Brady's Rangers, Frontier Defenders

Sam Brady was a legend on the Pennsylvania frontier during the American Revolution. He led a band of rangers who protected the settlers in Western Pennsylvania from the attacks of Indians who sided with the British against the colonists. Brady made several daring rescues of people captured by the Indians. His most daring escape from captivity is renown in his famous leap across the Cuyahoga River which his pursuers did not attempt and were left staring in awe. This is the true story of his incredible exploits gleaned from several sources. It is told in fictional form, yet all of the rescues and daring missions described are real and well documented. He is truly an unsung hero of our early frontier and Revolution.

"Who has not heard of Brady-captain of the spies? - Of his perilous adventures by field and flood? - Of his hair-breadth escapes in the imminent deadly breach?- Of his chivalrous courage?- Of his unmatched personal activity?' "He is emphatically the hero of Western Pennsylvania; and future history bards of this region, when time shall have mellowed the facts of history, will find his name the personification of all that was fearless and fruitful of resources in the hour of danger. His the step that faltered not-the eye that quailed not, even in the terrific scenes of Indian warfare. Many a mother has quieted the fears, and lulled to sleep her infant family, by the assurance that the broad Allegheny, the dividing line between the Indians and Whites, was watched by the gallant captain and his Rangers; and to their apprehensions of death or captivity by the Indians, has replied encouragingly,- "They dare not move on the river for there lies Brady and the Rangers!" Quotes of Dr. Lyman Draper, as printed in his manuscripts and 'Sketches of the Life and Adventures of Captain Samuel Brady', as printed in the 'Blairsville Record' and reprinted by S.H. Zahm & CO. Lancaster, Pa. 1891

David Ekardt is an amateur historian with a talent for digging into primary and hard to find resources to construct historical articles, books and discussions. A native of Cincinnati, he attended Miami University in Oxford, Ohio after serving in the Marine Corps. He is a veteran of Vietnam, where he served in 1st Radio Battalion, a signals intelligence unit. Over the years he has reunited many members of his unit and has sponsored several reunions. He gave the dedication speech for the memorial plaque for the members of the unit who died in Vietnam. The plaque was dedicated at the Cryptology museum at Corey Station, Pensacola, where unit members went through training. He served as a Scoutmaster for fourteen years, and taught archery, marksmanship, camping, canoeing and wilderness survival to many Scouts. He has been active in his church also in leadership positions. His forty-four year working career included twenty-four years in security management, corporate management, and has recently retired from the State of Florida Department of Revenue after twenty years' service. All of his positions were leadership positions, which involved dealing with personnel, security, training, mentoring, developing policies and procedures, interviews and interrogations, and prosecutions. His experience in research and documentation has assisted in his writing and history talk pursuits. He has published articles in history magazines and his book, 'The U.S. Marines in the Second Creek and Second Seminole War' is a one of a kind history of the Marines in those conflicts. He regularly gives talks on the history of the Marines in Florida during the Civil War and Second Seminole War, as well as Vietnam at reenactment events, special historical events, civic groups, schools and is a regular at the Tampa Bay History Center.