The Greatest American Soldier of the Old West

One of the most well received public presentations John has ever given was his new, updated presentation at last year’s Randall University Civil War Symposium about Ranald Slidell Mackenzie, the greatest American soldier of the Old West. While George Custer and others received the headlines then and now, it is “Three Fingers Jack” Mackenzie, commander of the original Fort Sill, who actually led the U.S. Army to victory over the most powerful tribes of both the Northern and Southern Plains, when the others couldn’t.

Please enjoy the audio of John’s talk and his accompanying PowerPoint, which is packed with memorable photographs, maps, quotes, and battle scenes.

And if you are able, please come to the 2020 Civil War Symposium (click for details), Tuesday, Feb. 25th, on Randall’s Moore campus. John kicks off the conference at 9:30 that morning with his presentation, “The Civil War In Indian Territory.” Randall is located at 3701 S. I-35 Service Road, Moore, OK, 73160, on the west side of the interstate, between S. 19th and Indian Hills Road.

You can also read about the deeds of Ranald Mackenzie in Vol. 1 of John’s Will Rogers Medallion Award-winning The Oklahomans: The Story of Oklahoma and Its People. Before his historic exploits in the Plains Indian Wars, Mackenzie received seven promotions in the War Between the States, as well as six wounds, including the loss of two fingers. You will be glad that you got acquainted with one of the most valiant American patriots ever to mount up and lead men into battle under the waving colors of Old Glory.