Doniphan's Expedition; Containing an Account of the Conquest of New Mexico…

8vo, green calf and marbled boards, two gilt lettered morocco labels, spine tooled in gilt, illustrated frontispiece and with wood engravings, including vignette on title page, with original light blue printed wrappers bound in at the end, viii, 9-144 pp. Spine a little sunned, some rubbing and wear to extremities, scattered nicks, cover margins a bit darkened, mild foxing throughout; otherwise very good. An important chapter in the western expansion, "Doniphan's and Kearney's conquests gave the United States its claim to New Mexico and Arizona, finally acquired in the Gadsden purchase." Doniphan's march is also considered one of the most famous expeditions in the literature of western overland travel, which was written by an actual participant, The author reminds us that he was often an eye witness to the events he describes including "the capture of Santa Fe, and in the battles of Brazito, Sacramento, and El Paso". There is much information on the wear with Mexico, but there is also considerable discussion on Indian encounters, animals, various expeditions, and even celebrating the fourth of July on the prairies. The author shares many interesting observations about the landscape they traveled through and things that impressed them including heards of buffalo he saw on the plains. "The whole plain was literally alive with them as far as the eye could reach". While it is sometimes hard to identify the correct edition of this work, despite the detail provided by Wagner-Camp, this appears to be an early edition, the pagination suggests that it was probably published in 1849 0r 1850. Howes H769. Wagner-Camp 134. Streeter 165.