Joy S. reviewed Down the Santa Fe Trail and into Mexico: The Diary of Susan Shelby Magoffin, 1846-1847 on + 92 more book reviews
The journal of a young bride's travels from Independence, Missouri to Chihuahua, Mexico at the beginning of the Mexican War, covers 1846-47.
Rebecca -
An interesting perspective from a woman of the period on the Santa Fe trail. I appreciate it for what it is, a diary of a young, entitled woman who met many famous folks of the old west along the Santa Fe trail. It was not originally written for publication. I had a hard time getting over that fact and struggled to enjoy the book. The discriminatory and negative attitude to those of perceived lower status was really hard to swallow at times. It did however fulfill my wish to know more about everyday life in the old southwest and what it was really like to journey on the old Santa Fe trail. And for that, it is an amazing document.
Thomas F. (hardtack) -
She came from a wealthy family, but then spent 15 months traveling by wagon, until even she admitted she was tired of wagons. She underwent hardships that young ladies today couldn't imagine. Yes, those hardships were much worse than having your mobile phone signal drop!
She fell sick several times, and lost her first child due to the fact she was ill with yellow fever. She was often faced with death from several directions... lack of water, Indians, bandits, and armed forces opposed to the U.S.
And she overcame all making friends with assorted individuals she would not have consorted with in her home in Kentucky. Sadly, she died when she was twenty-seven.
She fell sick several times, and lost her first child due to the fact she was ill with yellow fever. She was often faced with death from several directions... lack of water, Indians, bandits, and armed forces opposed to the U.S.
And she overcame all making friends with assorted individuals she would not have consorted with in her home in Kentucky. Sadly, she died when she was twenty-seven.
