Trip to the West and Texas: comprising a journey of eight thousand miles, through New-York, Michigan, Illinois, Missouri, Louisiana and Texas, in the autumn and winter of 1834-5

In Short

A firsthand travel narrative from 1834 to 1835, this book records an eight-thousand-mile journey through the American West, the Mississippi Valley, and early Texas. Writing in a direct, unpretentious tone, the author documents the geography, agricultural potential, local wildlife, and social dynamics of emerging settlements. He observes both the daily hardships of frontier life and the gathering political storm of the Texian Revolution. The work has lasted as a clear, vivid eyewitness portrait of North America’s rapid 19th-century expansion.

The Story

The narrative follows a continuous, sweeping tour across the rivers, lakes, and unsettled territories of North America during the autumn and winter of 1834–1835. Beginning in the East, the journey progresses along canal routes, passing through Lockport with its massive stone locks, and reaching the bustling inland port of Buffalo on Lake Erie. Moving past Niagara Falls and into the upper Great Lakes, the route reaches the small outpost of Chicago. Surrounding this developing settlement lies a vast, flat, swampy prairie that leads the traveler to evaluate how the Great Lakes once drained south through the Illinois and Mississippi river systems.

Traversing the open prairies of Illinois, the narrative records both the tragic human cost of frontier conflict—such as the sudden killing of young Elijah Philips by an Indian party—and the tranquil, fertile soil ready for the plow. Reaching Alton, Illinois, the journey continues past the meeting point of the muddy Missouri and clear Mississippi rivers, arriving at the booming commercial center of St. Louis. From there, the traveler moves southward down the Mississippi and into the dense pine forests and river routes of Louisiana and Texas.

In Texas, the journey shifts from scenic observation to an analysis of a frontier on the brink of dramatic upheaval. The text details the sparse settlements, the challenging climate filled with swarming mosquitoes and persistent flies, and the raw legal systems where personal disputes often lead to armed showdowns. It tracks the fragile peaceful coexistence between indigenous tribes and American settlers, emphasizing the rising friction between local communities and Mexican authorities.

The book concludes by examining the opening battles of the Texian Revolution, notably the clash over a six-pounder brass cannon at Gonzales, while weighing the geopolitical future of Texas against the larger expansion of the United States. Returning home by sea around Florida, the author reflects on the resilience of Western pioneers, the realities of southern slavery, and the sheer scale of the American landscape.

How It Unfolds

The voyage begins Leaving the developed towns of the East, the traveler travels along the Erie Canal, marveling at the double set of locks at Lockport and the rapid growth of Buffalo. He observes the unique hydrology of the Great Lakes and visits Niagara Falls before heading deeper into the interior toward Chicago.

Across the Illinois prairie Moving through Illinois, the narrative documents the vast, open plains alongside the stark realities of frontier violence. The traveler visits the grave of Elijah Philips, a young man ambushed during Indian hostilities, before reaching the grand confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers.

Into the Texas wilderness Traveling south through Louisiana into the pitch-pine forests of Texas, the journey encounters a sparse population navigating rough conditions. The author describes the harsh wildlife, including persistent swarming mosquitoes, alongside the social habits and independent spirit of the western settlers.

Revolution on the horizon The journey turns to the political tension brewing in Texas as settlers clash with Mexican military authorities. The narrative documents the initial skirmish at Gonzales over a contested cannon and evaluates the military and economic future of the emerging Texas republic.

The People

Amos Andrew Parker The author and main narrator, Parker is an observant New Englander who travels eight thousand miles to examine the West firsthand. Seeking plain truths rather than romanticized tales, he records details about soil, local economies, wildlife, and social customs, maintaining a pragmatic and independent perspective throughout his journey.

Elijah Philips A young, enterprising settler whose life is cut short in an Indian ambush on the Illinois prairie. His sudden death serves as a sobering reminder of the constant dangers facing early pioneers, leading Parker to pay his respects at Philips' humble prairie grave.

Colonel Ugartechea The Mexican military commandant at San Antonio who demands the return of a six-pounder brass cannon previously loaned to the citizens of Gonzales. His attempt to seize the gun by force triggers the initial military conflict of the Texian Revolution.

Colonel J.H. Moore The Texian commander who leads a force of roughly one hundred and sixty men against Mexican troops at the Guadalupe River. His early morning attack near Gonzales marks the effective start of the armed Texian uprising.

In Its Own Voice

"The author of this work, unknown to fame, and unacquainted with the art of book-making, has endeavored, in the following pages, to give some account of the great WESTERN AND SOUTHERN COUNTRY."

This opening statement from the preface establishes Parker's straightforward, plainspoken intention to provide an unvarnished travel account.

"Here, two mighty rivers join their forces, and rolling on with irresistible power, for thirteen hundred miles, mingle with the waters of the ocean."

Parker captures the geographic scale of the American interior as he describes the meeting of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers near Alton.

"The thin settled State of Texas, with a population of some fifty thousand, comparatively, without arms and resources, and having no organized government, engaging in a war with sixteen States, with a population of eight millions, reminds one of the stripling David, going out in the valley of Elah, to give battle to the Philistine of Gath."

Here, Parker reflects on the overwhelming odds facing the Texian settlers as they break away from the central Mexican government.

What It's Really About

Beneath its chronological travel itinerary, the book explores how physical geography shapes human character and political institutions. Parker examines the stark contrast between the rigid social conventions of the Northeast and the fierce, uninhibited individualism born on the Western frontier. He explores the mechanics of American territorial expansion, analyzing how natural resources, river networks, and agricultural potential drive rapid settlement.

The narrative also confronts the deep-seated conflicts inherent in this expansion: the tragic displacement and hostility between settlers and Native Americans, the complex realities and moral contradictions of southern slavery, and the inevitable clash between central state authority and frontier independence that sparked the Texian Revolution.

Why Read It Today

Readers interested in early American history, historical geography, and genuine frontier accounts will find this narrative exceptionally rewarding. It offers a fresh, immediate glimpse into a landscape on the verge of massive change, written right as towns like St. Louis and Chicago were transitioning from small settlements into major urban centers. Parker writes with a dry, plainspoken clarity that eschews sensationalism, making his observations on climate, travel conditions, and local economies feel remarkably grounded.

The text does carry the expected difficulties of a 1830s travelogue. Modern readers will encounter period attitudes regarding race, Native Americans, and southern slavery that reflect the prevailing mindsets of the era, as well as meticulous geographical measurements and regional descriptions that slow the narrative pace. Yet, these elements provide an authentic historical record. Parker's journey captures the sheer energy, danger, and unvarnished reality of a nation moving rapidly westward.