INTRODUCTORY, 25 



cess, rivalling in its financial results even " Uncle Tom's 

 Cabin/' which had just had a run of 300,000 copies, 

 was most gratifying and led to the publication, at in- 

 tervals, of " Three Years in the Federal Cavalry ; " 

 ^* Battles for tlie Union/' and " Heroes of Three 

 Wars." 



The temptation to make the most of ray literary 

 ventures lured me on from year to year until 1875, 

 when I laid down the pen and began preparation for 

 my long contemplated and oft deferred journey across 

 the Continent. Being now possessed of ample means, 

 I proposed to ride at leisure on a tour of observation 



from OCEAN TO OCEAN ON HORSEBACK. 



My preference for an equestrian journey was in a 

 great measure due to early associations with the horse, 

 in jaunts along country highways and over the hills 

 after the cows, as well as numerous boyhood adventures 

 in which this noblest of animals frequently played a 

 conspicuous part. Then, too, my experience in the 

 cavalry largely influenced me to adopt the saddle as 

 the best suited to my purpose. 



Reflecting further upon the various modes of travel, 

 I was led to conclude as the result of much experijence 

 that he who looks at the country from the windows of 

 a railway car, can at best have only an imperfect idea 

 of the many objects of interest which are constantly 

 brought to his notice. Again, a journey in the saddle, 

 wherein the rider mounts and dismounts at will as he 

 jogs along over the highway, chatting with an occa- 

 sional farmer, talking with the people in town and 

 gazing upon rural scenes at his pleasure, i)resents many 

 attractive features to the student and tourist who 

 wishes to view the laudscape, to commune with nature^ 



