As an outpost of the advancing frontier, Kentucky played a crucial military role. Kentucky's state militia, which, under federal law, enrolled every able-bodied male citizen aged eighteen to forty-five, helped to secure the West for white settlers during the bloody Indian wars. Its members suffered defeat, capture, and death in the War of 1812, but also contributed to victories in the battles of the Thames and New Orleans. Though some Kentucky volunteers campaigned in the Mexican-American War, the general militia was moribund by the middle of the nineteenth century. Its infrequent musters had degenerated into sometimes mirthful and sometimes tragic frolics. A Brittle Sword provides a lively interpretation of Kentucky's citizen-soldiers and their role in the military history of both the state and the nation.

From raw steel to tempered blade, this text presents a visual account of thencient craft of swordmaking as practiced in modern Japan.

Mother Nature: The Ultimate Teacher & Preacher unveils a captivating collection of ancient Nyishi proverbs, deeply rooted in the natural world and passed down through generations. These universal Nyishi couplets and proverbs, drawn from tribal life in the hidden lands of India, have now been translated into English, bringing their timeless wisdom to a global audience. Each proverb, rich in metaphor and meaning, invites readers to explore the teachings that have shaped the Nyishi way of life for centuries. This collection reveals the core of Nyishi ethics, philosophy, and social systems,guiding their social interactions, spiritual beliefs, and economic practices. The proverbs are primarily in rhythmic couplets, with some in tercets and quatrains, all inspired by nature and adding beauty to these teachings. For generations, they have provided practical advice on finances, education, conflict resolution, and building relationships. This book is the first written record of these invaluable teachings, ensuring they remain accessible and relevant today. Excitingly, Mother Nature: The Ultimate Teacher & Preacher, Volume II will be released in next ninety days,continuing this vital work of cultural preservation.

The sword was the most important of weapons, the symbol of the warrior, not to mention the badge of a officer and a gentleman. Much has been written about the artistic and historical significance of the sword, but outside specialised publications, relatively little about its metallurgy, and that often confined to a particular group. This book aims to tell the story of the making of iron and steel swords from the first Celtic examples through the Middle Ages to the Early Modern period. The results of the microscopic examination of over a hundred swords by the author and other archaeometallurgists are given and explained in terms of the materials available in Europe.