Starlight Ranch and Other Stories of Army Life on the Frontier

Charles King (1844-1933) was a United States soldier and a distinguished writer. He served in the Army during the Indian Wars under George Crook. In 1898, he was appointed brigadier general of volunteers and sailed to the Philippines during the Spanish-American War. The fighting with Spain was over by the time he arrived, but he assisted in the surrender negotiations. During the following Philippine-American War, King was placed in command of the first Brigade in Henry W. Lawton's division. He was incapacitated by sickness during the Battle of Santa Cruz, but he returned to fight in the following Battle of Pagsanjan. King returned to the United States and was active in the Wisconsin National Guard and in training troops for World War I. He wrote and edited over sixty books and novels. Among his famous works are: Marion's Faith (1887), The Deserter (1887), From the Ranks (1887), Under Fire (1894), An Apache Princess (1903) and To the Front (1908).