On the Skirmish Line Behind the Friendly Tree: The Civil War Memoirs of William Royal Oake, 26th Iowa Volunteers Book

A nice collection of Southern California's history told from the perspective of an author who lived through it. Horace Bell is known to have exagerated frequently, but even his tallest tales generally have some foundation with reality. Outlaws, gamblers, and gringos make for an intriguing read through gunfights and hangings. Although Horace Bell attempts to skirt around the more violent episodes, the prolific crime and muder throughout the area make it an impossible task. Also notable in the text are the early, generous lives of the Rancheros, anecdotes from the lesser known Los Angeles gold rush, and the unlawful, but highly popular, revolutionary spark of American fillibusters.