Growing up in Louisiana, I had heard various stories about Bernardo de Galvez and his role in aiding the Americans during the Revolution. John Caughey explains it all in this well-researched text, including many incidents and facts that surprised me. For instance, it has been documented that the English planned an attack on New Orleans during the American Revolution and would have had not the Spanish attacked their forts at Manchac and Baton Rouge first. Genealogists with ties to the American Revolutionary battles in Louisiana will also enjoy this book. The text becomes a bit tedious due to the scholarly nature, but that's a minor point. The trials, tribulations and accomplishments of this little-known American hero are sure to delight all readers.

This is a reprint of the actual guide book used by many pioneers. In various diaries it is referred to as "Ware's Guide." I found it to be amazingly accurate and was shocked to learn that Joseph Ware never completed the trip west. He was abandoned on the trail when he took ill and died where they left him.