Thirty Years of Army Life on the Border, written in 1866, is the account
of Brigadier General - then Colonel - R.B. Macy, who was most known for
his book The Prairie Traveler, written for Western migrants. Macy uses
his penchant for detail to describe what life on the United States
border was really like. He includes lengthy descriptions of the Plains
Indians' tribes, culture, religion, warfare, and lifestyle; expeditions
over rivers, the Rocky Mountains, and unexplored territories; hunting
wild game in the area; and pioneer life on the northern border. Like
*The Prairie Traveler*, this book would have been a useful guide for
anyone wanting to immigrate to the Northern United States, and can be
examined today as a look into daily life for those on the wild frontier.
RANDOLPH BARNES MARCY (1812-1887) was a Brigadier General in the U.S.
Army. His work greatly assisted pioneers and settlers in the Western
migration across the United States in the 17th and 18th centuries. Marcy
was born in Massachusetts and graduated from West Point Military Academy
in 1832. In the course of his military duties he spent time in Texas,
Oklahoma, New Mexico, Utah, and the Rocky Mountains area. His extensive
knowledge of the terrain, climate, and obstacles made Marcy the ideal
candidate as author for The Prairie Traveler, which helped thousands of
unprepared emigrants travel the unknown Western territories.
