Robert David Bolen

Smoke Signals & Wagon Tracks Robert David Bolen 1st edition

I have written a thity five thousand word regional history of Idaho and the Pacific Northwest called Smoke Signals & Wagon Tracks. My book is the story of the expansion west in the Eighteen hundreds into Indian Territory for settlement. The Lewis & Clark Expedition first contacted the Amerindians. Then came the Hunt Party and the Hudson s Bay Company beaver brigades arrived to trap beaver and trade with the Indians for furs. They built Fort Vancouver, Fort Boise and other forts and became a monopoly. Mountain men trapped beaver and married Indian women. Struggles arose between Indian and whites. Wagon trains rolled west on the Oregon Trail. Gold miners arrived by the thousands. Indians went on the warpath attacking the wagons and miners. Settlement forts were built. Fort Boise military post was established. The cavalry was called in to protect the citizens and fight the Indians. As one Indian War was put down, another rose up. The Indians lost to the white man with his big guns. Finally, the Amerindians were forced onto Federal reserves. My book describes many local events of the time. Sagas and legends are included for a good read. There are one hundred and five black and white illustrations.