Andrew Huebner Knihy

In 1876 three US Army Scouts leading an infantry column arrive at the scene of the Battle of Little Bighorn on the morning after General Custer's defeat. They are the first to witness the aftermath of the massacre. The mission to clear the land of Indian tribes then becomes one of revenge and the three scouts are dispatched on a journey lasting over a year, following the trail of the retreating Indians through desolate, wintry Montana. Andrew Heubner's great-great-grandfather is a family legend. In 1876 he left his family in New Jersey to join the US Army on the Western Frontier, arriving a day late for the Battle of Little Bighorn. Out of these scant details, Andrew Heubner has woven an intense and powerful novel that shatters some of the central myths of American history.

The narrative revolves around two brothers with contrasting paths during the first Gulf War. Smith, a soldier, confronts the harsh realities of war and grapples with the burdens of patriotism and camaraderie. In contrast, Sam, a protester and aspiring writer, struggles with his convictions and personal demons, including addiction. Their experiences highlight the emotional toll of war on both the battlefield and at home, revealing the complex sacrifices made by families torn between duty and dissent.