According to the author’s introduction, this book was produced from notes taken throughout the period of his missionary work from 1818 to 1839. He was very critical of the way Indians had been deprived of their land and treated by ‘Anglo-Saxon settlers’ and by the U.S. Government. McCoy’s missionary goals included helping them to adapt and survive in American society, reporting their living conditions to philanthropic organizations, and bringing them Christianity.

This appears to be an unusually thorough and detailed account of this type, running over 600 pages of small type. In addition to the variety of Missions where he was posted, McCoy traveled a good deal. He worked with a number of philanthropic organizations in addition to the Baptist church, and was involved in efforts to shape national legislation on Indians. He made exploratory tours for proposed new missions, and also a number of trips to Washington, DC and other eastern cities.

Locations and tribes mentioned in the Table of Contents include:
Wabash River, IN, Fort Wayne, IN, Delawares, Potawatomies, St. Joseph’s River, Ohio, Ottawas, Sault Ste. Marie, Shawanoes, Arkansas, Missouri, Otoes, Omahas, Choctaws, Creeks, Cherokees, Osages, Chippewas.