title: Dangerous Passage: The Santa Fe Trail and the Mexican War
author:  William Y. Chalfant 
description: Chalfant ( Without Quarter , Univ. of Oklahoma Pr., 1991) has added another well-researched work to Western historical literature: a detailed history of the Santa Fe Trail during the Mexican War. Focusing on the latter part of the 1840s, the work provides an intimate look at the travelers and soldiers on the trail, especially at Fort Mann, or the Middle Passage. Initially opened as a civilian stop, Fort Mann was quickly abandoned because of devastating Indian raids. It eventually became the headquarters for the Indian Battalion. The book explores the events and circumstances leading up to the Indian wars and its battles. As with most works written on this subject, it is extremely detailed. It would be valuable for collections on the West and especially the Santa Fe Trail.<br /><i>- Terri P. Summey, Emporia State Univ. Lib., Kan.</i><br />Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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  Epigraph
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  >
  
  
  I follow the scent of falling rain
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  And head for the place where it is darkest
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
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  And draw near to the place where it strikes
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  —NAVAJO CHANT
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
    
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  _Prologue_ : HOOFBEATS  
  
  
    
  
  
  One morning in mid-August 1846, in the cool hours before dawn, the New Mexican
  villagers of Las Vegas slumbered anxiously. The Americanos were coming. In
  distant Washington, D.C., for reasons murky to the inhabitants of Las Vegas,
  the president of the United States had declared war on Mexico. Now scouts had
  brought word that the invading gringo army was only a few days away, marching
  steadily westward, and the townspeople w