On the homefront, the women champion the cause of a dead soldier's fianc(hrt)e (Robin Weigert, Calamity Jane on ``Deadwood'' -- now you can see her in a more hygienic role) who's discovering a morass of red tape in getting the government to provide for survivors.

Black-and-white photographs illustrate this memorable tribute that does not overly idealize pioneer women, nor stereotype them as Hollywood media tends to (in the "submissive but sturdy" civilizing woman category, or the "drinking, smoking, cursing" Calamity Jane category), but rather offers an extensively researched yet thoroughly readable portrait that will connect women readers across America with their roots.

And Calamity Jane (Robin Weigert) bests her fog of alcoholism just long enough to provide a history lesson on her time with George Custer for Martha Bullock's (Anna Gunn) schoolchildren.