Expansion Books

A searing indictment of white racial hatred, gross stupidity, avarice, and a cultural superiority complex bordering on madness, which forced Colorado's Ute people, like other Native people, off their ancestral homelands. White American history has too often had a grandiose view of its origins, conveniently omitting or minimizing duplicitous government policies and the general mood of the populace, with a few exceptions, calling for the extermination of the Utes and other tribes to make Western expansion and wealth possible. This book reveals these omissions in gripping detail and sets the historical record straight. Our children need to know that having fought and won freedom from the British and for black slaves, the US fell flat on its face and became the very tyrants they despised when dealing with Native people. This book should be mandatory reading for every high school student.
We all live on both forcefully taken and sacred ground long inhabited and revered before any white man set foot on these shores. We know where the Utes and Lakota are, but where are the Agawam & Nipmuc (MA), the Ponca & Kansa, the Chinook (WA)? Native people today have yet to fully recover from the sordid beginnings of the US. We owe an immeasurable debt to them, not only financially for treaty funds mismanaged but spiritually as we belatedly see the wisdom in their deep respect for the land that guided them to live in harmony with it and the greater circle of life, of which humans are but one member. I pray we wake up as a people before the initial and unabated greed for short-term profits fouls our nest irreversibly.

Written by Peter R. Decker (Professor of History and Public Policy at Duke University), "The Utes Must Go!": American Expansion And The Removal Of A People encompasses three centuries of Ute Indian history, as it chronicles the involuntary removal of the Ute Indians from Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming. Its title drawn from a newspaper advertisement championing the removal of Utes in the Denver Tribune, "The Utes Must Go!" is a powerful true drama of a proud people who suffered from pioneer settlement and racisim, and who also experienced tragedy from misguided intentions, such as Indian Agent Nathan Meeker's ill-fated attempt to turn Indian hunters into farmers, which brought about tragedy at Milk Creek in 1879. A colorful and detailed account, offering glimpses into figure thats made their mark on history such as Colorado Governor Frederick Pitkin, General William T. Sherman, newspaperman Horace Greeley, and much more. A well-researched, fact-filled, and undeniably attention-gripping in its depiction of raw territorial and colonial greed.

Peter R. Decker has written a magisterial, riveting work about the removal of the Ute Indians from Colorado. He paints the American West of the mid-to late-19th century with such colorful, vivid strokes that one can't help but be transported to the "scene of the crime."

This is truly an impressive and important accomplishment of documentation and narrative. Decker's biographical sketches of the key players in the drama -- from Ute leaders Ouray and Captain Jack to hapless Indian agent Nathan Meeker, to Interior Secretary Carl Schurtz, are masterly in themselves. For sheer energy and artistry, nothing I've read on the subject approaches it.

this is one of the best Lewis and Clark books, well researche and very easy to read. The objectivity of the author makes the book come forward to the present day and lets the reader see the total effect of the Lewis and Clark discoveries. A must read for any student of western history

Lavender has presented the story of Lewis & Clark in a format that makes reading history exciting. As a teacher of American History, this book is on my suggested reading list and the one most often discussed in class.

For students of the American West or Lewis & Clark, this as a "must read".

David Lavender just may have written the definitive history of the Lewis and Clark expedition. It is a wonderfully wrought narrative, capturing the full width and breadth of this incredible journey. Lavender's sardonic tongue deflates many of the myths surrounding the "voyage of discovery," noting that for the most part this was a well-trodden path. The only actual "discovery" was that of linking the Missouri to the Columbia. However, this makes it no less an adventure.

He downplays the significance of Sacagewea. For the most part she was little used on this voyage. Her one major contribution was helping to secure horses for the great fording of the Bitteroot Mountains. Still, Lavender lavishes much attention on her and her son, which it seems that William Clark did as well. Her presence seemed to secure safe passage during their final leg down the Columbia River, as it made the expedition team seem less war-like.

