Army Exploration in the American West 1803-1863 (Fred H. and Ella Mae Moore Texas History Reprint Series) Hardcover – Import, 1 November 1991

We need more historians like William H. Goetzmann. Focusing on the history of the Army's Topographical Engineers we get a completely different view of the Cowboy's and Indians portrayal of the American West that Hollywood likes to keep repeating. Goetzmann shows that almost to a man, and despite many faults, these engineers, the cream of each West Point graduating class, made a most remarkable contribution to the exploration, definition and integration of the American West into the rest of the country at large.An extension of first the Executive branch and then subsequently of the Congress itself, these men not only defined what others claimed they saw, they scientifically refined what existed to a point where others, who could not see for themselves, could rely with the utmost confidence that things were as reported. Along the way, they influenced everything from much needed infrastructure changes such as road and bridge building, reconnaissance, railroad surveys, raw exploration, and map making to establishing frontier forts and our national boundaries themselves.These men accomplished for the United States what the English, French, Russians, Spanish and native peoples could not. They reported an accurate, scientifically based, in-depth understanding of what would be required to conquer and subdue a land that, from the beginning of time, had avoided and frustrated any and all attempts at civilization. This is the amazing story of the men who, more than any other single group, led in the development of the American West.

This is a well written history of the West as seen from the Army's Topographical Engineers point of view. The author mixes geography, exploration and politics in the story telling. Enjoyable and an engaging read.

Gift.