Wild Life in the Far West: The Adventures of a Hunter, Trapper, Guide, Prospector and Soldier, Hobbs James

For those fascinated by the history of the American West the lives of its singular characters-particularly in autobiography-never cease to enthral. These resourceful individualists led extraordinary lives of risk and danger of such variety that the modern reader is left in awe. Hobbs, the author of this book, was certainly one of that doughty and resolute breed. Here was another in the manner of Kit Carson (in fact the two were companions) who lived in the trackless wilderness of the old South West. Hobbs hunted, trapped, fought Indians, was captured and held prisoner by the Comanches. He travelled and traded in Mexico before being recruited to act as guide to Doniphan during the Mexican War. Not only was he one of the Forty-Niners but as if his life of adventure was thus far not enough he joined Mexican Liberal forces during the Franco-Mexican War as a Captain of Artillery. This could be nothing other than a highly entertaining, readable first hand account of astonishing adventure and is highly recommended for those interested in the period.