Kit Carson and the First Battle of Adobe Walls: A Tale of Two Journeys (Grover E. Murray Studies in the American Southwest)

Kit Carson and the First Battle of Adobe Walls by Alvin Lynn. I thought the Forward, Introduction, and Acknowledgments were very good. Sometimes these are not so good.The chapters are short with a lot of photos and maps to help follow along. An easy read.The first 15 chapters cover the events leading up to the battle, leaving Fort Bascom New Mexico, each campsite, the battle, and the return trip.Chapter 16 through 34 is for the serious archaeologist. Lynn tells of each artifact found at each site including the battlefield.Overall this book was very good. A lot of work went into the making of this book. I can't imagine the walking and searching in the hot and cold of the New Mexico and Texas frontier. It sounds like fun. It all comes down to a passion. Bring back to life what happened in the past.

Very detailed information about this pivotal action. Which numerically was the largest fought in the west. Tremendous amount of research and evidence with maps of artifacts collected and accounts of participants. The fact that this was the first battle fought at Adobe Walls a Bent's trading post and that a second battle was fought within 2miles of first site. in 1873. Yet both sites are on private land without any historical remembrance.

Well written with a lot of research from the field. Diagrams, especially of the battle grounds are very helpful, and of the route the U.S. Army is specifically interesting. I did not know the Army faced such a large force of Indian forces. They were greatly outnumbered. The Army had the advantage that the two mountain howitzers which terrified the Indians. Most Indians had never heard or seen a cannon in action. The author did a tremendous amount of discovery of artifacts with his metal detector. Good pictures of all he uncovered. I had read some time ago that Kit Carson was the only general officer in the U.S. Army would could not read or write. If the author knew this and if it is true, I would have liked some verification. Carson was an amazing individual. Quite accomplished as a 'mountain man' and very capable.

Well researched book that chronicles a little known episode in the life of a legend of the American West. This book will appeal to anyone interested in Kit Carson, archeology studies and Southwestern and military history.

Excellent overview of the battle and overall campaign. This is a battle due for an exhaustive study rather than a paragraph or two as a sideline in most historical accounts. This book meets all of the expectations and the photos and archeology findings are a plus as well.Very well done and highly recommended for anyone interested in this first battle of Adobe Walls.

Well written scholarly book regarding the title...Easy read and very informative.

If you are interested in SW history this is a good addition to your library because it is so well documented

The author describes a little known event in the career of Christopher (Kit) Carson and General James H. Carleton, he of the California Volunteers just following the Civil War.Henry H. Goldman