Campmates: A Story of the Plains

In Short

A spirited adventure of self-discovery, this narrative follows a young boy who leaves behind a life of aimless discontent to join a rugged civil-engineering survey across the mid-nineteenth-century American West. As he maps the vast Plains, encounters indigenous tribes, and navigates the perils of the desert, he earns the respect of hardened frontiersmen and uncovers the long-hidden secret of his own parentage. It remains a classic of the era for its vivid depiction of westward expansion and its steady focus on the moral development of a boy learning the values of industry, bravery, and loyalty.

The Story

Glen Eddy lives a quiet, comfortable life in the American Midwest until a startling revelation shatters his peace: he is an adopted child, and his very birthday is a fiction. Confused and searching for a purpose, he strikes up an acquaintance with Mr. Hobart, a civil engineer. Recognizing the boy’s potential and "clear grit," Hobart invites him to join a surveying party bound for the untamed West. This offer provides Glen with the structure he lacks, trading his schoolroom troubles for the harsh, practical realities of life on the trail.

The expedition, led by the firm but fair Hobart, proves to be a rigorous training ground. Glen quickly sheds his boyish habits, proving his mettle by taking the throttle of a locomotive during a dangerous journey and mastering the art of riding wild, stubborn mules. He develops a deep, lasting friendship with Binney Gibbs, a boy initially perceived as timid, whom Glen helps transform into a brave and reliable companion. Together, they face the brutal elements, survive a kidnapping by a Cheyenne scouting party—from which Glen daringly escapes—and participate in the humanitarian effort to provide a future for a young, wounded Indigenous boy named Lame Wolf.

As the team pushes further into the unknown, they encounter the legendary Kit Carson and explore the ancient, mysterious adobe dwellings of Zuni. The journey is not merely one of exploration but a test of character. When the expedition faces a life-threatening water shortage in the desert, Glen and the project leader embark on a desperate night ride to find help, a sacrifice that seals the deep bond between the man and the boy.

The story reaches its emotional climax upon their return to the States. Glen’s search for his past, which has simmered throughout his travels, converges with his professional success. He discovers that his biological father is none other than General Elting, the man who oversaw the very expedition Glen helped complete. The long-sought truth—that he is not a boy without a history, but a son long searched for—completes his transformation. Glen returns not as a lost, discontented youth, but as a capable young man who has earned his place in the world through his own labor and courage, reunited at last with his own flesh and blood.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Glen learns he is adopted and struggles with a lack of direction until Mr. Hobart offers him a position in a railroad surveying party. This change of scenery promises the rough, character-building experience both the engineer and the boy’s foster father believe he needs.

The lessons of the plains Life on the trail forces Glen to grow up quickly, as he masters the technical work of the transit and chain and proves his courage in the face of violent encounters. He earns his status among the men, particularly through a display of masterful riding that tames a difficult, headstrong mule.

Captivity and survival Glen finds himself in the hands of Cheyenne warriors, testing his resolve and his ability to endure physical hardship. His subsequent escape is a calculated act of resourcefulness that proves he possesses the instincts of a true frontiersman.

The brotherhood of the trail The men of the expedition bond over the common goal of protecting each other and aiding the vulnerable, including a young Indigenous boy who receives a scholarship from the crew. This shared altruism solidifies the group's loyalty and matures the boys.

The final discovery The survey culminates in a grueling desert trek that brings the men to the brink of survival. Upon returning home, the mystery of Glen’s identity is resolved as he reunites with his biological father, General Elting.

The People

Glen Eddy serves as the book's moral anchor. Initially a directionless boy suffering from the "uncertainties of life," he evolves into a resolute, capable young man. His primary desire is to find his true identity, but his success comes through his willingness to work, learn, and act with integrity.

Mr. Hobart acts as a mentor and surrogate father. He is a man of professional precision and high character who recognizes that Glen needs the "rough side of life" to develop his potential. He pushes Glen to succeed without coddling him, eventually trusting him with the most vital responsibilities of the expedition.

Binney Gibbs begins the story as a social outcast, tagged as a coward by his peers. Through his friendship with Glen and his exposure to the dangers of the Plains, he overcomes his perceived limitations. His growth is marked by genuine acts of bravery, proving that character is forged through experience rather than innate disposition.

General Elting, revealed as Glen's father, stands as the ultimate authority figure. His presence looms over the narrative, eventually providing the final piece of the puzzle regarding Glen’s origin. His reunion with his son serves to validate the journey Glen undertook, signaling that the boy’s hard-won independence is fully recognized by his heritage.

In Its Own Voice

"The idea of a boy without a birthday! Who ever heard of such a thing?"

This reflection captures Glen’s initial identity crisis upon learning he is an adopted child.

"I've only got five dollars in cash myself, but I'll give that, and I'll save all I can out of my pay for it, too."

Glen demonstrates his growing maturity and altruism by proposing a fund to help an injured Indigenous boy.

What It's Really About

At its heart, the book explores the maturation of a young man through the lens of the American West. It argues that a person’s true worth is not found in their heritage or status, but in their industry and conduct. Glen’s journey is a microcosm of the "frontier spirit," where the harsh, unforgiving landscape acts as a forge. The book posits that the most important education occurs outside of the classroom, where physical labor, the necessity of teamwork, and the constant threat of danger demand that a boy cultivate his own sense of honor and capability. It is a story about shedding the privileges of childhood to earn one’s place in the world.

Why Read It Today

This story will resonate with those who enjoy a classic "coming-of-age" tale set against a vast, atmospheric landscape. The prose is earnest and direct, capturing a sense of wonder at the expansion of the nineteenth-century frontier, from the bustling rail yards of Kansas City to the ancient, terraced cities of Zuni. Readers will feel the weight of the wide, lonely plains and the genuine tension of life on the trail.

However, a modern reader must be prepared for the period-specific attitudes regarding Indigenous people, which, while reflecting the author’s intent to portray them with a degree of sympathy and individual character (such as the inclusion of Lame Wolf), still exist within a narrative of Manifest Destiny that can feel dated. The language and pacing are characteristic of late-nineteenth-century juvenile fiction, featuring an episodic structure and occasional moralizing that might strike a contemporary reader as slow or heavy-handed. Despite this, the core of the story—the transformation of a directionless boy into a man of substance—remains as compelling as ever. It is a rewarding look at an era of exploration, offering a quiet, warm sense of satisfaction as Glen finally finds the answers to the questions that haunted his youth.