Includes bibliographical references (pages 957-977) and index.

Vol. 1. Indians and Spain -- v. 2. Mexico and the United States. Book one: the Indian Rio Grande. The ancients -- The cliffs -- To the river -- The stuff of life -- Book two: the Spanish Rio Grande. The river of palms -- Rivals -- Upland river -- The travellers' tales -- Destiny and the future -- Faith and bad faith -- Facing battle -- Battle piece -- The garrison -- Siege -- The eastern plains -- Prophecy and retreat -- Lords and victims -- The river of May -- Four enterprises -- Possession -- The river capital -- Collective memory -- Duties -- A dark day in winter -- The Battle of Acoma -- Afterthoughts -- Exchange -- The promises -- The desert fathers -- The two majesties -- The hungry -- "This miserable kingdom" -- The terror -- Limit of vision -- A way to the Texas -- The great captain -- Fort St. John Baptist -- Early towns -- Colonial Texas -- Mexico bay -- Forgotten lessons -- Hacienda and village -- The world intrudes -- The shout -- The broken grasp of Spain -- Book three: the Mexican Rio Grande. A colony for Mexico -- A wild strain -- The twin sisters -- Last return -- The spark -- The Ariel -- Slavery -- Bad blood -- The Mexico trade -- Tormented loyalties -- "God and Texas" -- From Mexico's point of view -- Fortunes of New Mexico -- Revolt up river -- The river republic -- The Santa Fe pioneers -- Border smoke -- To Mier and beyond -- Diplomacies -- The United States to the river -- Book four: the United States Rio Grande. "Way, you Rio" -- Collective prophecy -- Bivouac -- The Army of the Rio Grande -- The cannonade -- Fort Texas -- The listeners -- Palo Alto -- Resaca de la Palma -- The river dead -- The nation's war -- Invasion summer -- Recurrent frontier -- Upstream and inland -- The Army of the West -- The secret agent -- Bloodless possession -- The Army of Chihuahua -- The free Missourians -- Brazito and the pass -- Counterdance -- The avengers -- Massacre at Taos -- Chihuahua -- Trial at Taos -- All on the plains of Mexico -- El Dorado -- Contraband -- A thread of spirit -- Boundaries -- Flag and lamplight -- The Rio Grande divided -- The desolate -- Confederate border -- The second Mexican empire -- The Mexican moon -- Bad men and good -- The last wagons -- The last frontiersman -- Treasure -- The last earth secrets -- Revolution and reflex -- Utility and vision. A distinguished historian examines the development of the region and surveys the amalgamation of the aboriginal Indian, Spanish, Mexican, and Anglo-American civilizations.