Meriwether: Soldier in the Northwest Territory - Paperback

by Thomas J. Kellner (Author)

Couriers, spies, and treachery abound during the American Revolution and the period that followed. Meriwether Lewis and his father served as soldiers and couriers during this period in American history. Long before he set out on his famous exploration of the American West with William Clark, Meriwether Lewis served as a soldier in the Virginia Militia, called up by President Washington to quell the Whiskey Rebellion. He then went on to serve in the regular army in the newly formed Northwest Territory. It was a time when the second in command of the army was a paid spy for the Spanish. A time when the new territories struggled with Indian wars, corrupt and self-serving political leaders as well as patriots struggling maintain the new republic. It was a time when individuals dedicated their lives to the new republic. It was also a time when land hungry greed thrived. When self-serving individuals plotted to subvert the new republic, and even establish their private fiefdoms, separate from the republic.

MERIWETHER is a fictional work concerning the historical characters and events of that time. Meriwether Lewis serves as a courier and a staff officer to the commanding general, "Mad" Anthony Wayne shortly after Wayne defeats the Indian confederation in the Northwest Territory. He encounters many of the actual historical figures from this period. He falls in love with a whiskey rebel girl only to lose her. He joins William Clark's rangers. He pursues English and Spanish spies who moved about the region during that period.

MERIWETHER is embroiled in many of the issues that plagued the early founders of the republic. This new form of government that Benjamin Franklin called a "Republic, if you can keep it." Lewis's character struggles to keep the republic against greedy individuals and traitors. The novel is based on many actual events and issues of that period as well as many real men and women who lived during this turbulent period.