Kearny's March: The Epic Creation of the American West, 1846-1847

by Winston Groom

In June 1846, General Stephen Watts Kearny rode out of Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, with two thousand soldiers, bound for California. At the time, the nation was hell-bent on expansion: James K. Polk had lately won the presidency by threatening England over the borders in Oregon, while Congress had just voted, in defiance of the Mexican government, to annex Texas. After Mexico declared war on the United States, Kearny’s Army of the West was sent out, carrying orders to occupy Mexican territory. When his expedition ended a year later, the country had doubled in size and now stretched from the Atlantic to the Pacific, fulfilling what many saw as the nation’s unique destiny—and at the same time setting the stage for the American Civil War.

Winston Groom recounts the amazing adventure and danger that Kearny and his troops encountered on the trail. Their story intertwines with those of the famous mountain man Kit Carson; Brigham Young and his Mormon followers fleeing persecution and Illinois; and the ill-fated Donner party, trapped in the snow of the Sierra Nevada. Together, they encounter wild Indians, Mexican armies, political intrigue, dangerous wildlife, gold rushes, and land-grabs. Some returned in glory, others in shackles, and some not at all. But these were the people who helped America fulfill her promise.

Distilling a wealth of letters, journals, and military records, Groom gives us a powerful account that enlivens our understanding of the exciting, if unforgiving, business of country-making.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Westerns, Military History, Biography, War

310 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2011

About the author

Winston Francis Groom Jr. was an American novelist and non-fiction writer, best known for his book Forrest Gump, which was adapted into a film in 1994. Groom was born in Washington, D.C., but grew up in Mobile, Alabama where he attended University Military School (now known as UMS-Wright Preparatory School). He attended the University of Alabama, where he was a member of Delta Tau Delta and the Army ROTC, and graduated in 1965. He served in the Army from 1965 to 1969, including a tour in Vietnam. Groom devoted his time to writing history books about American wars. More recently he had lived in Point Clear, Alabama, and Long Island, New York.

Reviews

[Chrisl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Have tried Winston Groom multiple times, but usually didn't finish books. Mostly he hasn't pulled me into his subject matter. Kearny's March is the exception. He pitches to my sweet spot with this one.
***
perhaps spoiler element in the below quotes ... lo siento ...

Chapter one starts with Fremont :

"Late on an August afternoon in 1845, the most famous man in America, U.S. captain John Charles Fremont, departed Bent's Fort, the last outpost of American civilization. which lay in the foothills of Colorado's Rocky Mountains. With him were several score of the toughest, most experienced mountain men of the day--fur trappers and Indian fighters such as Kit Carson, Joseph Walker, and Bill Williams; the French-Canadians Basil Lajeunesse, Antoine Robideaux, Alexis Godey, and Auguste Archambault; a party of nine Delaware Indians; and an eighteen-year-old free black man who was Fremont's valet. Sixty-one of them in all, they made a formidable armed party, each man carrying a .50-caliber Hawken 'buffalo rifle,' two pistols, and any number of knives. They were headed west, into the setting sun, with instruction to chart the unknown."
(- for an informative novel (HF-USA) about Fremont, I suggest 'Dream West')
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2...
***
(The Bent's Fort book was a worthwhile read.)
Bent's Fort

(Joseph Walker my favorite character in this group. See : Westering Man.)
Westering Man: The Life of Joseph Walker

Those Delaware Indians ... a group I'd like to have exposed to, as their friend.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lenape

"American explorers in those days were accorded the sort of exultation once given to modern-day astronauts."

"Aided by his wife's flair for literary composition, Fremont's published reports sent whole communities scurrying to acquire 'prairie schooners' ... It didn't hurt, by the way, that the wife ... was the daughter of ... the most influential man in the U.S. Senate, who saw to it that his son-in-law's findings were distributed wholesale by the U.S. government printing office."

" ... The press had already branded Fremont the 'Pathfinder,' but in fact he found few paths that had not already been traveled by the Native Americans or indeed by the mountain men. The difference was that Fremont was able to map them and describe them in a way that only a trained engineer and scientist could."

" ... Now a new menace was in the air, the threat of war--war with Mexico, war with England."

"Fremont believed, or so he later said, that he was under secret instructions from the president himself ... to seize California from the Mexicans if war broke out.

