Farnham's Travels in the Great Western Prairies, etc., part 1, May 21-October 16, 1839

"Farnham's Travels in the Great Western Prairies, etc., part 1, May 21-October 16, 1839" by Thomas Jefferson Farnham chronicles an expedition through the American West during the early 1800s. The narrative follows Farnham and his companions as they venture from Independence, Missouri, into the Great Western Prairies and toward the Oregon Territory, motivated by dreams of adventure and expansion of the United States' territory. The group struggles against severe weather, food shortages, and dangerous encounters with tribes, like the Cumanche, while their unity is tested by the trials of the trail and differing ambitions. Woven within the story of survival and exploration are contemplations on the meaning of their mission and the United States' westward growth.