Audubon's western journal: 1849-1850 Being the MS. record of a trip from New York to Texas, and an overland journey through Mexico and Arizona to the gold-fields of California

"Audubon's Western Journal: 1849-1850" by John Woodhouse Audubon is a historical narrative that follows the author's expedition from New York to the California gold fields via Texas, giving both a traveler's perspective and a naturalist's observations of the mid-19th-century American landscape. Starting with the buzz and anxiety surrounding the California Gold Rush in early 1849, the story depicts the author's departure from New York and the feelings of himself and his companions as they traveled through cities like Philadelphia and New Orleans. The book records the difficulties they experienced, such as disease and disagreements, providing insights into the risks and rewards of westward expansion during a pivotal period in American history and setting the stage for the difficulties and adventures that John James Audubon and his companions will encounter as they pursue wealth.