W. F. Drannan

Chief of Scouts W. F. Drannan

William Drannan wrote Chief of Scouts about his time with Kit Carson, but was he really there? Did he do all that he says he did? This is up for speculation. According to an article titled Murder He Wrote a Rock Hard History by Edward and Diane Stasack: "Who was Willie Drannan? According to Drannan himself, he became a companion to Kit Carson in 1847 when Carson befriended the youngster, traveled with the famous explorer Colonel John C. Fremont and, in time, became an accomplished scout. According to Carter and other historians he was a self-serving opportunistic scoundrel who invented his associations with Carson and Fremont, never was where he said he was, and never did what he said he did. Much of the criticism is based on inconsistent events and dates." The reader must discern for himself whether Willie's story is fact, fiction, or somewhere in between.