Text: William Nelson, “Julius Rodman and His Journey,” Magazine of American History (New York, NY), vol. XXV, no. 3, March 1891, pp. 255-256

[page 255, column 2, continued:]

JULIUS RODMAN AND HIS JOURNEY [xxv. 179] — The “Journal of Julius Rodman,” purporting to describe the first journey by white men across the Rocky mountains in 1792, was first published in 1840 in Burton's Gentleman's Magazine, then edited by William E. [column 2:] Burton and Edgar A. Poe. In January number, Chapter I., Introductory, was some account of Julius Rodman, briefly recapitulating various expeditions across the continent. In February, Chapter II. describes the party composing the expedition, the preparations for the journey, [page 256:] and the details of the first two days’ progress up the Missouri river from St. Charles. In March, Chapter III., August 1 to September 5, still going up the Missouri; April, Chapter IV., September 5, 1791, to April 10, 1792, describes the Indians of the Northwest, and an encounter with the Sioux; May, Chapter V., April 10, 1792, to May 13, when the party arrived at the junction of the Yellowstone with the Missouri; June, Chapter VI. describes the peculiar cliff formations along the Upper Missouri, and an exciting fight with two huge brown bears. These are all the chapters published. The cover of the January number had contained a note particularly calling attention to this journal, announcing that it would be continued throughout the year, concluding with the December number. On the inside of the cover of the June number is this brief announcement : “ Our readers are respectfully informed that in future Edgar A. Poe will not be connected with this magazine.” That explains why the journal was not “continued throughout the year,” although it does not explain why Poe never finished it. The “Journal of Julius Rodman “ was exhumed by John H. Ingram, and was first published in Poe's works, in the edition in four volumes compiled by him, published in 1885 in London and New York, pp. 3-90, Vol. IV. I think there can be very little doubt that Poe was the author. It seems a pity he never completed the work so well begun. I have been somewhat minute in describing the particulars of the publication from my own copy of Burton's Magazine, because the magazine is scarce, and many admirers of [column 2:] Poe are not familiar with this work of his.

WILLIAM NELSON

PATERSON, N. J.