"An important early journal; Fowler was second in command in a party of 20 men under Hugh Glenn. They left Ft. Smith in September, 1821, and went along the Arkansas River, following approximately the route that later became the Santa Fe Trail in that region, to the site of present Pueblo, Colorado. They went on to Taos and returned east in 1822, following the Santa Fe Trail in part and mentioning seeing the tracks of Becknell's wagons."--Jack Rittenhouse. The footnotes by Elliott Coues add much information and perspective.

This book is a journal of Jacob Fowler, a man who traveled from Arkansas through the Indian Territory across Oklahoma, Kansas, Colorado, and New Mexico between 1821 and 1822. It covers Fowler's day-to-day activities as he traverses the area on foot and by horse ride.