One of the most important and authentic accounts of the pioneer experience in Texas. This is actually three books in one. The first part is stories of Texas pioneers and their hardships, as told to Sowell firsthand. The second part is the adventures of Sowell's family during the Texas Revolution and the Republic Era. These two parts comprise the first half of the book. The final part, almost half of the book, is Ranger Sowell's recollections of the campaign of the Texas Rangers to the Wichita Mountains in 1871. This is probably the most historically accurate Texas Ranger narrative of them all. Sowell intended to write about the expedition before it ever set out. He kept good notes on exactly what happened and who did what.