada, adopted the name Robert Armstrong, and portrayed himself as white. Shortly after the fall of Batoche, he played the lead role in bringing the fugitive Métis leader, Louis Riel, into custody. John D. Pihach attempts to resolve the opposing stories of Riel's surrender/capture, scrutinizes the sensational incidents in Armstrong/Mudeater's life, and, with the inclusion of Mudeater's unpublished memoir, allows this consummate storyteller to speak in his own voice."-- Provided by publisher

Born the son of a Wyandot Chief in Kansas in 1849, Irvin Mudeater was a celebrated buffalo hunter—killing 126 in just one day—who ran wagon trains to Santa Fe, was caught up in the Civil War, and lived as a plainsman on the lawless frontier. To escape punishment for an unspecified crime, Mudeater moved to Canada in 1882, adopted the name "Robert Armstrong, " and portrayed himself as white. Three years later, he played the lead role in bringing the fugitive Métis leader Louis Riel into custody.John D. Pihach scrutinizes the sensational incidents in Armstrong/Mudeater's life, grapples with the opposing stories of Riel's surrender/capture, and, with the inclusion of Armstrong's unpublished memoir, allows this consummate storyteller to speak in his own voice.