This author continues to break new ground in understanding the French and Indian War. In a two-volume work that replaces his "Fort Cumberland: The Missing Years," Lannie Dietle's incisive understanding of early European exploration of the Allegheny region is certain to expand any reader's knowledge of transportation patterns, military movements and early commercial initiatives in the Mid Atlantic colonies of Maryland, Virginia and Pennsylvania. This book is extensively footnoted from original source materials and makes use of original maps and diagrams of America's first western frontier. Volume 1 covers the time period from the initial construction of the fort in 1754 through late 1757. Mr. Dietle's work in documenting the origins of the fort in written correspondence from the Colonial Governors of Virginia and Maryland to their operatives on the western frontier to the Ohio River basin is complete and unique, making it likely this publication will become the definitive source on the subject. Fort Cumberland was the site of George Washington's first and last military commands and this book does justice to the details of its creation and nearly constant modification.