The Men Who Built the Transcontinental Railroad, 1863-1869

By: Stephen E. Ambrose

This American historian has a reputation for excellence and a long list of successful biographies and histories. His table of contents whets my appetite with the first title: “Picking the Route”, and then gives indications that one railroad was at war with the other. Words like assault, attack and penetrate catch my eye. I am really excited when I see an entire chapter, twenty pages, devoted to Brigham Young and the Mormons. This is going to be a good read and also a good source of historical data.