A Band of Merry Men

Once Leonard was in place, Walker recruited some of the boldest and most experienced mountain men around - and also the most unruly and difficult to lead.  Enter Crazy Bill Williams, the savage, talk-to-yourself guy from the Santa Fe days, one Levin Mitchell who later became known as the most notorious frontier thief, George Nidever, one of the best rifle shots in the West, Powell Weaver and Bill Craig, who fled the East after killing a man, and finally Joe Meek, the partier who ran away at 16 after beating his teacher.

What a bunch of guys!  

Each man was given 4 horses, equal shares of blankets, buffalo robes, provisions and every article of comfort for an expedition of its kind.  The men looked on Walker as a "good leader, one of the best, a good hunter, a good trapper, thoroughly versed in Indian signs, and possessing a good knowledge of the mountains", said Nidever.  

Next Time...They're Off!