Lavender also provides the background for the voyage, detailing President Jefferson's dream to establish an American Northwest Passage, linking one ocean to another. Lavender probes the seemingly paternal relationship between Jefferson and Lewis, and how Jefferson was able to win Congress over to a third attempt to cross the continent, despite questions regarding Lewis' qualifications. Jefferson personally trained Lewis for the expedition and provided added tutelage in the form of the leading lights of American science. Like a devoted son, Lewis made every effort to carry out the mission, which Jefferson sponsored, even when it seemed foolhardy to do so.

For those who haven't travelled this route before, you will be in good hands with David Lavender. For those who have, I think you will marvel at how masterful a job Lavender does in recording the events, giving the best rounded version of the "voyage of discovery" that I have read.

James Josiah Webb was a young enterprising man in his twenties who made several trips down the Santa Fe and Chihuahua Trails in the 1840's and this is his account of what life was like then. While not exactly filled with tales of high adventure or edge of your seat drama, it is a good character study of relationships between Americans, Mexicans and Native Americans. The chapters on his 1846 trading venture during war time Mexico are very insightful and gives the reader a feeling for what it must have been like going through those tense and turbulent times of political unrest. A good book.

In January 1888, a few months shy of his 70th birthday, James Josiah Webb sat down in his Connecticut home and began writing his memoirs of his days as a Santa Fe trader, which had consumed 17 years of his life from 1844 to 1861. Unfortunately, a year later, after writing about only the first three years of that experience, Webb died. Although unfinished, this is Webb's manuscript as it lay in his desk the day he died.

After settling in St. Louis from his family's home in Connecticut, Webb became interested in the trade caravans that took goods between Independence, MO, and Santa Fe (and other points in Mexico). In 1844 he made his first trading expedition; although it wasn't a huge success, he returned to St. Louis and, with a partner, planned another trip. This second venture the following year was a big success. But the war with Mexico threw a monkey wrench into things, and on his third trip the partners decided to bring their goods beyond Santa Fe to near Mexico City. They were arrested in Chihuahua, where they remained prisoners for a month, and when finally released, proceeded on to San Juan de los Lagos, where they sold their goods. His account ends with their return to St. Louis.

Webb must have had a phenomenal memory because his narrative is packed with anecdotes and encounters with other traders and trail travelers that seem fresh and complete. He apparently kept all his account books and business records for all his years spent in the trade, but there is no mention of him keeping journals. His style is breezy and informal, and the book hasn't been "doctored" in any way by the editor (except for spelling and grammar corrections). The editor, Ralph Bieber, has done an excellent job (in footnotes) in identifying geographical features mentioned and expanding on various people encountered by Webb. The only criticism I have is the book is lacking an index, which would be useful. It's a fascinating first-hand account of life on the Santa Fe Trail (and Mexico). Webb's manuscript ran some 250 pages yet covered only three years; one can only imagine had he lived longer to complete his memoirs how many volumes they would comprise. If the rest were only half as interesting and informative as this volume, they would still be worth looking into.

I was able to get a copy of 'Alexander the Great" while visiting England recently and anyone who sees Oliver Stone's Alexander movie should read this book. It offers a scholarly insight into Alexander the Great's life and the power-plays that went on within his court. It is easy to read for the layperson but is extremely well researched. This book should also appeal to those who are looking for a good murder mystery. I don't know how many historians will agree with the author's conclusions, but it is certain to keep them eagerly turning the pages. I give this book top marks.

I'm a great admirer of Alexander the Great, and own practically every book written about him. However, this is the first book that focuses exclusively on studying in depth the mystery of his untimely death. Phillips' book reads like an Agatha Christe muder mystery, only this time it's a real event that changed the course of history. I could not stop reading it, savoring every chapter as the author closes in on his murderer and the reasons behind it. At the end, the author convinces you that Alexander was really mudered and gives you ample reasons to accept the culprit he has uncovered. It's an absolute success of a murder mystery. I highly recommend it to both history and crime mystery buffs.

