Books with title The Prairie Traveler: a Hand-Book for Overland Expeditions

Randolph Marcy’s detailed guide must have seemed a godsend to nineteenth century Americans contemplating the long, hazardous journey to a new life in the west. Imagine their questions—and fears. What if we are attacked! Where will we find water? Will I run out of supplies? This volume answers it all. It describes all the needs for food, clothing, shelter, transportation, and even necessities the prospective traveler might have overlooked. It includes a landmark-oriented chart with mileage between points and resources, hazards, and such at each point and in-between. Reading the details, one wonders how anyone could have survived the journey without this critical information. For the modern reader, this is not necessarily survival reading; it’s really fascinating stuff. You begin to appreciate what our ancestors endured in completing the expansion of the American nation to the Pacific shores. And for the historians and novelists among us, what an incredible resource!

The first and finest handbook for travelers of the Old American West.First published in 1859, The Prairie Traveler was the indispensable book for looking to follow the American dream, pull up stakes, head into the wilderness of the frontier, and build a new life out West. With the official blessing of the US War Department, Randolph Marcy, a captain in the US Army, published The Prairie Traveler as the ultimate guide for these pioneers, covering everything from the best way to move wagons over hostile terrain and what to pack, to describing over thirty-four different trails to be taken and the dangers one may face on the way. Captain Marcy also passes on the knowledge he gained from local Indian tribes, from how to cook and wage war to their subtle tribal differences and customs.The Prairie Traveler stands as an important piece of early American literature, and as a fascinating presentation of the now-lost Wild West: its perils, its rewards, and ultimately, the achievements of those who worked hard to survive. Captain Marcy’s guide remains the essential guide for those who wish to discover the trials and tribulations of the early pioneers of America, and it is an indispensable addition to any historical collection.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

"With such a book in his hand, he will be able, in difficult circumstances, to avail himself of the matured experience of veteran travelers, and thereby avoid many otherwise unforeseen disasters; avoid many serious losses, and enjoy a comparative exemption from doubts and anxieties. He will feel himself a master spirit in the wilderness he traverses, and not the victim of every new combination of circumstances which nature affords or fate allots, as if to try his skill and prowess." Emigrants or others desiring to make the overland journey to the Pacific should bear in mind that there are several different routes which may be traveled with wagons, each having its advocates in persons directly or indirectly interested in attracting the tide of emigration and travel over them. Information concerning these routes coming from strangers living or owning property near them, from agents of steam-boats or railways, or from other persons connected with transportation companies, should be received with great caution, and never without corroborating evidence from disinterested sources. On such a journey as this, there is much to interest and amuse one who is fond of picturesque scenery, and of wild life in its most primitive aspect, yet no one should attempt it without anticipating many rough knocks and much hard labor; every man must expect to do his share of duty faithfully and without a murmur. On long and arduous expeditions men are apt to become irritable and ill-natured, and oftentimes fancy they have more labor imposed upon them than their comrades, and that the person who directs the march is partial toward his favorites, etc. That man who exercises the greatest forbearance under such circumstances, who is cheerful, slow to take up quarrels, and endeavors to reconcile difficulties among his companions, is deserving of all praise, and will, without doubt, contribute largely to the success and comfort of an expedition. CHAPTER I. The different Routes to California and Oregon. Their respective Advantages. Organization of Companies. Elections of Captains. Wagons and Teams. Relative Merits of Mules and Oxen. Stores and Provisions. How packed. Desiccated and canned Vegetables. Amount of Supplies. Clothing. Camp Equipage. Arms. CHAPTER II. Marching. Treatment of Animals. Water. Different methods of finding and purifying it. Journadas. Methods of crossing them. Advance and Rear Guards. Selection of Camp. Sanitary Considerations. Picket Guards. Stampedes. How to prevent them. Corraling Wagons. CHAPTER III. Repairing broken Wagons. Fording Rivers. Quicksand. Wagon Boats. Bull Boats. Crossing Packs. Swimming Animals. Marching with loose Horses. Herding Mules. Best Methods of Marching. Herding and guarding Animals. Descending Mountains. Storms. Northers. CHAPTER IV. Packing. Saddles. Mexican Method. Madrina, or Bell-mare. Attachment of the Mule illustrated. Best Method of Packing. Hoppling Animals. Selecting Horses and Mules. European Saddles. California Saddle. Saddle Wounds. Alkali. Flies. Colic. Rattlesnake Bites. Cures for the Bite. CHAPTER V. Bivouacs. Tente d'Abri. Gutta-percha Knapsack Tent. Comanche Lodge. Sibley Tent. Camp Furniture. Litters. Rapid Traveling. Fuel. Making Fires. Fires on the Prairies. Jerking Meat. Making Lariats. Making Caches. Disposition of Fire-arms. Colt's Revolvers. Gun Accidents. Trailing. Indian Sagacity. CHAPTER VI. Guides and Hunters. Delawares and Shawnees. Khebirs. Black Beaver. Anecdotes. Domestic Troubles. Lodges. Similarity of Prairie Tribes to the Arabs. Method of making War. Tracking and pursuing Indians. Method of attacking them. Telegraphing by Smokes. CHAPTER VII. Hunting. Its Benefits to the Soldier. Buffalo. Deer. Antelope. Bear. Big-horn, or Mountain Sheep. Their Habits, and Hints upon the best Methods of hunting them. Itineraries Appendix

