Reviews for Western Rivermen, 1763-1861: Ohio and Mississippi Boatmen and the Myth of the Alligator Horse

The average rating for Western Rivermen, 1763-1861: Ohio and Mississippi Boatmen and the Myth of the Alligator Horse based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2021-01-27 00:00:00 John Kingsley I wanted to read this because a gg grandfather worked some sort of "river boat" before the Civil War. I have found him listed on the 1860 census at Napoleon, Arkansas; right where the Arkansas River joins the Mississippi River. I was able to get a better idea of what this life might have been like for a 20-year-old Ulster Irish immigrant. Napoleon was even mentioned once! My favorite aspect of this work was the fact that the author used footnotes, rather than the currently popular endnotes. I like to just glance and the bottom to read sources or other pertinent facts, rather that breaking my reading flow by flipping to some page (usually not easy to pinpoint) to read the note. The bibliographical review was interesting, mainly because he lumped together sources found at particular archives/libraries. I would have been o.k. with a standard bibliographical listing, but this had its merits. Scholarly nonfiction; so maybe not for readers who just want breezy, chatty nonfiction.

Review # 2 was written on 2016-01-14 00:00:00 Henry West I found this book very satisfying and full of good information while clearly separating the myths from the realities whenever possible. A great book for any researcher, student, historian, fellow author, and/or waterway enthusiast. The historical details in this work paint a vivid picture of the various boat operators, the crafts used, the dangers, and the scenery along the rivers traveled. This book was a great investment for me.