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The Gaffs have gathered together pieces from the correspondence and published and unpublished articles of Brigadier General John Gibbon, who served in the US Army following his graduation from West Point in 1847 until his retirement in 1891. Gibbon participated in the Mexican War, the occupation of Utah, numerous key Civil War battles, and for many years thereafter was stationed on the western Indian frontier. Selections in the present volume treat Gibbon's 1859 march to Utah and his experiences in the West. Engagingly written pieces recount an 1870 reconnaissance in search of Lewis and Clark's pass, the 1872 exploration of Yellowstone National Park, the 1876 Sioux campaign, the 1877 Nez Perc'e War, and Gibbon's liberal views concerning Native Americans. Commander of the relief column that rescued survivors and buried the dead after Custer's defeat, and of the small force that engaged Chief Joseph's band at Big Hole, Gibbon was a perceptive observer whose writing avoided the bluster of Custer and Fr'emont. The book is attractive and edited by recognized scholars, although some editorial changes are not clearly indicated. Introduction, biographical sketch of author, illustrations. General readers through graduate students. D. W. Steeples; Mercer University