Robert W. Griffing strikes again. The grand master of historical frontier art recently posted a new painting — The Scouts of Major Grant. The Grant in question is Major James Grant, who commanded a contingent of regulars and militia approaching Fort Duquesne at the Forks of the Ohio in 1758. As Griffing notes:
The painting depicts an event that took place during the Forbes campaign. Major Grant and his 77th Highlanders were sent out on a reconnaissance mission. At a camp a few miles from the fort, we see a junior officer going over the plan with their Cherokee scouts. Grants decision to attack the fort would end in a disastrous defeat as the French and Indians proved to be more than he anticipated.
Disastrous as in 342 killed, wounded or missing. A historical marker at the site of the September 14, 1758 fight skewers him pretty stiffly:
“Despite orders to avoid an engagement with the French, Major James Grant and his force of Scottish Highlanders attempted a brazen frontal attack on Fort Duquesne on September 14, 1758. To Grant’s surprise, French troops and Indian warriors poured out of the fort and surrounded the British on a nearby hill. More than half of Grant’s 850 troops were killed or captured.”
Brazen alright. Grant had the bagpipes skirling. Not exactly a stealthy approach.
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Jack Carr’s next one drops May 16. Here’s the caper:
In 1980, a freshman congressman was gunned down in Rhode Island, sending shockwaves through Washington that are still reverberating over four decades later.
Now, with the world on the brink of war and a weakened United States facing rampant inflation, political division, and shocking assassinations, a secret cabal of global elites is ready to assume control. And with the world’s most dangerous man locked in solitary confinement, the conspirators believe the final obstacle to complete domination has been eliminated. They’re wrong.
From the firms of Wall Street to the corridors of power in Washington, DC, and Moscow, secrets from the past have the uncanny ability to rise to the surface in the present.
With the odds stacked against him, James Reece is on a mission generations in the making. Unfortunately for his enemies, the former SEAL is not concerned with odds. He is on the warpath. And when James Reece picks up his tomahawk and sniper rifle, no one is out of range.
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Speaking of tomahawk wielding warriors…
A reminder that Season 3 of Into The Wild Frontier premiers on May 6 on INSP network. I found it on Frndly TV. This season is devoted to 18th Century Eastern Frontier stories.
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Anne Hillerman reported that the six-episode Season 2 of Dark Winds will launch July 30.
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Lady Marilyn has been playing a lot of Jason Isbell. Man, he’s good.
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Hawken Horse put together a “Wild Frontier” playlist. It’s badass.
Matthew says
Michael K. Vaughan is having June on the Range again where he reads Western novels:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mtTXEWMMzXM
Westley Wu says
Robert Griffing’s paintings are fantastic. I was so happy when a artist was taking on the Easter Frontier. I highly recommend the three books on his Eastern Frontier art.
Mike says
You get to pick works from three artists as new decor for an office/study. Who’s on your list?
JimC says
Gotta have CM Russell. Then Griffing and John Seerey-Lester. About a half-dozen of each.
Mike says
Come for the ranger stories. Stay for the art recommendations. That’s what makes the place great!
GAH says
I second the recommendation- Griffing’s three books are a must have… My favorite of his prints is hanging on my wall – “One Mile to Bushy Run Station”
The original oil painting was at the Bushy Run battlefield museum when I visited there more than several years ago…
Westley Wu says
I have ‘One Mile to Bushy Run Station’ as well it’s beautiful. It was my wife’s wedding gift to me.
My favorite print I have is ‘ I Think We Have Company’ where you have a party of woodland warriors looking down on traders unloading their canoe. If I did not have so much sun at entrance of the house, I would have put that print to greet our guests.
JimC says
That would be awesomely thematic.
Monk says
That tallies with the Grants I know……
My knowledge of “Western” Art, ahum, FP Art is limited but
you can’t get past Howard Terpning methinks.
JimC says
Terpning … so true.
Hawken Horse says
Robert Griffing is one of my favorites.
Thanks for sharing the playlist! Still adding songs.
Jean says
That painting is wonderful.
Drift Boss says
As fresh artwork for an office or study, you get to choose from the portfolios of three different painters.