Arkansas Regulators

Charles Adams is Professor of English and Dean of the Honors College at the University of South Florida. He specializes in Early American Literature with interests in Native American, African American, and world literatures. In addition to numerous essays and reviews, he has published two books: The Guardian of the Law: Authority and Identity in James Fenimore Cooper (1990) and a critical edition of The Narrative of Robert Adams: A Barbary Captive (2005).

“This finely translated edition provides insight into Gerstäcker’s descriptions of frontier Arkansas, and what Germans were reading about America. An Introduction and Selected Bibliography guide the reader to this and other works by Gerstäcker. His novel on Arkansas helps us understand why he was one of the major bestselling authors in the history of German literature.” • German Life“Americans are often amazed and amused at the fascination and enthusiasm Germans have long brought to tales of the American West. It is an enthusiasm, rooted in the real and imagined, that stretches back across nearly two centuries. It’s alive today. Now comes the delightful story of The Arkansas Regulators – translated in its entirety into lively English for the first time since its publication in 1846. This is Friedrich Gerstäcker's celebrated yarn of the frontier, the granddaddy of German novels about the Old West, a picaresque tale that will surely satisfy scholars and charm lay readers.” • Christopher Corbett, author of Orphans Preferred: The Twisted Truth and Lasting Legend of the Pony Express“An accurate, full-length translation of this text has been needed for many years, and it is exciting that Friedrich Gerstäcker’s work is being made available to an English readership.” • Kathleen Condray, University of Arkansas“This is a solid piece of scholarship and an excellent translation. Irmscher and Adams deserve praise for their historical thoroughness and rediscovery of Gerstäcker's American legacy.” • Wolfgang Hochbruck, University of Freiburg

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgementsA Note about the TextList of AbbreviationsIntroductionForewordChapter 1. The Reader Makes the Acquaintance of Four Worthy Fellows and Learns More about Their CircumstancesChapter 2. Several New Persons Make Their Appearance on the Stage: Wonderful Hunting Adventure of “The Little Man”Chapter 3. The Indian and the Methodist – An Invitation to a WeddingChapter 4. The Regulators – Squabble and StruggleChapter 5. Brown and MarionChapter 6. Bear Baiting – The Strange Discovery – The Indian’s IngenuityChapter 7. Two Genuine Backwoodsmen – Bahrens’ and Harper’s StoriesChapter 8. Morning in the Log Cabin – Searching for the Traces of Blood Found the Previous Evening – Assowaum Dives for the CorpseChapter 9. The Gang of Four Negotiates a Business Matter – Rowson’s Righteous Indignation at the Murder, and Marion’s WeaknessChapter 10. The Sheriff’s Election in Pettyville – A Lack of Rosin The Pursuers Are on the TrailChapter 11. Assowaum, the “Feathered Arrow,” and His Squaw – Weston and Cotton Await Impatiently Their ComradesChapter 12. The Horse Thieves’ Trick – The Surprise – Alapaha and RowsonChapter 13. The Preacher Unmasked by the Indian Woman – The Successful EscapeChapter 14. Brown on His Way Home – The Mysterious Meeting – The Indian – The Old Farmer – A Canoe TripChapter 15. The Prayer Meeting – The Terrible MessageChapter 16. The DeathwatchChapter 17. The Burial of the Indian WomanChapter 18. Roberts’ Adventure on the Panther Hunt. – The Water PartyChapter 19. Harper’s Dwelling – Cook’s Account of the Pursuit of the Horse Thieves – Harper’s and Bahrens’ Wonderful TalesChapter 20. Rowson at Roberts’ – AssowaumChapter 21. Wilson’s Confessions – The Beautiful Washerwoman – An Arkansas Cradle – The RetreatChapter 22. Atkins’ Dwelling – The Strange Visit – The PasswordChapter 23. A Gang of Criminals – Unexpected Guests – The New SchemeChapter 24. The Pioneer Family – The New Regulator Sets a Trap for HimselfChapter 25. Harper and Marion – Ellen’s Arrival at Roberts’Chapter 26. The Regulators’ Meeting – Jones Finds Himself in a Most Unpleasant Position – Cunning versus CunningChapter 27. The Return from the MeetingChapter 28. The Indian on Johnson’s TrailChapter 29. Rowson at Roberts’ – The Turkey Hunt – Ellen and MarionChapter 30. The AmbushChapter 31. The Company of Ladies – Account of Various Children’s Illnesses, Related for the Consolation of the Mother – The SurpriseChapter 32. The Cross OakChapter 33. The Criminal UnmaskedChapter 34. The SiegeChapter 35. Ruse and Counter-Ruse – The Assault – Indian and MethodistChapter 36. The Court of the RegulatorsChapter 37. Roberts’ HouseChapter 38. The Revenge of the “Feathered Arrow”Chapter 39. CodaSelected Bibliography