In 1869, Civil War veteran and amputee Major John Wesley Powell led an
expedition down the uncharted Colorado River through the then-nameless
Grand Canyon. This is the story of what started as a geological survey,
but ended in danger, chaos, and blood. The men were inexperienced and
ill-equipped, and they faced unimaginable peril. Along the way there was
death, mutiny, and abject terror, but Powell persevered and produced a
masterwork of adventure writing still held in the highest regard by the
boatmen who follow his course today. With never-before-used primary
sources and firsthand experience navigating Powell's legendary route,
Cecil Kuhne brings this remarkable chapter of frontier history to life.
The American Grit series brings you true tales of endurance, survival,
and ingenuity from the annals of American history. These books focus on
the trials of remarkable individuals with an emphasis on rich primary
source material and artwork.