In 1846, before he became the first great historian of the American frontier, Francis Parkman left his privileged Boston home to follow the Conestoga wagons of the pioneers making their way west along the Oregon Trail. It was a year of decision for America--and a year of high adventure for Parkman. This is a spirited account of his experiences on the Great Plains and along the Great Divide, as Parkman and two companions traveled the Oregon Trail as...