"Fremont by then was in his early thirties, slender and strikingly handsome with piercing eyes, a lush dark beard and a Gallic nose doubtless inherited from his father, a French wastrel who taught fencing, dancing, and languages and painted frescoes. In 1808 this Lothario had made off with Fremont's mother-to-be, an FFV from Richmond, after her elderly husband hired him to tutor her.* The couple fled to Savannah where in 1813 Fremont was born, and his father soon after died, leaving the family in reduced circumstances.

*FFV is an abbreviation for First Families of Virginia, the southern equivalent to having arrived on the Mayflower.

"Fremont turned out to be a brilliant scholar but gross profligacy led to his being kicked out of college before graduation. Still, he managed to land a job exploring and mapping former Cherokee lands ... It was the luckiest of happenstances for Fremont's glorious future; as he later recalled, 'Here I found the path I was destined to walk' or as one early writer put it, 'He learned to pack a mule, and what to pack on it.'"

" ... by 1840 his reputation was well enough established to propel him into the ranks of Washington society where he quickly found himself a favorite at the home of Senator Benton, the arch-expansionist, who also happened to be the father of the handsome, sixteen-year-old Jessie. This resulted in the sparking of an immediate friction between the young lieutenant and the senior senator from Missouri, who became irate when Fremont eloped with his daughter. However, once the deal was done Benton concluded there was nothing for it but to welcome Fremont into the family, which was a happy thing for Fremont's career, since Thomas Hart Benton was a world-class hater who had nearly killed Andrew Jackson in a disgraceful gunfight at Nashville in 1813."

[Jerome Otte · Rating 4 out of 5]

A brisk and human history of Kearny’s famous march from Kansas to California. Groom describes Kearny’s conquest of Santa Fe, his trek for California, and the bloody Taos revolt. All of this happens, of course, as Zachary Taylor moves down the Rio Grande and Commodore Stockton runs into fiasco on the California coast, and John Frémont heads into California, President Polk attempts to figure out the situation in Mexico City, the Mormons trek to Utah, Doniphan’s march begins, and the Donner Party gets underway.

Groom’s book attempts to tackle a lot of subject matter, which seems a little overbearing at times, but he does a fine job fleshing out the humanity of these stories. Curiously, there are no footnotes, and there are a few factual errors. Groom’s treatment of Frémont is a little glowing, and he sometimes seems to ignore such things as the Pathfinder’s lack of survival skills, ignorance of directional advice, and record of disastrous expeditions. The “Pathfinder” got himself arrested for mutiny, nearly killed his men due to stupidity, proved inept as a governor, and of course, was an almost complete disaster during the Civil War.

There are a couple quibbles: at one point, Groom includes a map of the Donner Party hat inaccurately depicts it going through Fort Hall. At one point Groom writes that Thomas Jones got himself court-martialed in 1842, which is inaccurate. The writing has a lot of snide comments that seem out of place, and it seems too conversational at times; I really don’t understand why some authors feel the need to adopt such an out-of-place tone.

Some of the more painful examples of Groom’s breezy writing include:
-“It didn’t hurt, by the way, that the wife, Jessie Benton Frémont, was the daughter of Thomas Hart Benton.”
-”[War] broke out between a Mexican army on the Rio Grande and the U.S. Army under General Zachary Taylor, which President Polk had sent south to provoke hostilities. At least that’s the way most people saw it.”
-”All right, just who was James K. Polk, the eleventh American president?”
-”Polk’s reaction was that Atocha was untrustworthy; at least that’s what he told his diary.”
-”Santa Anna was possibly the most corrupt official in Mexico, which is saying a lot.”
-”At which point, in an act almost breathtaking in its megalomania, Old Bullion Benton drew up and suggested…himself!”
-Pedro de Ampudia is called a “tough customer” at one point.
-”Now he was about to get a taste of the real army---the hierarchy of rules and regulations, of chain of command and West Point spit-and-polish yessir-nosir-whatever-you-say-sir!”

Still, a well-paced and engaging history of an interesting subject. Groom’s writing is still mostly clear and crisp.

