The story of caravans of emigrants moving across two thousand miles of arid prairie to the gold fields of California is one of the most striking in the history of the American frontier. Captain Randolph B. Marcy was concerned with the route which led from the settlements in Arkansas across Indian Territory to Santa Fe and west - a southern route second in importance only to the Santa Fe Trail proper, yet, one which the historian has largely neglected. Captain Marcy, who was graduated from West Point in 1832, saw duty in the War with Mexico and was afterwards stationed at Fort Towson in the Choctaw Nation. During the boom days of the California Gold Rush he was appointed by the government to make a survey of the route to Santa Fe, and to provide a military escort for large numbers of overland emigrants. His subsequent Journal of 1849, published by the Secretary of War in 1850, was a keen, lucid, and human account of everything that came under his observation and it is highly significant to the story of westward migration. Marcy's Journal, and the other diaries and contemporary materials employed by Mr. Foreman in Marcy and the Gold Seekers add much to our knowledge of the folkways and the history of the forty-niner, and to the our knowledge of the development of the the Southwest. It is the story of the hopes, fears, and trials of those hopeful pioneers on an adventure now epic to the history of the West. In the early fifties, thousands came down the Mississippi by flat boat, or up from the deep south to the border settlements of Arkansas, and then by pack train or covered wagon across the southern plains towards the reputed riches of the California gold fields. In the military effort necessary to the settlement of the western plains, Marcy may be said to rank in importance with Sherman, Sheridan, Custer and others in the army who were preparing the area for development during the middle years of the nineteenth century - an era of Indian troubles, free land, and high adventure.

"Aside from the journal of Captain Marcy this book is made up almost altogether from letters and other accounts found in newspapers..."--Page 404.

Introduction -- Rendezvous of the gold seekers -- Crossing the Indian territory -- Cherokees join the gold rush -- The Cherokee trail -- Captain Dillard's company departs -- Captain Marcy's report -- Arrival at Little River -- The Cross timbers -- Birth of the twins-Camp Life -- Santa Fe and beyond -- Down the Gila river -- Across the Desert -- Captain Marcy resumes his narrative -- Lieutenant Harrison killed by the savages -- Among friendly Indians -- Return to civilization.