The Buckskin Line

The Buckskin Line by Elmer Kelton is a solid western adventure story of murder and revenge set in Texas of the 1860’s. Feelings for and against the union run strong but when the vote is counted and Texas leaves the union many union supporters are persecuted and harassed. Also the many men that have left to join the Confederate forces means that there aren’t enough soldiers left to keep Texans safe from the Comanche.

When Rusty Shannon’s adopted father is murdered, Rusty immediately suspects a neighbour with strong confederate leanings. His father, Mike and this neighbour had come to blows the last time they met over their opposite political stands. Rusty sets out for revenge but is turned away from committing murder by the local show more preacher. He is instead urged to go and join the Texas Rangers who have the difficult task of trying to contain the Comanche from raiding into Texas. His time with the Rangers fighting Indians and his involvement with another family who are being tormented by confederate sympathizers teaches Rusty to look deeper into his prejudices and not judge without evidence.

This is the first of a trilogy that Elmer Kelton wrote about the Texas Rangers. The Buckskin Line covers their early days when the Rangers were made up of volunteers and were formed into small companies that were badly paid but did their best to protect Texas against marauding Indians. Kelton delivers a well written story peopled with strong characters to tell this exciting story of early Texas. show less

In this, the first book of the Texas Rangers series by Elmer Kelton, we find ourselves in the midst of a Comanche raid on homesteaders in 1840s Texas. A red-headed toddler is both prized and despised by the war party who kills his family. His story, as well as the Comanche who wants to keep him for his own, are interspersed throughout this tale. Good, engrossing read, and recommended.