Powder Mission

From the battle lines of Pennsylvania to the dank confines of a British prison in Detroit, Martin Joe Richtier must recover a stolen shipment of Spanish gold in Powder Mission—a gripping Revolutionary War saga of danger, intrigue, and romance.

• High-Stakes Revolutionary War Espionage: Set against the backdrop of George Washington’s beleaguered forces, the narrative follows a perilous mission to transport critical Spanish gold and gunpowder from New Orleans through enemy-infested territory to save the Patriot cause.
• A Gripping "Race Against Time" Narrative: The plot centers on Martin Joe Richtier, a personal envoy of General Anthony Wayne, who must take sole responsibility for recovering a stolen shipment of gold while navigating a landscape of shifting loyalties and military intrigue.
• Authentic Frontier Adventure: Readers are immersed in the brutal reality of the 18th-century American frontier, featuring river pirate ambushes, survival in Indian-dense territories, and the "dank confines" of a British prison in Detroit.
• Compelling Romantic Tension: A central element of the story is the complex relationship between Richtier and the courageous Hester Jordan, whose suspicious ties to Tory sympathizers create a layer of romantic conflict and internal doubt.
• Expertly Rendered Historical Detail: Written by noted historical novelist Herbert E. Stover, the book leverages "intimate knowledge of the times and terrain" to bring recognizable historical figures and settings to life with executive-level precision.

At the edge of the American frontier, a desperate mission is forged in the fires of the Revolution. George Washington’s forces are cornered, and their only hope lies in a secret shipment of Spanish gold and gunpowder traveling north from New Orleans. But when the gold is stolen, the fate of the Patriot cause falls onto the shoulders of one man: Martin Joe Richtier.

A personal envoy of General Anthony Wayne, Richtier is a "rawboned, redheaded hellion" with a penchant for knife fights and a reputation for trouble. His search for the stolen shipment plunges him into a world of treacherous intrigue, leading him from the bloody Pennsylvania battle lines to the brutal, "dank confines" of a British prison in Detroit.

The journey is fraught with peril. Richtier must navigate "Indian-dense" territories, evade ruthless river pirates, and outmaneuver Tory spies who threaten the mission from within. Amidst the shadows of espionage, he is haunted by his feelings for the courageous Hester Jordan—a woman whose frequent association with Tory sympathizers casts a dark cloud of suspicion over their romance.

In Powder Mission, noted historical novelist Herbert E. Stover masterfully brings the 18th-century American landscape to life. With intimate knowledge of the times and terrain, Stover weaves a gripping narrative of sacrifice and high-stakes adventure. It is a story of a few men—the "Lambs" of the Revolutionary War—playing for the biggest stakes of all: the survival of a new nation.

Herbert Elisha "Bert" Stover, of Livonia, Pennsylvania, was a well-known area historian. Born at his homestead at the top of the mountain between Loganton and Livonia January 15, 1888, he was the son of Adam & Jessie (DeLong) Stover. He was married (June 9, 1917) to the former Elva Kyler who died in 1955. They had two daughters, Ann Stover McFate of English Center and Marjorie Murray of Williamsport; two grandchildren and four great grandchildren.Beginning at the age of 17, Mr. Stover was a school teacher. He taught in the schools of Brush Valley and schools of Huntingdon, Austin and Philipsburg. He also taught at Lock Haven State College and was the principal of the Lock Haven High School. Mr. Stover was the supervising principal of the Lewisburg School System for 25 years before his retirement in 1953. He was a graduate of Lock Haven State College and received his master's degree in Education from Bucknell University at Lewisburg. He also took several courses at PSU. After his retirement Mr. Stover did some graduate teaching at Bucknell.In the 1920s, he wrote short stories for many magazines across the country but was rejected nearly all the time. His short story "My Lesson" was accepted by True Confessions magazine in February 1929, but then the stock market crashed and the Great Depression followed.During World War II, Stover compiled a schoolbook titled History of Pennsylvania which was published in 1944 and circulated across the Commonwealth. This was followed by several historical novels that gained national acclaim, the most famous of which was Song of the Susquehanna (1949). Mr. Stover was a member of the Great Island Presbyterian Church in Lock Haven and an elder of the First Presbyterian Church in Lewisburg. He is buried at Dunnstown Cemetery.