A Way Through the Wilderness: The Natchez Trace and the Civilization of the Southern Frontier

On April 7, 1798, Congress created the Mississippi Territory, a land that had seen French, British and Spanish rule within four decades. Davis (Jefferson Davis: The Man and His Hour) chronicles the development of the Old Southwest (Mississippi and Alabama) from early settlement through the 1830s. Settlers came overland from Nashville, Tenn., to Natchez, Miss. (the ``Trace''), or by boat on the great river. This is lively history, replete with colorful characters--Col. James Wilkinson, Aaron Burr, Sir William Dunbar and a man who tried his hand at everything, Gideon Lincecum. The author paints a vivid picture of Natchez as sin city with its drinking, whoring and gambling. He charts the rise of King Cotton and conflicts between merchants and planters. He describes Indian-white relations, the struggles to set up schools and churches and state politics. Davis leaves no doubt the Southern Frontier was just as wild as the Wild West. Illustrations. BOMC and History Book Club alternates. (Feb.)