[Sweetwilliam · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author Winston Groom said he was motivated to write this book because the United States gained more territory over the course of 1846-1847 than at any other two years in our Nation’s history. I feel that the title “Kearny’s March” is a bit misleading. The book also chronicles many more marches during the Mexican War. The March of Zachary Taylor through Palo Alto and Monterrey Mexico; Winfield Scott’s campaign to capture Mexico City; Freemont’s March through California; the Mormon Battalion; and the incredible march of the Missouri Volunteers through the southwest culminating in several improbable US victories and the capture of the State of Chihuahua Mexico are all covered in Kearney’s March. This book is not only about the Mexican War. Two chapters are dedicated to the Donner Party and the disastrous choices they made to save 300 miles by taking the Hastings Cutoff. The Mormon migration to Salt Lake City and the unfathomable events which precipitated this move are also well documented.

Groom provides insight into a corrupt Mexican system including a Government that levied heavy taxes on its citizens but provided virtually no protection. In fact, the Mexican government provided less protection from the Indians then the Spanish did. Groom points out that Mexican treachery and corruption that we see today have deep roots. The double crossing of the US Government by Santa Anna, the annual Mexican revolutions, paroled Mexican soldiers in California taking up arms against the United States a second time, a Mexican General convincing Taylor that the war was over so he could evacuate his army to fight another day, the Governor of Sante Fe, turning tail and running from Kearney and abandoning the citizens instead of defending a nearly invincible position, and the Mexican Army granting no quarter and then losing battles and begging for mercy. The Mexican Officer Corp did not seem to follow the same strict (and sometimes ridiculous) code of honor that many of their American counterparts subscribed to. Apparently, the dishonorable conduct of the Mexican military and the culture of corruption that we see today in the Mexican Government has deep roots.
Also, American soldiers predicted that trouble would come between the United States and the Indians in the future. As one soldier put it, what do you do with a nomadic bands of people that’s only means of survival is rustling cattle and sheep from ranchers? I had previously read Hampton Side’s biography about Kit Carson entitled Blood and Thunder. This book rehashed some of the same history but provided more insight into a few events such as the Pueblo uprising and massacre in Santa Fe. I would like to see further research to understand who instigated the Pueblo Indians massacre of Bent and most of the establishment of Santa Fe. Was it the local Catholic priests as Kit Carson believed?

I do not think I care to learn anymore about the Donner Party. I do not have the stomach to read about people so hungry that they eat family members to stay alive. This part of the book made me cringe.

Most of all Winston Groom knows how to keep the reader entertained. There is never a dull moment during the entire book. The addition I have is an unintimidating 261 pages and it fit nicely in my briefcase. I guess one would expect such entertainment from the man that penned Forrest Gump. History can be fun. This book certainly is evidence of that.

[sofi · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is difficult to read and hard to get through. There is little to no action, which inaccurately describes the trials and tribulations that were the early American West. Très disappointed. Not worth the money I spent on it and I am sorry to whoever bought it back from me. The happiest moment of my life was when I finished this book. The knowing that I never have to pick it up again and read it’s horrid words is reason for joy. Would not recommend.

[Chase Boni · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very rarely do I read a book which arouses such strong feelings in me that I feel compelled to leave a drawn-out negative review.
I picked up this book after reading Susan Shelby Magoffin’s published diary Down the Santa Fe Trail and Into Mexico and hoped it would provide more historical context. It’s partially my fault for not investigating the book further prior to purchase, but to say that it disappointed was an understatement.
Firstly, the author is not a trained historian, but rather a novelist (he wrote Forrest Gump). This is not necessarily a problem as there are plenty of amateur historians out there who do good quality work, but sadly that is not the case here. For a book published in 2011, it reads like it could have been published in 1961. This makes sense after scanning the bibliography: a large chunk of the secondary sources cited were published prior to 1980 and are likely outdated. The book recycles outdated stereotypes about Native Americans and Mexicans and misunderstands such fundamental concepts in western history as Frederick Jackson Taylors’ Frontier Thesis. The author also has no qualms using offensive language, for example referring to a mixed-race man as a “half breed”.
Also, as someone with an interest in Mormon history I noticed that the sections on that topic were riddled with errors. To give just a couple of examples, the author claims that Joseph Smith believed the Garden of Eden to have been in “northwest Kansas” (Smith believed it to have been in northwest Missouri) and that Joseph Smith lost to James K. Polk in the 1844 presidential election (Smith did declare his candidacy, but died before the election took place and was therefore never actually on the ballot).
Simply put, if you are looking for a factually rigorous account of the Mexican War era, look elsewhere.

