Author Description

ALL BUT ONE is a 19th Century account of the Putman children of Gonzales, Texas, who were kidnapped by Comanche's, and their father's relentless search to find and bring them home. Spanning four decades-the 1820s to 1860s-this dramatic novel, rich in historical detail, begins with Mitchell Putman-who fought in the War of 1812 and Indian Creek War-before migrating from South Carolina to Mexican Texas. Like thousands of Americans, lured by the promise of cheap land by the Mexican government, hopes were high. However, things turn bloody with battles erupting between newly arrived white settlers, Mexicans, and Native Americans. In 1836, under the leadership of General Sam Houston, the Texan Army-including Mitchell Putman-defeat the Mexican Army in the Battle of San Jacinto which established the Texas Republic. One Bright December day in 1838, while collecting pecans near their home, a band of Comanche warriors abduct four of the Putman children-James, Sarah, Rhoda, and Judith Lucy-and their friend Matilda Lockhart, taking them into a life of trade and slavery. All But One chronicles Mitchell's attempts to retrieve the children at all costs-even becoming known as 'White Devil Mitch' among the Comanche tribe. In the end, providential powers bring the last daughter home.