C. Gilbert Storms taught American literature and writing for twenty-nine years at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio. He now lives in Tucson, Arizona, where he researches and writes about Arizona history.

• List of IllustrationsAcknowledgmentsIntroductionChapter 1. Starting Out in KentuckyChapter 2. San Francisco and the Customs HouseChapter 3. The Government Boarding HouseChapter 4. Expansionist Dreams and Private ConquestsChapter 5. Planning the Expedition to SonoraChapter 6. Navachiste and SonoraChapter 7. A Port on the GulfChapter 8. The Sand Desert.Chapter 9. The Gila Trail and Colorado City..Chapter 10. Deals and DisappointmentsChapter 11. Stories of the Sonoran ExpeditionPostscript: Poston’s StoryAppendix: Charles D. Poston, “Reconnoisance in Sonora”NotesBibliographyIndex

“As State Historian, I feel this work is important to [helping us] sort out fact from fiction regarding the ‘Father of Arizona.’”—Marshall Trimble, Official State Historian of Arizona“I think this will interest anyone who enjoys exploration and Southwest history.”—Heidi Osselaer, author of Winning Their Place: Arizona Women in Politics, 1883–1950 “Compact, well researched, and a fast-paced read.”—Journal of Arizona History“Well researched, well documented, and well written.”—Western Historical Quarterly“A richly detailed and fascinating story of the life and career of one of Arizona’s most significant figures.”—Southwestern Historical Quarterly