The Oatman Massacre: A Tale of
Desert Captivity in the American Southwest
by Brian McGinty
University of Oklahoma Press
2006
pp. 258
Paperback
ISBN 978-0-8061-3770-4
$16.95
Synopsis
The Oatman Massacre is among the most famous and dramatic captivity stories in the history of the Southwest. In this riveting account, Brian McGinty explores the background, development, and aftermath of the tragedy, in which all but three members of a Mormon family were murdered by southwestern Indians. The attackers took thirteen-year-old Olive and eight-year-old Mary Ann captive and left their wounded fourteen-year-old brother Lorenzo for dead. After about a year, Olive and Mary Ann were traded to a Mohave Indian community, but only Olive lived to be rescued and reunited with her brother at Fort Yuma five years later.
Using diaries, letters, and other firsthand accounts, as well as recent studies of nineteenth-century southwestern Indian peoples, McGinty dispels myths and corrects omissions in earlier sensationalized versions of the story.
Read an excerpt
- Courtesy of the University of Oklahoma Press
Read reviews
“A stunning book about one of the most bizarre captivities in American history.” -- Tucson Citizen
About the author
Brian McGinty is an independent scholar and writer specializing in American history and law. He resides in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Visit your local library to borrow a copy of The Oatman Massacre: A Tale of Desert Captivity in the American Southwest . Or purchase it from the University of Oklahoma Press by calling 1-800-627-7377.