The Southwestern Historical Quarterly, Volume 58, July 1954 - April, 1955 Page: 571

Book Reviews

ably erected in the mid-182o's and the other Fort Uintah, in the
early 183o's." Between these and other forts later established in
the high countries, a system of interconnecting trails was built up.
Wallace has made a conscious and sustained effort to dispel
cloudy tradition, to winnow truth from half-truth and to estab-
lish firm facts. He has succeeded in giving us in brief readable
narration form a credible account of a mountain man, complete
as to Robidoux's social origins, economic experiences, and politi-
cal frustration. He has set forth the facts against a comprehensible
backdrop of general Western history, and his quiet care in build-
ing up this historical backdrop renders his own meritorious con-
tribution all the more attractive for his readers.
The research work incident to the study has led to consultation
of materials in the National Archives, as well as in various manu-
script collections. The author has also searched through old news-
paper files pertaining to the frontiers of Robidoux's day and from
them has dredged up useful new data. This seems to be a model
study of an obscure American type, one not easily yielding to
historical study. But Mr. Wallace has come to conclusions with
Robidoux's case, in any event, and has shown the way for others
to follow in the historical study of the individual careers of these
mountain men.
The publisher provides a map of the West in the form of end-
papers. At slight additional expense this map could have been
made much more valuable if on it had been spotted and identi-
fied those lesser known forts and sites mentioned in the author's
text. The new historical geography of the West that is being
uncovered by contemporary historians deserves to be recorded
and set down for the general good.
FULMER MOOD
The University of Texas
Fourteen Hundred and 91 Days in the Confederate Army: A
Journal Kept by W. W. Heartsill for Four Years, One Month
and One Day or Camp Life; Day by Day, of the W. P. Lane
Rangers from April i9, 1861 to May 20o, 865. Edited by Bell
Irwin Wiley. Jackson, Tennessee (McCowat-Mercer Press),
c. 1953. xxiv+332 pp. Introduction, illustrations, appendices,
and index. $6.oo.

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