Professor of Historic Preservation and Anthropology Donald Hardesty presents The Archaeology Of The Donner Party, an extensively researched history of an ill-fated expedition to California in the winter of 1846-1847. Trapped by snow in the uppermost reaches of the Sierra Nevada, half of the Donner Party perished from starvation; the remaining half had to cannibalize their dead to survive. The tragedy became fuel for legends, folklore, and stories about westward expansion; but what truly happened? The Archaeology Of The Donner Party turns to the science of archaeology to unravel long-standing mysteries. Contributions by Michael Brodhead, Donald Grayson, Susan Lindstrom, and George Miller aid the author in gathering as much raw data as possible, some of which is offered in the form of charts for the reader's perusal; the result is an astute cross-examination of the telltale footprints of history. A handful of black-and-white The Archaeology Of The Donner Party is welcome not only for its meticulous reconstruction of a devastating tragedy, but also as an example of how archaeology can aid in the study of relatively recent history as surely as the history of civilizations from thousands of years ago.

Read this book after reading "Frozen in Time" (about the Franklin expedition lost in the arctic) and "Alive" (about a 1972 plane crash in the Andes), both terrible and true tales of people forced to fight death and starvation.

This book is as stunning as the other two!

The book is well researched. Dramatic. Brings to light details and hypothesis of how these people coped in the face of death.

It is interesting seeing this team piece together the Donner party's activities.

Fantastic read if your into human adventure & spirit!

This is a wonderful history book. It is well written, well documented, and an excellent choice of material. Good photos, too. I highly recommend this book if you enjoy: Black history, women's history, Old West history, and entertaining non-fiction. Some day, I will read this again!

What I didn't learn about American history surprised me. I had heard the charges that school textbooks focused on the achievements of white males, but it didn't register with me until I read this book. As a white American, I am thankful to know the contributions made by brave African American pioneers. I believe race relations in our country can only improve if we educate ourselves about other cultures and races and seek the truth. I checked out this book from the library, but I plan to buy a copy for myself and for my son. Thank you, William Loren Katz

The Courthouse And The Depot: A Narrative Guide To Railroad Expansion And Its Impact On Public Architecture In Georgia 1833-1910 by Wilber W. Caldwell is an exhaustive catalogue of 19th century public architecture in Georgia and all the railroad lines that criss-crossed the state during this period. A wealth of Deep South history illustrated throughout with black and white photographs. The Courthouse And The Depot uses the unique framework of architecture to substantially narrate a significant stretch of Georgian state history, and how the coming of the railroad changed everything for the future. A fascinating and superbly presented wealth of information about changing times over a century ago, The Courthouse And The Depot is highly recommended reading for American history, architecture, and railroading reading lists and reference collections.

Mr. Caldwell, an "independent" historian, has provided us an exaustive and accurate compendium of the architectural and social history of Georgia in the 19th century. He has reviewed and cross-referenced the hundreds of sketchy local histories in Georgia and has noted the background and history of the creation of every Georgia county and railroad from 1800-1911, and how the railroad shaped the aspirations or distrust of Georgia's communities.

He notes how the influence of Northern "carpetbaggers" led to the development of many of Ga's reconstruction railroads and the erection of its many distinctive high-style courthouses. The influence of Bostonian H.H. Richardson on Georgia architects Gloucke and Bruce & Morgan is prevalent as well.

Interestingly, Mr. Caldwell is intent on revealing what he sees as the truth behind the "myths" of the Old and New South and how those myths are related through railroad development (the equivalent of a 19th century interstate highway) and public architecture. His conclusion that the creation of post-civil war railroads and the promise of Northern investment was nothing more than a sham in most cases is very unique and interesting and deserves further study.

This book is less about the specifics of architecture but basically provides a clearer view of rural southern history, and provides a useful collection of the local history of 159+ counties in Georgia. There are a few spelling errors, and could have used a few color plates, but the book is well made.

This book is a must for any Georgia architect, landscape architect, and historic preservationist. It also could be of use to a few politicians in order for them to better understand the background of thier own GA communities. Of course, armchair historians and lovers of southern history will enjoy it as well.

