Cowhunter to Captain

By Richard Hammond JR

"Cowhunter to Captain" is a historical adventure set in the Florida Everglades and the Gulf of Mexico, centered on George Meyer and his son, Pete. The story follows their journey from humble "cowhunters" in the Florida scrub to becoming the crew of a repurposed steamship, the Virgin Mary. The Stranding of the Virgin Mary The narrative begins with the Virgin Mary run aground on a sandbar at Punta de Muspa. George's son, Pete, and his friend Ivan-a massive Russian with a genius for mathematics-had successfully seized the vessel from a "pirate" named Captain McClure. However, with a cold boiler and a cargo hold filled with cattle that had accidentally ingested poison, the boys are stranded and helpless against the elements. Seeking Help from the Seminole George Meyer, known to the Seminole as Standing Bear, treks deep into the Everglades to seek aid from Chief Abiaka of the Alligator Clan. Out of respect for George's mother, known as the Turtle Woman, who had once aided the tribe during a sickness, Abiaka agrees to provide a crew. In exchange, the Seminole claim one-third of the cargo and a promise that the ship will never carry soldiers who hunt their people. The Refloating and New Beginnings A group of Seminole braves-Chitto ("Snake"), Nokose ("Bear"), and Cufe ("Rabbit")-join George and return to the ship. Using Ivan's complex mathematical calculations regarding rotational torque and the braves' immense physical strength, the crew successfully breaks the sand's suction and refloats the Virgin Mary as the tide rises. One of the braves, who learned to manage steam engines while formerly enslaved on a Confederate ironclad, takes over the boiler room. Adventures on the High Seas The crew begins a series of high-stakes voyages: Punta Rassa Conflict: They face hostility at the port of Punta Rassa, where the local dockmaster and a man named Mendez attempt to seize the ship based on its piratical past. Through legal maneuvers involving the Federal Collector of Customs and a timely telegraph from the Navy, George proves his rightful ownership. Cattle Drives to Havana: The crew successfully hunts wild scrub cattle, funnels them into the ship using a reinforced V-shaped barrier designed by George, and sails to Cuba to sell them for Spanish gold. The Cuban Revolution: Pete eventually takes full command as Captain, transitioning the ship's mission from simple trade to supporting the Cuban revolution by ferrying supplies and outmaneuvering Spanish naval vessels in the narrow mangrove channels. The story concludes with George returning to his life in the Florida scrub, while Pete embraces his new identity as the Captain of the Virgin Mary, navigating the dangerous waters of the Caribbean.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: B0GW88SDGH
• ISBN13: 9798255135790
• Release Date: April 2026
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 320 Pages
• Weight: 0.70 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 5.0" x 8.0"