[Joe Stack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't just about General Kearny's march from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, to California. There's also the Donner Party, the war with Mexico, the Mormon Battalion; it's about Pres. Polk, Fremont, Kit Carson, Gen. Kearny, Capt. Phillip Cooke, and other explorers, Indians, soldiers, mountain men, and settlers. This is a well-crafted page-turning history America in the west from 1846 through 1847. It reads like a well paced novel. The author puts the reader in the midst of the military campaigns and the marches. His retelling of the Donner Party is a horrific, on-the-edge-of-your seat tale.

Noteworthy too are his footnotes which are informative and as readably interesting as the main text.

In Groom's dedication, he writes that this is a story of "heroes and scoundrels who provide the grace and the disrepute that make our human race at once interesting and unique." He fully delivers on this.

A good companion book to this history is Norman Zollinger's MERIDIAN, a fictional account of Fremont's & Carson's California expedition.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Winston Groom's Kearney's March. Let me give you an idea why. I was reading a pretty darn good novel at the same time but it was Kearney's March that I just couldn't put down. Mr. Groom writes history like telling a great story, which shouldn't come as a surprise from the man who also gave us Forest Gump. This book is the story of the fulfillment of Manifest Destiny during the years 1846-47. It begins with President Polk's dream of a country that spans the continent that is brought to fruition by the likes of Gen. Stephen Kearny, John Freemont, Zachary Taylor and Winfield Scott. Included are interesting side-bars of the ill fated Donner Party and the Mormon migration to present day Utah. This is the kind of book that whets ones appetite to study in greater detail various parts of the story. I heartily recommend this engrossing book.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book on the Mexican-American War. Most of the focus is on the battles north of the border including some obscure ones.

Groom likes to write about adventures and is not one to miss some of the more dramatic episodes like the Taos Rebellion and the battles in northern California. I also enjoyed coverage of the Mormon Battalion which does not usually receive much attention historically.

While the decision to write about the Donner Party did fit in chronologically with the period it did not have much relevance to the war itself. So be forewarned that Groom can go off on tangents. In this case I found all of the tangents to be interesting as Groom is a good writer.

[Don Siegrist · Rating 5 out of 5]

A misleading title as the book has a much wider range than simply General Kearny's march through the American Southwest during the Mexican American war. It really encompasses almost everything that went on in the American West during 1846-47...and boy did a lot go one. The war itself, Texas becomes a state, California is taken, the Mormons flee to Utah and the Donner Party resorts to cannibalism. Not an era most Americans (including myself) know much about. Our loss.

I didn't know what to expect from this book. I wasn't that impressed with his Forrest Gump book but did enjoy his writing style. It turns out it is his style that made this book so entertaining. He focused on stories not dry facts. But enough facts to provide an adaquate understanding of this era and the issues that defined it.

Mexican history and culture is presented as a sad spectacle of greed, corruption, revolution and violence. The Mexican military leaders were easily bribed, their soldiers had no loyalty to their leaders and many of the Mexican people welcomed the Americans as liberators from their peonage.
A case in point, California fell to the Americans with nary a shot being fired.

If you enjoy history you will like this book. If not, skip it.

[David Crawley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Author Groom skillfully weaves this historical tapestry, pulling together disparate events and characters, scattered over widespread expanses of the Western U.S and Mexico during a two-year period – from 1846 to 1847. This is probably one of the most interesting stages of mid-nineteenth century America, when, as a result of the acquisitions won during the Mexican-American War, the United States doubled in size and, for the first time, extended from the Atlantic to the Pacific coasts. A one-term president, President James Polk, masterfully directed it all, and he is certainly a historical character every serious student of history should be familiar with. I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in mid-nineteenth century American history. – David B. Crawley, M.D. – Author of “Steep Turn: A Physician's Journey from Clinic to Cockpit” and “A Mile of String: A Boy's Recollection of His Midwest Childhood.”

[Matt Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winston Groom’s Kearny’s March is a surprisingly gripping account of one of the most important—and too often overlooked—campaigns of the American West. Groom brings Stephen Watts Kearny’s 1846 march to life with smooth storytelling and a novelist’s sense of pacing, making the book far more engaging than many military histories of the era.

