Against the backdrop of the French and Indian War, an indentured servant and a legendary Colonel must navigate a landscape of burning forts and broken alliances to exact a desperate vengeance at the native stronghold of Kittanning.

• This novella (originally titled After Braddock Failed) retells the colonial military history of Pennsylvania.
• The narrative is set during the French and Indian War, specifically focusing on events occurring in the summer of 1756.
• The story unfolds on the Pennsylvania frontier, transitioning from Berks County to a new settlement west of the Susquehanna River near Fort Granville (modern-day Lewistown, PA).
• The plot follows Benjon Quimby, an indentured servant, as he becomes embroiled in the conflict after Captain Jacobs and French-led forces burn Fort Granville and kill Lieutenant Edward Armstrong.
• It depicts Colonel John Armstrong’s subsequent retaliatory raid on the native stronghold of Kittanning and includes notable historical figures such as Hugh Mercer.

Revenge at Kittanning is a gripping historical fiction novella set against the volatile backdrop of the French and Indian War in 1756, bringing to life a pivotal yet often overlooked chapter of Pennsylvania’s colonial history. The narrative follows Benjon Quimby, an indentured servant whose journey to the frontier of the Big Valley takes a harrowing turn when the French-led native forces, commanded by the elusive Captain Jacobs, lay siege to the newly constructed Fort Granville. Through Benjon's eyes, the story captures the visceral tension of life on the edge of the wilderness, where survival hinges on the precarious balance between backbreaking labor and the constant threat of guerrilla warfare.

The story shifts from the daily rhythms of homesteading to the brutal realities of war after the tragic death of Lieutenant Edward Armstrong. This loss sparks a desperate mission for vengeance led by his brother, Colonel John Armstrong, who organizes a retaliatory raid on the native stronghold at Kittanning. Rather than a sanitized epic, the book offers a grounded and detailed portrayal of the era's military strategies, featuring notable historical figures like Hugh Mercer and exploring the motivations of the Scotch-Irish and German settlers who bore the brunt of the conflict. Rich in historical detail and atmospheric tension, it serves as both a compelling adventure and a valuable historiographical look at how early frontier conflicts were interpreted. 

Author: Herbert Stover  Foreword by Lawrence Knorr
Page Count: 120
Trim Size: 6 x 9
Publish Date: December 30, 2023
Imprint: Catamount Press
Genre: Historical Fiction

FICTION / Historical / Colonial America & Revolution
FICTION / Small Town & Rural