Reconnaissance in Sonora: Charles D. Poston’s 1854 Exploration of Mexico and the Gadsden Purchase

by C. Gilbert Storms

In 1854, funded by a syndicate of San Francisco businessmen, Charles D. Poston and a party of twenty-five men launched an expedition from San Francisco to Sinaloa and Sonora, Mexico, before trekking north into Arizona and returning to California. Reconnaissance in Sonora brings to light Poston’s handwritten report to the syndicate about the journey, published here for the first time.

Poston led his party through Sonora and the territory of the 1854 Gadsden Purchase, which today encompasses southern Arizona and a portion of southern New Mexico. The syndicate’s charge to the young adventurer was to acquire land in Mexico in anticipation of the Gadsden Purchase and the building of the transcontinental railroad. Reconnaissance in Sonora details Poston’s expedition, including the founding of the town of Colorado City at the site of present-day Yuma, Arizona.

C. Gilbert Storms explores the American ideas of territorial expansion and Manifest Destiny, the national debate over a route for a transcontinental railroad, the legends of rich gold and silver mines in northern Mexico, and the French and American filibusters that plagued northern Mexico in the early 1850s.

208 pages, Hardcover

First published March 5, 2015

Reviews

[Ajay · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book follows Charles D. Poston's life with a primary focus around the time the Gadsden Purchase took place. The author thoroughly researched Mr. Poston's life. Many conclusions can be derived from this book about Mr. Poston, and many can be debated. Mr. Poston could be seen as an opportunist, a broker, a storyteller, businessman, marketer, explorer, and adventurer. Regardless of his character, Mr. Poston is brave and played a role in the Gadsden Purchase, and Arizona as a territory.

I enjoy learning about the history of Arizona and the southwest, so this book helped me learn more about the people, companies, and politics involved in Arizona's history. The book was well researched, unbiased, and well written. Some of the material was dry and dense, hence the four stars. In addition to this book, some of my other favorites are The Gila and Desert Country by Edwin Corle, and Cadillac Desert. I would suggest this book to anyone interested in learning about the history of Arizona, Yuma, Sonora Mexico, and the Gadsden Purchase.

[Doug Hocking · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charles D. Poston, the Father of Arizona, had only passing acquaintance with the truth. His versions of the Reconnaissance vary with his audience, his age and his purpose at the time. Nonetheless, he may have been influential with business and government in opening Arizona to settlement and development. Boosterism and failing memory may account for some of varieties of ‘truth’ he told and wrote, but purpose at the time seems to have had more to do with it. In the final analysis, Poston’s Reconnaissance in Sonora was more influential with historians than anyone else. It has led to great confusion in the historical record. C. Gilbert Storms attempts to set the record straight. He illuminates the place, time and politics of business and government separating the real and not so real in Poston’s work. This is an important addition to the library of anyone interested in 1850s Arizona as it shows how events in Sonora, San Francisco, Texas and Washington influenced its growth.