What stood out to me is how well Groom handles the overlapping events of the mid-1840s. While following Kearny westward, he weaves in Fremont’s actions in California, Polk’s political maneuvers, and the broader tensions with Mexico without losing narrative clarity. Since I’m writing a book that covers many of these same years, I appreciated how effectively he keeps simultaneous storylines aligned.

The tone and structure reminded me of Paxson’s History of the American Frontier: clear, energetic, and attentive to the wider forces shaping the West. Groom humanizes Kearny without drifting into hero-worship, portraying him as methodical, intelligent, and more nuanced than his reputation often allows.

Overall, it’s a well-written, accessible, and surprisingly vivid account of a pivotal moment in American expansion. Highly recommended for anyone interested in the frontier, the Mexican–American War, or narrative-driven history.

[Gronk · Rating 2 out of 5]

An informative and easy to read book with a misleading title. There's much more here than the tale of Kearny's march, for example, the Donner party journey and Joseph Smith and the Mormon plight. I would have preferred those to have been edited out. But the reason this work only gets 2 stars is the racist language. He often quotes from journals but he also writes the color himself. There are many many examples but here are just a few.

"An insolent-looking Mexican rode in front of Lieutenant Beale, as if defying him to shoot. Beale shot him dead."
Seriously? Groom chooses to describe a Mexican soldier in the middle of a battle as insolent? And makes light of his death?

When a Captain Moore is killed in battle Groom takes a much more somber and respectful tone, "Moore ... was lanced a dozen times or more by the overwhelming force of enemy soldiers, who finally killed him, making orphans of his two young children."

In writing about the Donner party murdering and cannibalizing two native Americans (who were part of a rescue group and brought them provisions) he writes "At first the Donners gratefully devoured the food, but as the weeks went by and things went from bad to worse they ate the mules, and then they ate the Indians."

Contrast that with his description of Native Americans murdering a U.S. official:
"...Pueblos had risen up in Taos and brutally murdered Governor Charles Bent and many of his staff"

There's a pattern here.

"They also came across a sad, complicated situation... The boy, obvious to everyone of Spanish origin, had been kidnapped by the Apaches at a very young age. Now he seemed to be the darling of the tribe - 'an idol with the Apaches' as Emory put it in his diary. 'We tried to purchase him,' Emory continued, but 'he said it was long long, since he was captured, and he had no desire to leave his master who, he was certain, would not sell him for any money. All attempts were vain, and the lad seemed satisfied both at the offer to purchase, and the refusal to sell.'"
What in that tale is sad? The original kidnapping? It's an odd anecdote to include in this work and among the vast number of horrors Groom writes about, this seems rather happy to me.

He also has a vendetta against vultures:
"their corpses being picked over by flocks of repulsive zopilotes, or Mexican turkey vultures"
For the record, turkey vultures are majestic and inquisitive creatures.

[Shirley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another Southwest History Book Club read and another great book club discussion! It's kind of oddly named as Kearny doesn't feel like the main focus, but we understood how he tied the book together. One book club member suggested it be titled The Rise and Fall of Fremont. 😂

This is really a book on American westward expansion and the men who helped achieve manifest destiny for the United States. The Mexican American War rages in the background but the focus is on the taking of New Mexico and California and the drama in the lives of these soldiers. The writing definitely feels old-fashioned, very sweeping and emotional, with a little dose of hero worship, but it's still entertaining and felt a lot like an old western novel in parts. We all enjoyed it and were surprised by the inclusion of the Donner Party saga.

There's quite a few characters here and we were overwhelmed at times, trying to figure who was where at what point. But it's an interesting way to tackle history and a unique addition to our book club selection.

[Noah Goats · Rating 5 out of 5]

Winston Groom writes very readable works of popular history, filled with interesting historical characters and action. He sees history as the very human drama that it is, and his books are never boring. In Kearny's March, he writes about the General Stephen Kearny's epic journey, with a few thousand soldiers (only a few of whom went the entire distance) from Missouri to California, and of all the battles they fought and struggles they endured as they made their way through what was, at the time, a wild and mysterious land (mysterious to white Americans at least). It also tells the stories of others who were involved in the conquest of the lands that are today New Mexico, Arizona and California (and more), such as Kit Carson and John C. Fremont. Very readable.

