Military Roads of the Mississippi Basin

This volume takes listeners on a meticulous journey through the early military highways that opened the Mississippi Basin to American expansion. Centered on George Rogers Clark’s 1778‑79 raids and the subsequent 1790s campaigns of Harmar, St. Clair, and “Mad Anthony” Wayne, the author follows the footpaths, buffalo trails and river fords that guided troops across Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio. Drawing on the Draper Manuscripts and a wealth of period maps, each route is identified, correlated with modern geography, and described in vivid, step‑by‑step detail.

Accompanying the narrative are clear sketches and illustrations that bring the rugged frontier to life, from the storied Old Vincennes Trace to the winding St. Louis Trace. Listeners gain insight into the logistical challenges, the strategic choices of commanders, and the everyday realities faced by the pioneering soldiers and settlers. The result is a compelling portrait of how these early roads shaped the conquest of the Old Northwest and left a lasting imprint on the landscape.