Ten Years in the Saddle: The Memoir of William Woods Averell 1851-1862

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Summary: A West Pointer's 1850-1860s recollections.
Review: This interesting autobiographical account was written by a West Point graduate of the 1850s. His experiences in the pre-Civil War west are especially informative, as not many first-hand narratives of that era have been published. His assignment after graduation from the military academy was to the New Mexico territory. There, he participated in the short Navajo war, and with vivid descriptions, tells the story well. He was wounded during the conflict and after being sent home for convelescence, tells about the most difficult choice confronting those classmates of his from the southern states in their future direction. Although Averell didn't excel at his later military career, never the less his work with the pen makes for interesting reading.