In 1853, the United States sent a team of explorers on a daring mission to map the uncharted western wilderness from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. The Great Reconnaissance is the thrilling account of this epic adventure, full of danger, hardship, and discovery. Edward S. Wallace brings to life the intrepid explorers who made this historic journey, and the magnificent landscapes that they traversed. This is a must-read for anyone interested in American history and the spirit of exploration. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.