A Report on an Exploration of the Country Lying Between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains on the Line of the Kansas and Great Platte Rivers

by John C. Frémont

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126 pages, Hardcover

First published May 19, 1843

About the author

American explorer, soldier, and politician John Charles Frémont explored and mapped much of the American West and Northwest, served a United States senator from California from 1850 to 1851, and ran for president in 1856.

This military officer lost the election to James Buchanan, a Democrat, and ran against Abraham Lincoln before the elections in 1864. Frémont brokered a political deal, in which Lincoln removed Montgomery Blair, postmaster general, from office and afterward abandoned his political campaign in September 1864.

He purchased the Pacific railroad, losing the major part of his fortune on this proven unsuccessful investment.
Rutherford Birchard Hayes, president, appointed him governor of Arizona from 1878 to 1881.

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant book which outlines the first authorized and official exploration of the land between what we know today as St Louis and Montana. What was fascinating to me was the first descriptions of the terrain and distances moved on a daily basis. Yes, the book focuses primarily on topography and plant life and omits sightings of the fish found in the pristine lakes and rivers. Yes, there are only brief mentioning of the animals of the plains to include buffalo, antelope and ground squirrel. However, it was very interesting to read about the party coming upon Chimney Rock, Independence Rock, the Black Hills and other famous landmarks of the Western Plains which I have been able to personally visit. Also fascinating was that the sketch of Chimney Rock actually was accurate to what can be viewed 170 years later leading me to believe that the other sketches and by extrapolation perhaps even the data is also accurate.

What I can't imagine is traveling 12 - 28 miles a day on the plains with no maps, limited supplies such that you live off of what you kill for the most part, and doing detailed topographic studies and mapping as well as the barometric / temperature and celestial readings to verify the locations and elevations. Being the historical geek that I am, I read this book with maps of Nebraska, South Dakota, Wyoming next to me to trace the journey.

Briefly discussed are interactions with Native Americans but I have to believe that there were far more encounters than what was reported!

Also amazing is that this very momentous study was entrusted to a very junior officer. In 1843 it seems that a Second Lieutenant was given responsibility that is unfathomable in today's military. This task that was given to a Second Lieutenant and 70 men would require a General Officer and a thousand man detachment if not a larger group!

The study includes detailed appendices of astronomical observations and details on flora recordings. Highly recommended for an individual interested in the opening of the Great Plains.