Book excerpt: Though much has been written about the American Revolution, much less has been written on its western front. The war effort west of the Appalachians consisted of fewer than 1,000 Continental troops trying to wrest control of 250,000 square miles of forest from a small number of British troops and their Indian allies fighting to keep the land. The garrison at Fort Pitt in Western Pennsylvania comprised the bulk of federal forces in the west, paltry armies serving under abysmal conditions, and with little success. Despite this, a colorful collection of heroes and leaders emerged who endured long enough to establish a presence that facilitated future westward expansion for the United States. This book presents this underreported and unique conflict in full historical detail, with an emphasis on Washington's personal experience in the west and his relationship with Continental Army officers he selected to command his Western Department.