Captain Charles King (1844-1933) served seventy years in America's military forces and was decorated for fighting in five wars -- a living rebuttal to the notion that old soldiers fade away loquaciously in their downtown clubs. But he did spin yarns. In fact, he became one of the best-known chroniclers of the frontier army and the Indian wars of the 1870s, and an imnmensely popular writer of fiction. From his pen flowed dozens of novels and histories that made him the American Kipling. Long overdue, Campaigning with King is the first study of that remarkable man's military and literary careers, written after his death by Don Russell, a respected authority on frontier history. Russell had talked with and corresponded with King since the late 1920s to produce an authentic and colorful book. -- From the book jacket.

Introduction -- From school to battle-field -- A knight of Columbia -- Cadet days -- An initial experience -- A trooper Galahad -- The way of the West -- Sunset pass -- Foes in ambush -- Campaigning with Crook -- Trials of a staff-officer -- Between the lines -- The story of Fort Frayne -- By land and sea -- Found in the Philippines -- Comrades in arms -- A soldier's trial -- Bibliographical essay.