Sacred Ground

One of the most violent years in the history of the American fur trade was 1832. The fur trade companies coveted beaver pelts for the high prices they brought on the East Coast and the European market. The free-spirited mountain men were most willing to bring them in. However, the Indians, the British, and the endless plains proved formidable opponents for even the most experienced of these reckless adventurers.

Back East, the country was experiencing a period of prosperity under Andrew Jackson. "Old Hickory" was a visionary thinker. He considered the possibility that the United States might well span the continent from sea to shining sea. The President recognized he would need firsthand knowledge about the untamed lands beyond St. Louis to fulfill his dream. Jackson lacked needed information about the cutthroat competition among the fur trade companies, Indian activities, and the British Hudson Bay Company. So, he sent an envoy to be his eyes and ears. This is the story of that adventure.

Sacred Ground is based on historical facts. Jonathan McKenna, Rachel Lawrence, Charlie Newcomb, and Wylee Jamoke are fictional characters in name only. Their love, their dreams, and their fears are as real as the lives of the historical characters that they interact with. The events portrayed by these individuals either did or could have happened. Experience the challenges of traveling from Washington D.C. to the majestic Rocky Mountains during this turbulent time in history.