Dead Man's Walk - Allusions/references To Actual History, Geography and Current Science

Allusions/references To Actual History, Geography and Current Science

Although the exact time frame of the story is not given, the historical context of the events occurring sometime in the early 1840s is authentic. The Republic of Texas did indeed attempt to annex part of New Mexico, in what historians refer to as the Santa Fe Expedition. As seen in this story, it was a failure. The incident involving the drawing of beans to decide who would be spared, however, is actually loosely based on the fate of the so-called Mier Expedition prisoners, in which the historical Bigfoot Wallace was, in fact, a participant. Bigfoot Wallace, though, died over 50 years later in 1899, unlike this fictional story's character of the same name.

The characters of the novel briefly encounter an individual who identifies himself as "Charlie Goodnight," who warns them against continuing their expedition based on his superior knowledge of the terrain and geography. The non-fictional Charles Goodnight was one of the most famous cattle ranchers in Texas history and is sometimes called "the father of the Texas Panhandle." The historical Charles Goodnight, however, was a young boy at the time of the events portrayed in the novel, having been born in 1836.

Major Randall Chevallie, who appears in the first part of the novel, may be loosely based upon Major Michael Chevallie, an actual leader of the Texas Rangers who led "Chevallie's Battalion" in the Mexican-American War and who participated in the Battle of Monterrey. Although the book suggests the fictional Major Chevallie died in San Antonio, Texas shortly after the events recounted in the early part of the novel, in actuality, the historical Major Chevallie lived until 1852 and died in Stockton, California.

The two Indian scalpers who appear in the book -- James Kirker and John Glanton -- are likewise actual historical figures. John Glanton is perhaps best known for his central role in Cormac McCarthy's own famous American novel about the Indian scalping trade, Blood Meridian.

In her attempt to unnerve the Comanches by playing to their superstitions, Lady Carey sings Verdi arias. She also claims to have studied singing under Verdi. In 1841, Verdi was 28, and his first major success, Nabucco, was a year in the future. The author is apparently stretching the truth to make the clever ending possible.