Joe Goodbody

Most people have never heard of Parker Hardin French (1826-1878)—and that’s part of the fun. KENTUCKY BARRACUDA is the improbably true historical biography of nineteenth-century America’s greatest forgotten rogue: con man, hustler, swindler and political chameleon. He schemed his way across America—into politics, diplomacy, journalism, shipbuilding, business, law, adventurism, foreign intrigue, war and revolution—reinventing himself whenever his last lie caught up with him—OR he found a better opportunity. History doesn’t have to be dull. Sometimes it makes you stop and say, “NO WAY!” Sometimes it is downright funny. Meet Parker Hardin French. Would you have bought what he was selling? a.co/d/0eOW672U #KentuckyBarracuda #HistoricalDrama #AntebellumAmerica #CivilWarHistory #ReconstructionEra

Happy Birthday to the United States Army, and Happy Flag Day. On this day, we honor the Army’s long record of service and sacrifice, and we salute the flag that represents the nation, its people, and those who have defended it.

Nugget 27: The “Truth Chase Expands” 📷 The truth is now racing 4–5 times faster than Parker Hardin French’s struggling expedition. Devastating documents of forged credit schemes, and furious creditors, tear west from New Orleans to the Texas coast and then to San Antonio — while French’s men crawl through brutal West Texas terrain in complete ignorance. New Orleans papers arrive with screaming headlines: “GREAT FRAUD — PARKER HARDIN FRENCH IMPLICATED IN FORGED CREDIT SCHEME.” The noose is tightening. In San Antonio, Army officers, including Major James Longstreet, now know the truth. So do angry merchants, ranchers, muleskinners-- many are tough frontier veterans of Texas Independence and the Mexican War. Meanwhile, the expedition barely moves — just 7 to 10 miles per day. From Comanche Springs through the rugged Wild Rose Pass, into the hellish Canon de Los Lamentos (later Quitman Pass), and on toward El Paso. Emaciated mules, damaged wagons, exhausted and dejected men. No blissful ignorance here — only growing suspicion and bitterness. Famed frontier courier and scout Henry Skillman now joins the chase. He covers 50–60 miles a day (trotting and walking — never the Hollywood gallop). In a single day he covers what the wagon train struggles to make in nearly a week. He carries the warrants, liens, complaints, and damning letters and telegraphs. Everyone along the route now knows French is a fraud…Everyone except the men who still rely on him. The walls are closing in on the KENTUCKY BARRACUDA. This is one dramatic episode in one of the wildest con-man stories of the entire Antebellum and Civil War eras. Want the full, outrageous tale? Grab: KENTUCKY BARRACUDA: Parker H. French (1826-1878) See AMAZON: a.co/d/0eOW672U Choose hardcover, paperback or Kindle, or search for the Spanish version. Which part of French’s 1850 disaster shocks you the most? Drop it below. #ParkerHFrench #GoldRush #WildWest #TexasHistory

Nugget 26: The “Truth Chase” gathers steam New Orleans, August 28, 1850 — and the days that followed. The news hit the Crescent City like a gut punch. Parker H. French’s expedition had rolled into town back in May, living large at the best hotels and restaurants, paying with flashy bank drafts drawn on Howland and Aspinwall: Champagne, steaks, fine rooms — all on worthless paper. Now the drafts were coming back protested. And the victims moved fast. Hoteliers from the St. Charles and other grand establishments, restaurateurs, merchants, suppliers, and any banker who’d discounted his notes sprang into action: Gathering every receipt, invoice, and bill — stacking evidence with receipts and witness statements. Rushing to notaries public to formally protest the dishonored drafts. Heading straight to the District Attorney’s office seeking arrest warrants for forgery and swindling. Filing civil lawsuits in Orleans Parish courts, desperate to attach any assets French or his men might have left behind. Organizing creditor meetings and placing urgent newspaper notices in the Daily Picayune, Delta, and Crescent — warning the public and calling on other victims to come forward. The commercial quarter buzzed with angry businessmen, lawyers, and clerks compiling losses and plotting next moves. Warrants were being sworn, claims were being filed, and the hunt for justice — and recovery — was on. 1850 New Orleans didn’t take swindles lightly. Drop your thoughts below. #GoldRush #NewOrleans1850 #AmericanHistory #HistoricalSwindles

Nugget 25: “The Truth Chase” Moves at a velocity the frontier can’t match! Devastating news hit like lightning: “FRENCH — FRAUD — FORGED LETTERS OF CREDIT.” It raced south over the nascent telegraph network that had just linked NYC and NOLA the previous spring. The commercial shock was keenly felt on August 27, 1850, when the Times-Picayune broke the story. Agents, bankers, merchants, hoteliers, and restaurateurs in New Orleans woke up to the fraud...and to their heavy losses. While the scandal rocketed 1,175 crow-flies miles in minutes, Parker H. French’s expedition was still crawling across West Texas at a brutal 5–7 miles per day. The 19th century’s technology revolution was already outrunning the Wild West. #19thcenturytech #kentuckybarracuda #wildwest #truecrime

Nugget 24: The “TRUTH CHASE” Gets Real August 17–19, 1850 Comanche Springs, West Texas (future site of Fort Stockton) “French’s Express Passenger Train” limps in for water and rest—110 days after leaving NYC and after 65 brutal trail days in Texas. French had boldly guaranteed the entire New York-to-California journey in just 60 days. Morale is shattered. Broken wagons, exhausted animals, empty promises, and rising suspicion have turned the gold-rush dream into a nightmare. Meanwhile, 2,000 miles away in New York City, the offices of Howland & Aspinwall-- a shock! Accountants flag $30,000 in drafts drawn on the firm from New Orleans and Southern Texas ranchers. The partners: “We never approved any letter of credit. Those drafts are forged!” Over the following week, more forged instruments flood in. The total climbs to $92,000—roughly $3.4 million in today’s dollars, but with the economic wallop of $10–12 million or more for a firm like Howland & Aspinwall. That sum could outfit and launch a full clipper ship for multiple profitable voyages or fund major stakes in the Panama transit route. New York newspapers erupt: “GREAT FRAUD — PARKER H. FRENCH: FORGED CREDIT SCHEME.” The “Truth Chase” has just unmasked one of the boldest con men of the antebellum era. Now, someone must catch him! Parker French believes he is safe. The train's "Passengers" travel in miserable and troubled ignorance. Stay linked for more of the saga: #antebellum #HowlandAspinwall #TexasHistory #ParkerFrench #GoldRushScams #1850sFraud