Transcriber’s Note: For the most part, we must assume that what was printedis a verbatim transcript of Fowler’s appalling spelling, but a few correctionsfor what appeared to be certain printing errors are detailed at the end.
I.
AMERICAN EXPLORERS SERIES.
Fowler’s Journal.
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REPRODUCTION OF A PAGE OF JACOB FOWLER’S ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPT.THE ABOVE INCLUDES FACSIMILE OF THE ONLY AUTOGRAPH SIGNATURE OF MAJOR FOWLER,THE NAMES OF HIS PARTY, ETC., ETC.
THE JOURNAL
OF
JACOB FOWLER
NARRATING AN ADVENTURE
FROM
ARKANSAS THROUGH THE INDIAN TERRITORY,
OKLAHOMA, KANSAS, COLORADO,
AND NEW MEXICO,
TO THE
SOURCES OF RIO GRANDE DEL NORTE,
1821-22
EDITED, WITH NOTES
BY
ELLIOTT COUES
NEW YORK
FRANCIS P. HARPER
1898
Copyright, 1898,
by
FRANCIS P. HARPER
DEDICATED
TO
REUBEN T. DURRETT, A. M., LL. D.,
NESTOR OF KENTUCKY HISTORIANS
AND
PRESIDENT OF THE FILSON CLUB,
IN ADMIRATION OF HIS PERSONAL CHARACTER AND IN
REMEMBRANCE OF PLEASANT HOURS PASSED
IN HIS HOSPITABLE HOME.
INTRODUCTION.
Jacob Fowler is an unknown author whose workhas never before been heralded beyond the privatecircles of his friends, relatives, and descendants. Theeditor of his Journal has therefore a man as well as abook to introduce to the public. Being responsiblefor the appearance of the latter in print, he will presentlysay something on that score. But first let ushear from Colonel R. T. Durrett, of Louisville, Ky.,the owner of the manuscript now published, who willspeak for its author:
Louisville, Ky., Dec. 4, 1897.
Dr. Elliott Coues, Washington, D. C.
I have your letter, My Dear Doctor, in which yourequest me to tell what I may know about the Journalyou found among my manuscripts when you were myguest last year, and which you have determined toinclude in your admirable series of Western Americana.I am sorry to have to say that I do not know[viii]much of this manuscript or its