Follow the River by James Alexander Thom

This is the true account of Mary Ingles, a homesteading woman on the "frontier" in Virginia in the 1700's. Just days from delivering her third child, indians invaded the settlement where she lived and took Mary and her two sons captive. The Shawnee took the prisoners on a 400 mile forced march to their village near the site of present day Cleveland, Ohio. Mary gave birth along the way to a baby girl, cut the umbilical with her teeth and then got right back on a the horse she had been riding when she went into labor. Tough woman!

After months of living in the Indian's village, she realized that she would eventually have to become the squaw of one of the indian men. Thinking of her husband, who had been working in the fields when her village was attacked, she vowed to escape and make her way home, having to face the fact that her decision meant leaving her children with the Indians. She did get away, and knew that the only way she could make it home would be to "follow the river" (the Ohio to the New). She escaped in mid-October, and it took her 40 days and nearly 1000 miles before she made it home, literally naked, starving and almost dead from exhaustion. The author tells this story in a riveting style that describes the trip in vivid detail. Mary Ingles is another example of how powerful is the desire to be free, and the unbelievable feats of endurance that the human body is capable of.

This book has many sidelines that would be of particular interest to homesteaders like ourselves, describing in detail many of the methods used at that time for preserving food, making salt, clothing, etc. This book is probably a bit too graphic for children, but there is another book of the same name written by Lydia Dabcovich. The next time your children whine about their situation, make them read this book! It will certainly make you realize how blessed you really are!

For more books I recommend, see my reading list

-- Chuck in MD (woah@mission4me.com), January 15, 2002

Answers

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Yes, I read this book and it is a very good story. Correction - the present-day city on Mary's route is Cincinnati, not Cleveland. We live near the Ohio River east of Cincinnati, and first became aware of the story when a descendant of Mary Ingles who is a friend of my wife Lee Ann gave us a copy of the book. FYI Route 8, the main two- lane along the Ohio River on the Kentucky side now is called the Mary Ingles Highway. I wonder if most people who drive on it know where the name came from.

James Alexander Thom has written a number of good historical books based in the midwest. Check out Long Knife, the story of George Rogers Clark, who siezed the British garrison at Vincennes Indiana in one of the most decisive midwest engagements of the Revolutionary War. Also Panther in The Sky, which chronicles the life of Tecumseh and his interactions with the frontier hero and future president William Henry Harrison.

-- Scott McAlpine (scottmcalpine@juno.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

I read it. A good book, though as the return journey went on and on and on........ I got a little bogged down and skimmed through about 50+ pages or so and read the last 100 or so. I did enjoy it. I love to read and usually have several books going at one time!! I am catching up on books my mom gave me for my birthday and Christmas. I read quite a few homesteading diaries/accounts.

-- connie in nm (karrelandconnie@msn.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Chuck, I haven't read the book yet, looks interesting. Got side tracked in your web site-really enjoyed it! Take care!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

I have read all of those books by Thom including one you didn't mention: "From Sea to Shining Sea" which is about the Lewis and Clark expedition. I find it interesting that there are others at this forum who have similar reading interests as myself. I am also a fan of James Michner and have read all of his books which have to do with American history. "Centennial" is my absolute favorite book of all time, so far. A couple books which I have recently read and would recommend are "Dream West" which is the story of John Charles Fremont. Fremont accurately mapped much of the West and did several crossings of the Rockies in the winter. The other book is "Fire of the Covenant" which is published by the Mormon Church. It is a fictional history of the people who crossed the west pulling handcarts (ie, did not use covered wagons, just pulled carts which contained their belongings). They get trapped by a Wyoming winter and alsmost perished. --Happy trails, Cabin Fever

-- Cabin Fever (cabinfever_mn@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Thanks so much, you've made my day-I love reading these stories. Here in Ky, we have Jenny Whiley state park-she was another incredibly brave woman who was captured by and escaped from Indians- I'm not sure which tribe. Sharon McCrumb has based one of her novels- She walks these Hills, on these stories-her work is fiction so she combined bits of different stories. Thanks again for sharing this.

-- Kelly (homearts2002@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Chuck,

Your review is very well written. It's nice to see well-burnished prose on this forum.

Rick7

-- Rick#7 (rick7@postmark.net), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Thanks for the information. I have not read the book but have recently seen the movie, on TV, "Follow the River" which is an account of this story. It was a wonderful movie but I usually find the book more interesting than the movie version.

-- Irene Burt (renienorm@aol.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

I read the book years ago. What particularly stands out in my mind is the physical condition Mary was in by the time she arrived home...the gray hair and decaying teeth. It's hard to imagine the hardships she endured.

-- Sharon/WI (pinnow@inwave.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

My mother-in-law (78 yrs old) read the book last year & said it was wonderful!

-- hmm (h.m.metheny@att.net), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Chuck sounds like a great book. I'll have to check it out. If anyones interested in a modern homesteading woman story, you might want to check out Deanna Kawatski's Wilderness Mother. She was never attacked by Natives, but it is a heartwarming tale of a woman who lived her dream, for a time, in Northern B.C. near where I live. There are many great moments in this narrative that any homesteader would like to read, and she could certainly use the royalties. Also there are stories about Lonesome Lake, I believe Crusoe of Lonesome Lake, and the Swans of Lonesome Lake, I haven't read them yet, but they are apparently packed with homesteading lore.

-- roberto pokachinni (pokachinni@yahoo.comro), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Yes, read it and others by thom. Good book.

-- Barb (MBRanch@POP.ctctel.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Thanks Chuck! Sounds like a great book...I will look for it for sure. I am due for a new "read". Sounds like my kind of book. My sis in law said she read it and it was great too. Now I have to get it!!!!!

-- Jenny (Auntjenny6@aol.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Chuck,

Thank you for posting this. My mother-in-law had told me about this book a long time ago but could not remember the title. Now I know and can find the book!!

-- Terry - NW Ohio (aunt_tm@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

Response to How many of you have read this book?

Sounds like an interesting book , however as a mother I cannot EVER imagine choosing a man over my children {even my husband there father}

-- Patty {NY State} (fodfarms@hotmail.com), January 15, 2002.

Patty, love my husband but if the chips were down...my son would win!!! Centennial also my favorite and I live in that country in Colorado. One summer I got the video tapes from the library and pointed out certain points to my son.

Chuck, I'm going to read both the books!! Thanks

-- DW (djwallace@sotc.net), January 15, 2002.

I have read and enjoyed all of Thom's books. I liked even better Lucia St.Clair Robson's.

-- carol (kanogisdi@yahoo.com), January 15, 2002.

I read this book years ago after my mother recommended it. It was great. I couldn't put it down. I also read From Sea to Shining Sea. Very good book also.

-- Red Neck (southernpride58@hotmail.com), January 16, 2002.