Description:
New York, NY: Hill and Wang. 2000. Hard Cover. 0809073978 . In April 1879, on a remote military base in west Texas, a decorated Army officer of dubious moral reputation faced a court-martial. Captain Andrew Geddes had spoken out about an "unspeakable" act he had accused a fellow officer, Louis Orleman, of incest with his teenage daughter Lillie. Yet it was Geddes the Army charged with "conduct unbecoming a gentleman, " for his accusation had come about because Orleman was preparing to charge Geddes with attempting to seduce and abduct the same young lady. Which man was the villain and which the savior? "In this insightful examination of a nineteenth-century court-martial, Louise Barnett presents evidence that upholding patriarchal values was more important than protecting women and children in the frontier army an ironic commentary on an officer corps that prided itself on its chivalrous conduct. "-Shirley A. Leckie Near fine with light foxing and dust soiling top page edges in fine jacket. See photos clph