From the preface: " A QUARTER of a century's experience in frontier life, a great portion of which has been occupied in exploring the interior of our continent, and in long marches where I have been thrown exclusively upon my own resources, far beyond the bounds of the populated districts, and where the traveler must vary his expedients to surmount the numerous obstacles which the nature of the country continually reproduces, has shown me under what great disadvantages the "voyageur" labors for want of a timely initiation into those minor details of prairie-craft, which, however apparently unimportant in the abstract, are sure, upon the plains, to turn the balance of success for or against an enterprise. This information is so varied, and is derived from so many different sources, that I still find every new expedition adds substantially to my practical knowledge, and am satisfied that a good Prairie Manual will be for the young traveler an addition to his equipment of inappreciable value. With such a book in his hand, he will be able, in difficult circumstances, to avail himself of the matured experience of veteran travelers, and thereby avoid many otherwise unforeseen disasters; while, during the ordinary routine of marching, he will greatly augment the sum of his comfort, avoid many serious loses, and enjoy a comparative exemption from doubts and anxieties. He will feel himself a master spirit in the wilderness he traverses, and not the victim of every new combination of circumstances which nature affords or fate allots, as if to try his skill and prowess. I have waited for several years, with the confidant expectation that some one more competent than myself would assume the task, and give the public the desired information; but it seems that no one has taken sufficient interest in the subject to disseminate the benefits of his experience in this way. Our frontier-men, although brave in council and action, and possessing an intelligence that quickens in the face of danger, are apt to feel shy of the pen. They shun the atmosphere of the student's closet; their sphere is in the free and open wilderness. It is not to be wondered at, therefore, that to our veteran borderer the field of literature should remain a "terra incognita." It is our army that unites the chasm between the culture of civilization in the aspect of science, art, and social refinement, and the powerful simplicity of nature. On leaving the Military Academy, a majority of our officers are attached to the line of the army, and forthwith assigned to duty upon our remote and extended frontier, where the restless and warlike habits of the nomadic tribes render the soldier's life almost as unsettled as that of the savages themselves."

The first and finest handbook for travelers of the Old American West.First published in 1859, The Prairie Traveler was the indispensable book for looking to follow the American dream, pull up stakes, head into the wilderness of the frontier, and build a new life out West. With the official blessing of the US War Department, Randolph Marcy, a captain in the US Army, published The Prairie Traveler as the ultimate guide for these pioneers, covering everything from the best way to move wagons over hostile terrain and what to pack, to describing over thirty-four different trails to be taken and the dangers one may face on the way. Captain Marcy also passes on the knowledge he gained from local Indian tribes, from how to cook and wage war to their subtle tribal differences and customs.The Prairie Traveler stands as an important piece of early American literature, and as a fascinating presentation of the now-lost Wild West: its perils, its rewards, and ultimately, the achievements of those who worked hard to survive. Captain Marcy’s guide remains the essential guide for those who wish to discover the trials and tribulations of the early pioneers of America, and it is an indispensable addition to any historical collection.Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

Randolph Marcy wrote this text for fellow travelers wanting to brave the wilderness of North America, at a time when the western reaches of the continent were barely settled. A captain in the U.S. military, Marcy wrote this guide partly to allay the many myths and fears of the Western frontier, and partly to offer guidance to the dangers which were actually manifest. The information within takes readers across two popular trails - northerly, ending in Oregon, and southerly, ending in Santa Fe. Written in 1859, this book is both a guidebook and an authentic history of the Wild West era. Various anecdotes are interspersed through the text - Marcy is careful to differentiate between friendly Indian tribes such as the Delawares and Shawnees, whom he admires. The Plains Indians however are considered to have hostile tendencies; Marcy instructs on how to sign, and gives a detailed account of how to safely sleep with a gun cocked and loaded. Much of the advice offered by Marcy remains very useful today for campers and wilderness explorers; camping in wet weather and improvising a fire in those conditions; finding clean water; dealing with snake bikes; and using red willow bark as a substitute for cigarettes; crossing a stream with or without a horse, and so on. Despite its age, this book is written in plain language, but has an eloquent and readable simplicity. The publisher is proud to include all of the original illustrations, many of which are crucial to Marcy's instructions. These many pictures for instance depict various items of collapsible camp furniture, which can be built, folded and carried along or attached to a pack.

The Prairie Traveler - A Hand-book for Overland Expeditions is presented here in a high quality paperback edition. This popular classic work by Randolph Barnes Marcy is in the English language, and may not include graphics or images from the original edition. If you enjoy the works of Randolph Barnes Marcy then we highly recommend this publication for your book collection.

Literally a life-or-death guide to traveling the prairie lands, The Prairie Traveler: A Handbook for Overland Expeditions is a guide written for new emigrants in the late 1800s as they traveled to the West. During and soon after the Mormons began traveling to Utah, settlers and pioneers across the country began migrating further and further West in their search for a new life. As the government began getting reports that thousands were dying because they were unprepared for the harsh journey, the U.S. Army commissioned Brigadier General Randolph Marcy to write a guide for wary travelers. The Prairie Traveler not only warns pioneers of the harsh journey and describes the rough conditions they would face, but also suggests items to pack, the time of year to travel, the useful habits of American Indians, and the best routes to travel along the way. An absolute essential for any emigrant during Manifest Destiny, The Prairie Traveler is an interesting read for history buffs and The Oregon Trail game enthusiasts. RANDOLPH BARNES MARCY (1812-1887) was a Brigadier General in the U.S. Army. His work greatly assisted pioneers and settlers in the Western migration across the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries. Marcy was born in Massachusetts and graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1832. In the course of his military duties he spent time in Texas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, and the Rocky Mountains area. His extensive knowledge of the terrain, climate, and obstacles made Marcy the ideal candidate as author for The Prairie Traveler, which helped thousands of unprepared emigrants travel the unknown Western territories.