Larry Weirather

In order to prove or disprove Barton's claims, scholarly research needed to be applied.  Thus, Warlord Cowboys in China:  The Fred Barton Story of the World's Greatest Horse Drive includes copious referencing and bibliography, while still remaining an easy read for anyone interested in horses, adventure, the Old West, China, Fort Keogh, Montana history, C.M. Russell, rodeo, warlords, and the 15th Infantry.  Proof is also offered through surviving photographs.

 Since the author's father-in-law served in the last remaining horse unit of the U.S. Army in World War II, fighting in Burma and China, this little known story of cowboys in China had to be told.

There is more to be told.  The author welcomes additional information readers may have.

Out of print now at Amazon.com, and eStore at https://www.createspace.com/3380950.

ISBN 1442149760, paperback, 2009,                    210 pages, index, endnotes, bibliography

 

Warlord Cowboys in China: The Fred Barton Story of the World's Greatest Horse Drive

For some time the Fred Barton story seemed to be a lot of bragging and hot air, but years of research  prove that the story of the world's largest horse ranch and the longest horse drive are indeed true. 

Warlord Cowboys in China:  The Fred Barton Story of the World's Greatest Horse Drive gives the biography of the man who made the claims.

As an accomplished Miles City, Montana, cowboy, Barton was recruited by representatives of the Russian Czar to create the world's largest horse ranch in Siberia just before World War I.  When the Czar was killed and China splintered into warlord provinces, warlords recruited Barton to do for them what he was going to do for the Russians.  Interbreeding Mongol ponies with Russian Orlovs and American Morgans on his ranch in Shansi, China, he produced horses for the Chinese military until invading Japanese ended his venture in World War II.  He recruited various rodeo stars from Montana and wranglers of the U.S. 15th Infantry in Tientsin, China, to accomplish his venture, including moving a herd of horses from Siberia through Manchuria, Mongolia, and China.  He went on to become friends with Hollywood Western stars and became a collector of the art of C.M. Russell, whom he considered a close friend.

As you will see, Barton was a colorful character, warts and all.  If you like true life adventure, this has it.  As an advance reviewer says, "It's a fascinating story."