Shadow on the Tetons: David E. Jackson and the Claiming of the American West

Rating:
Summary: Fur Trade Pioneer
Review: While the focus here is on one of our fur trade pioneers, David Jackson, the reader also gains insight as to the many economic and geopolitical strategies which went on between American and British fur companys. However, I must point out a few controversial issues. First of all, the author seems to portray two of the fur trade's icons as somewhat greedy, heartless and callous individuals: William Ashley for financial and economic gains and Jedediah Smith for exploration fame and glory. So be it. There is not enough space here for a debate. Secondly, the author is quite adamant in his view on the presence of alcohol during the first mountain rendezvous of 1825 while evidence refutes this. The only mention of alcohol in Ashley's diary of commodities during that first rendezvous is, according to Dale Morgan's scholarly work "The West of William Ashley", footnoted as future orders for the following year. In agreement with Morgan are other historians such as Fred Gowans ("Rocky Mountain Rendezvous"); Richard Clokey ("William Ashley: Enterprise and Politics in the Trans-Mississippi West"); Linda Hasselstrom ("Journal of a Mountain Man: James Clyman); and Jack Tykal ("Etienne Provost: Man of the Mountain") to name a few. I believe the author may be conjecturing on this issue. Thirdly, there is mention that Bridger floated down the Green River to taste the salt of an inland lake. Is he referring to, as one would suppose, the Great Salt Lake? Maybe I am reading this wrong, but how could he float down the Green, (which empties into the Colorado River), and then into Salt Lake? According to Bridger's biographer, J. Cecil Alter, Bridger went down the Bear River (and possibly by horse, due to the time of year) which does in fact empty into Salt Lake. Overall a good book with a stellar bibliography.