The lives of ordinary men can illuminate history in ways that stories of great men may not. Separated as adolescents in Canada, reunited by the US Civil War, brothers John and Francis Bailey forge bonds which ensure their survival in the turbulent years that follow. This historical biography presents America's pursuit of her Manifest Destiny through the eyes of a Michigan railroad engineer and an Albany NY policeman, based on the trove of documents John Bailey collected over nearly half a century. He gives us an insider's view of the expansion of the US railroad system, including detailed descriptions of the workings of steam engines and the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers. And, as he tells the story, often referring to letters received from Francis over the course of 36 years, John finally discovers his brother's secret for enjoying life despite adversity.