Join us for an evening with Scott Hibbard reading from Beyond the Rio Gila. “In 1846, the Mexican-American War cast together Latter-day Saints fleeing persecution and the U.S. Army on a desperate mission to capture California. The Mormon Battalion-including two pregnant laundresses-must march two thousand miles. Among the army’s First Dragoons, Moses Cole, a Virginia farm boy running from his abusive father, grows to manhood under the mentorship of a tormented alcoholic and former professor. Among the Mormons, Orson Everett battles personal devils yet teaches his colorful followers to work for their brethren with God in their hearts. On such a journey, some will thrive, some will perish, all will be transformed. This deeply researched depiction of the U.S. military’s longest march, told in evocative prose, brings a little known yet uniquely American story to life.”

Scott G. Hibbard is a fourth-generation Montanan where his family has owned and operated a cattle and sheep ranch for over one hundred years. Scott attended public school in Helena and received a B.A. in English Literature from Williams College and two graduate degrees, an M.F.A in Creative Writing and an M.B.A., from the University of Montana. He worked for the family ranch for a number of years, and while continuing his involvement with the ranch he provided management and consulting services to other ranches. He lives near Helena, Montana.