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The Prairie Traveler: A Hand-book for Overland Expeditions

By Randolph B. (Randolph Barnes) Marcy

(3.5 stars) • 10 reviews

"The Prairie Traveler: A Hand-book for Overland Expeditions" by Randolph B. Marcy is a practical guide for those planning overland journeys across the...

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Released
2007-10-17
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Overview

"The Prairie Traveler: A Hand-book for Overland Expeditions" by Randolph B. Marcy is a practical guide for those planning overland journeys across the American frontier, written in the mid-19th century. The book offers detailed advice on the various routes to California and Oregon, the organization of traveling companies, and guidance on supplies and equipment necessary for such expeditions. It serves as a comprehensive manual for emigrants and pioneers preparing for long treks in the untamed wilderness. The opening portion of the text provides insight into the critical decisions faced by travelers embarking on the journey to the West. It discusses the selection of routes based on individual circumstances, such as location and time of year, emphasizing the importance of proper organization and leadership within traveling companies. Marcy stresses the need for careful preparation of supplies, including food and appropriate gear, while also touching on the merits of different types of transportation, such as wagons with mules or oxen. His perspective combines personal experience with practical knowledge, highlighting how the success of these dangerous and challenging journeys relied on understanding both the terrain and the necessities of wilderness survival. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

About the Author

Randolph Barnes Marcy was an officer in the United States Army, chiefly noted for his frontier guidebook, the Prairie Traveler (1859), based on his own extensive experience of pioneering in the west. This publication became a key handbook for the thousands of Americans wanting to cross the continent. In the Civil War, Marcy became chief of staff to his son-in-law George B. McClellan, and was later appointed Inspector General of the U.S. Army.

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