The Trail of Death: Letters of Benjamin Marie Petit is a historical non-fiction book written by Irving McKee. The book is a collection of letters written by Benjamin Marie Petit, a French Jesuit missionary who accompanied a group of Potawatomi Indians on their forced removal from Indiana to Kansas in 1838. The journey, known as the Trail of Death, was a harrowing experience for the Potawatomi people, who were forced to leave their ancestral lands and travel over 660 miles on foot. Many of them died from disease, starvation, and exhaustion along the way. Petit's letters provide a firsthand account of the Trail of Death and the conditions that the Potawatomi people faced during their journey. He describes the suffering and hardship that he witnessed, as well as his own struggles to provide comfort and support to the Potawatomi. The letters also shed light on the political and social context of the time, including the policies of the US government towards Native American tribes and the role of missionaries in these communities. Overall, The Trail of Death: Letters of Benjamin Marie Petit is a powerful and moving account of a tragic chapter in American history. It provides a unique perspective on the Trail of Death and the experiences of the Potawatomi people, and highlights the importance of understanding and acknowledging the injustices that have been inflicted upon Native American communities.This scarce antiquarian book is a facsimile reprint of the old original and may contain some imperfections such as library marks and notations. Because we believe this work is culturally important, we have made it available as part of our commitment for protecting, preserving, and promoting the world's literature in affordable, high quality, modern editions, that are true to their original work.