This book brings to life one of the most exciting eras in American history. In late 1819 Colonel Henry Atkinson led an expedition to explore the wilderness of the Upper Missouri and establish sites for a string of military posts, which would extend successful contacts with the Indians as well as exploit trade with British companies. The result of his efforts was a fort system which played a dramatic and significant role in the opening of the territories of the upper plains and the Rockies.

The Benton Road ran from Fort Benton to Helena, Montana. It was the life line for settlers, miners and the military during Montana's pioneering days. Freight and pioneers would board steamships at St Joseph, Missouri and travel the Missouri River to Fort Benton. From there it was up to this road and its feeder roads to provide the people and goods necessary for settling and mining the vast wealth contained in that portion of the Rocky Mountains. Freight wagons, and caravans of people would travel the road. Eventually, stagecoach travel was added to the traffic along the way.

Frank Thompson vividly recalls his experiences in gold-rush era Montana, where sought his fortune, served in the first territorial legislature, and met some of the territory's most notorious road agents.