The Border Riflemen; or, The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising

"The Border Riflemen; or, The Forest Fiend. A Romance of the Black-Hawk Uprising" by Albert W. Aiken is a historical romance set in the early 1870s that uses the Black-Hawk Uprising as a backdrop for exploring conflicts between settlers and Native Americans. The book begins by introducing characters like Sadie Wescott and Cooney Joe, establishing interpersonal dramas amidst rising tensions on the frontier. An early scene shows Sadie facing threats from William Jackwood, who is then confronted by Cooney Joe, which suggests a story driven by both personal relationships and the larger conflict brewing with Native American tribes led by figures such as Black-Hawk. This creates a vivid picture of the era, and the story contains themes of cultural misunderstanding and both personal revenge and historical struggles.