The Southwest expedition of Jedediah S. Smith: His personal account of the journey to California, 1826-1827

by Jedediah Strong Smith

Bound in the original red cloth, octavo, 259 pages with three maps, including folding frontispiece map. First publication (second printing) of Smith's own account of his second journey to California. The manuscript was discovered in an attic in St Louis, MO in 1967 following an address to the Missouri Historical Society by historian and Jedediah Smith biographer Dale Morgan. Morgan had encouraged his listeners to search their closets and attics for interesting materials relating to the fur trade and his suggestion and this manuscript thus came to light. Western Frontiersman Series XVIII .

Genres: History

259 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1978

Reviews

[Tom · Rating 5 out of 5]

The text of Jedediah Smith's famous "Southwest Expedition" of 1826 was lost to history for over 125 years. Then in 1967, a distant relative of Smith's former boss was cleaning out his attic and discovered a manuscript that began with "August 7th 1826 at our rendezvous at a place known as the bend of Bear River. My Partners Messrs Jackson & Sublette and myself..." It was always assumed that the few pieces of Jedediah's journals still extant were found long ago and that nothing new would ever be discovered. But what was found in St. Louis in 1967 added a priceless piece to the legacy of one of the great mountain men of the early American fur trade.

The text, wonderfully annotated by George R. Brooks -- the head of the Missouri Historical Society, brings Jedediah to life again through his actual words. Especially moving is Jedediah's description of his travails in the Sierras of California as he tried to find a way through deep snow to get his men back to the rendezvous near the Great Salt Lake. Jedediah was an eyewitness to life in the California missions during their salad days. Jedediah saw Los Angeles and San Diego and San Jose when they were still closer to hamlets than cities. His story of his dealing with the Mexican governor of upper California (who considered Smith a spy) is especially interesting as one gets a true sense of Jedediah's personality.

This great book is an original source but can be easily read by any layman. The introduction and notes by Brooks adds wonderfully to the reading experience. This is a great text that complements Dale Morgan's "Jedediah Smith and the Opening of the West". A real treat.

[Victoria · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some super interesting parts, some super boring parts. I liked his descriptions of the Spanish missions and early California and people and native Americans, but a lot of the geography in between gets tedious. I probably enjoyed the day book of Harrison Rogers included at the end the most because of his creative capitalization and details.

[Lance Holter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Never has there lived a more braver and adventurous man. Unbelievable journey.