[Gary Klein · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outstanding book about a series of remarkable events that took place between 1846 and 1847: John Freemont's exploration of the northern Rocky Mountains to Sacramento; Stephen Watts Kearny's First Regiment of Dragoons' peaceful conquest of Santa Fe and subsequent fight to San Diego; the Bear Flag Revolt; Stockton, Freemont, and Kearny's conquest of California; the Donner Party's fatal emigration west; and the Mormon emigration west to the Salt Lake Utah. All of this took place as the U.S. and Great Britian almost went to war over the Oregon Territory and the Mexican-American War allowed the U.S. to realize it's Manifest Destiny from sea to shining sea.

[M Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is about all the sideshows of the Mexican War including the Doniphan's expeditions, the Mormon Battalion, the conquest of California and even the Donner Party rather than just Kearney's March.

With that out of the way, this is a well-written and engaging narrative of all the above events. For scholars there is probably little new, for those like myself who knew the bare bones of the events, this adds a good amount of flesh to the frame.

There are a few anachronisms, such as referring to dreadnoughts 50 years before the term was invented.

All in all, a good use of time in one has an itch to learn more about this critical period in American history.

[S2 Mc · Rating 4 out of 5]

Engaging and easily-readable telling of history of early American actions in the Southwest. Maps interspersed through the book would have helpful. Author cites his sources on most of his topics, but fails to list anything for his mistake-ridden, prejudicial and inaccurate coverage of Joseph Smith, Brigham Young, Liliburn Boggs, or the origin of plans by Joseph and Brigham to settle the Great Basin. The lack of research on one important group covered in the book leaves a reader wondering what other portions were poorly, inaccurately, or prejudiciously written.

[Charlotte Falkner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoroughly researched and well organized, this book about almost (only) two years in American history is quite the effort. It only drags a little bit is otherwise an efficient read. I am glad the author gives Polk some of his due, but I wish he had expanded on the "historical views" of whether Mexico was treated fairly during the whole mess and definitely wish he had expanded on the treatment of the Indians, but to paraphrase him, "they were men of their day." Looking forward to the author's other books now.

[Frank Brennan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a non fiction work about truly how the west was made! Very readable and enjoyable for about two-thirds of the book, then Groom seemingly runs out of gas and starts to rely on he did this/he did that without strong analysis that you have in the front of the book. Most important, this book will turn you on to a president I think very few of has had any regard for: James Polk. On the contrary, Polk was an amazing leader with foresight and guts. So, now I am reading a bio of Polk.

[Jay Wright · Rating 4 out of 5]

Actually, Groom covers not only Kearny's March. He covers Doniphan's, Freemont's, Stanton's actions and the Donner party. I knew a little of California's independence, but this gives me a much broader picture. I knew nothing about the Missourian's march into Sonora or the victories there. I think Polk was one of the most efficient President's in our history. If you are interested in American History, this is a primer for the year 1846. The bibliography is great!

[Timmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First book of 2025-WAHOOO!!!! YEAH!!! This writer rocks which compelled me to immediately order another of his titles. I really knew nothing about this part of American history but he puts it together in such an easy to read, entertaining style that it's very difficult to stop at the end of a chapter. It's also quite nice to not have a contemporary writer continuously comparing America as The Great Satan.

Kearny's March......5 stars!

[David Rogers · Rating 5 out of 5]

Groom masterfully keeps the reader on multiple parallel adventures to the West, with frequent overlapping. With so many different agendas over such a wide swath of North America he makes scene shifting easy and enjoyable.

[Anthony Bracciante · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent overview of the events that led to the American southwest becoming part of the United States and the roles that the many historic figures played in the Mexican-American War.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Informative, readable.

Filled in a lot of holes regarding the US acquisition of California, New Mexico, and other lands during the US-Mexican war.

[Furnison · Rating 3 out of 5]

7/10. Generally good overview of a period that is not much written about. Loses steam about half way through. Somewhat disjointed, I don't know what the Donner party has to do with anything.

[Robert · Rating 4 out of 5]

Beautifully written with numerous main characters and done a good job keeping the balance of exposure for each main characters. Easy to read.

[Marjorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read like a text book slugged most of the way through

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book, engagingly written. I plan to read more of Mr. Groom’s work.

[Brandon · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was so fascinating. It reads like a novel. I've read a lot of histories and biograohies, and this has absolutely been one of my favorites. I cannot recommend it highly enough!

[Gmbelcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Insightful

Great insight and detail on this important chapter in exploration and settlement of the southwest just prior to the Civil War.