This book has highs and lows that will keep you reading for many hours. It begins when a death occurs in the height of civility and moves through the prairie forts and towns toward war in California. In those days, it was war just to get through hostile Indians, wild bulls, lack of food, fires, and more. Not only does this require determination and creativity, but it is built on real people and real events. See how the brave battalion and one woman made their way through all the dangers to be reinforcements in San Diego during the Spanish American War.