Cav Guy
04-15-2007, 09:10 PM
Just thought I'd start a research thread for those new to Westerns (traditional or historical), since it's such an important part of our genre.
Even if you're doing a loose Western (based on a Spaghetti Western, perhaps, or something with a more traditional shoot-'em-up feel) there are certain things you'll need to get 'right.' Start with your weapons. Cartridge weapons were NOT common until about midway through the Civil War, and then only in rifles (the early cartridges were rimfire as opposed to center fire and could not be reloaded). Conversions for cap and ball pistols started showing up in about 1866 or 1867. Prior to that, reloading was VERY time-consuming, and gunmen either carried extra loaded cylinders for their pistols (see Pale Rider for the best example of this I've seen in film) or a number of pistols (Outlaw Jose Wales).
Next comes setting. The level of detail you go into here can depend on the type of story you're writing. It's critical with historicals that you get as close as possible to the real thing. Why? Your readers will be looking for mistakes, and if you make a big one you'll lose them. With traditional Westerns it's a bit easier, but you still need to be sure you get some elements in place. Don't have a Montana town located "a day's ride from Tombstone" for example, unless you've created a Tombstone, Montana and made it clear in your narrative that you have.
I'll leave it open for others to suggest possible research locations and/or favorite books. If you're looking for the "quick and dirty" version, aim for either the Time-Life "Old West" series (which has very broad scope and only a few errors) or the Writer's Digest book "The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Wild West." Both have good bibliographies, although the Time-Life books are a bit dated.
Since I do a fair amount of work with the Frontier Army (both in non-fiction and fiction), I'll toss out one of my favorite sources: the National Archives. A fair amount of the records of the Old Army (regimental returns, post returns, and so on) are available on microfilm, and these provide a priceless look into the lives of military units between 1866 and 1891 (though the records begin before that period and end well after it). Another good source are two books recently reprinted to help the Civil War reinactor community: "The 1865 Customs of Service" in two volumes; one for officers and the other for NCOs and soldiers. Although not "official," they draw their authority from the regulations of service and are a great help for folks looking to see what each rank did in the Army at this time.
Even if you're doing a loose Western (based on a Spaghetti Western, perhaps, or something with a more traditional shoot-'em-up feel) there are certain things you'll need to get 'right.' Start with your weapons. Cartridge weapons were NOT common until about midway through the Civil War, and then only in rifles (the early cartridges were rimfire as opposed to center fire and could not be reloaded). Conversions for cap and ball pistols started showing up in about 1866 or 1867. Prior to that, reloading was VERY time-consuming, and gunmen either carried extra loaded cylinders for their pistols (see Pale Rider for the best example of this I've seen in film) or a number of pistols (Outlaw Jose Wales).
Next comes setting. The level of detail you go into here can depend on the type of story you're writing. It's critical with historicals that you get as close as possible to the real thing. Why? Your readers will be looking for mistakes, and if you make a big one you'll lose them. With traditional Westerns it's a bit easier, but you still need to be sure you get some elements in place. Don't have a Montana town located "a day's ride from Tombstone" for example, unless you've created a Tombstone, Montana and made it clear in your narrative that you have.
I'll leave it open for others to suggest possible research locations and/or favorite books. If you're looking for the "quick and dirty" version, aim for either the Time-Life "Old West" series (which has very broad scope and only a few errors) or the Writer's Digest book "The Writer's Guide to Everyday Life in the Wild West." Both have good bibliographies, although the Time-Life books are a bit dated.
Since I do a fair amount of work with the Frontier Army (both in non-fiction and fiction), I'll toss out one of my favorite sources: the National Archives. A fair amount of the records of the Old Army (regimental returns, post returns, and so on) are available on microfilm, and these provide a priceless look into the lives of military units between 1866 and 1891 (though the records begin before that period and end well after it). Another good source are two books recently reprinted to help the Civil War reinactor community: "The 1865 Customs of Service" in two volumes; one for officers and the other for NCOs and soldiers. Although not "official," they draw their authority from the regulations of service and are a great help for folks looking to see what each rank did in the Army at this time.