The first and finest handbook for travelers of the Old American West. First published in 1859, The Prairie Traveler was the indispensable book for looking to follow the American dream, pull up stakes, head into the wilderness of the frontier, and build a new life out West. With the official blessing of the US War Department, Randolph Marcy, a captain in the US Army, published The Prairie Traveler as the ultimate guide for these pioneers, covering everything from the best way to move wagons over hostile terrain and what to pack, to describing over thirty-four different trails to be taken and the dangers one may face on the way. Captain Marcy also passes on the knowledge he gained from local Indian tribes, from how to cook and wage war to their subtle tribal differences and customs. The Prairie Traveler stands as an important piece of early American literature, and as a fascinating presentation of the now-lost Wild West: its perils, its rewards, and ultimately, the achievements of those who worked hard to survive. Captain Marcy’s guide remains the essential guide for those who wish to discover the trials and tribulations of the early pioneers of America, and it is an indispensable addition to any historical collection. Skyhorse Publishing, as well as our Arcade imprint, are proud to publish a broad range of books for readers interested in history--books about World War II, the Third Reich, Hitler and his henchmen, the JFK assassination, conspiracies, the American Civil War, the American Revolution, gladiators, Vikings, ancient Rome, medieval times, the old West, and much more. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.

This book was published at the time of the great western trek across America of the early pioneers. It was essentially the only real handbook available to help those people to deal with the problems they encountered on their travels, besides also giving them maps.

This was the indispensable handbook for American pioneers traveling west in the mid 19th century. Commissioned and published by the U.S. government and written in a straightforward and helpful voice by U.S. Army officer Randolph Barnes Marcy (1812-1887), it offers all the useful and necessary advice overland travelers to the far West needed to ensure a safe journey: the different routes to California and Oregon, how to pack a wagon for the journey, finding and purifying water, repairing broken wagons, weathering storms, how to handle saddle wounds, the best way to make a fire on the prairie, interacting with Indians, hints on the best methods of hunting, and much more. Complete with all the original maps and illustrations, this replica edition is a remarkable artifact of one of the most exciting and dangerous eras in American history.