Captured by the Navajos

"Captured by the Navajos" by Charles A. (Charles Albert) Curtis is a tale set during the Civil War era, spotlighting Captain Curtis's encounters with the Navajo Indians while stationed at military outposts in New Mexico. The narrative features young Corporals Frank and Henry Burton, sons of a lieutenant colonel, as they adapt to frontier life amid brewing conflicts. Captain Curtis's return to Santa Fé marks the beginning of a bond with the Burton brothers, soon overshadowed by orders to confront the Navajo tribes in the Jemez Mountains. The story paints a vivid picture of military life through character interactions and the ever-present threat of Native American confrontations, culminating in an initial clash with the Navajos that emphasizes the dangers of their service against the backdrop of a rugged landscape, setting the stage for a journey filled with danger and adversity rooted in the history of the time.