More adventurous accounts from the diaries and letters of six westward women. Braving the dangers of river fordings, cholera, fatigue, food and water shortages, etc. these women write with much ambience and flavor of their trail experiences.
Seventeen year-old Eliza Ann McAuley is extremely descriptive and articulate of day to day activities along the way: remedies for cattle after drinking alkali water; ferry boats sinking; intolerable weather; constructing a makeshift road, later charging a toll to increase income; they even had a 'pet' antelope for six weeks while venturing west.
Francis Sawyer was another very descriptive writer of daily occurences: first of all, her party traveled at a remarkable speed, many times averaging over thirty miles a day; depredations by Digger Indians along the Humboldt River; insufferable weather conditions, etc.
Marriett Foster Cummings shoots from the hip when describing people (such as Jim Bridger and Brigham Young), places and incidents while crossing the country.
Lucy Rutledge Cooke's letters read like a novel: very sincere, compassionate and composed in her writing style.
These Covered Wagon series of books are an insightful look into our past and give the reader a sense of respect and connectedness to our yesteryears.

The way these people had to live is almost unbelivabl.The hardships and the frustrations were real.

We journey once again with the emigrants over plains, prairies, rivers and mountains via these womens' diaries and letters. The years covered in this volume are 1854-1860.
Without being overly exhaustive, a few to mention would be:

Forty-eight year old Sarah Sutton whose 1854 wagon train had lost numbers of cattle from the Snake River westward due to alkali water, dust and exhaustion; how crowded the trails were at their time of passing; Indian occurrences along the way; etc. Sarah was very articulate in all her observations and died just before reaching the land of her dreams.
Twenty-nine year old Mormon Sara Mousley's 1857 account of traveling to Salt Lake City. Her description of a cattle stampede is rendering; the many way-stations along the trail to aid the Saints in provisions, etc;
Julia Anna Archibald (Holmes) who was twenty-years old in 1858 when she went to Colorado. A very outspoken advocate on women's rights. She wore the avant-garde attire `bloomers' and was somewhat admonished by others in her train. First woman to climb Pikes Peak.
Thirty-four year old Hannah Clapp's 1859 letters from Salt Lake City to a Wisconsin newspaper lashing out at the Mormons' zealous ideologies and fanaticisms.
And twenty-two year old Martha Missouri Moore's 1860 adventures of driving 5100 sheep to California.

All these diaries and letters give the reader an understanding as to the resolve, determination and sacrifices these emigrants endured while traveling westward so long ago. Excellent reading.

The yearning for friends and family left at home; the constant concern for the health and safety of spouse and children; the physical challenges; the inconveniences of camp cooking, laundering, bathing -- what was it really like for those women who traveled the Western trails? Told in their exact words, transcribed faithfully, these diaries give you have the rare opportunity to "walk in the shoes" of someone who really lived in those times. This is Vol. 7 in a series edited and compiled by Kenneth Holmes, and I have read and re-read the first ten. I recommend all of them.

This is one of those rare self-development books that offers a truly unique perspective as well as giving practical exercises that really work. The mental exercises are simple and can be performed anytime of the day, although performing them in a focused, meditative state is desirable.

The beauty of this book is its emphasis on using our own innate resources. We need not go outside of our selves to communicate and "to know." This is true empowerment. I have been using the techniques and knowledge in this book for the past several weeks since completing the book and I am surprised by the very dramatic results. You will be surprised as to what you can do and how you can communicate with others without saying a word!

I read lots of personal development and spiritually oriented literature, and I have to say this is one book that is well worth the money and the time to read it. Make the this material and the exercises in this book a part of your daily life and you will not be disappointed. One caveat here. If you are not fully willing to leave all sorts of victimization behind, don't waste your money on the book. This book assumes a certain level of spiritual maturity to absorb and practce its principles. Remember, it is about you!

This book has been my companion on my journey in understanding myself and the world around me. When I don't like my life as it is at the moment, I pick up this book which helps me get on track again. Healing myself in every way - physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually - and understanding the world as a reflection of ME is not complicated and time consuming, but as simple as going back to the basics of metaphysics. Don't take those basics for granted - they are extremely powerful! YOU'LL SEE THAT IN THIS BOOK! I recommend this book for all who want to change WHO AND WHAT they see in their life to something better - for it all begins with oneself. Everything is a reflection of ourselves! I have met people who use this book as a text in study groups to get together and discuss the principles and how they work in their lives. What a great idea to get such support! There is an accompanying group leader manual to do that. Contacting the author, Janet Swerdlow, would be the best way to go about learning about where these study groups are. ([...])