The account highlights the life of Narcissa Whitman, a pioneering missionary who, in 1836, traveled on horseback along the north side of the Platte River, becoming the first white woman to traverse the American continent. Alongside her husband, Marcus Whitman, she played a significant role in the early interactions between settlers and Native Americans. Unfortunately, this mission ended tragically in 1847 when they were killed by the Cayuse Indians near Walla Walla, Washington.

The conflict was rooted in the introduction of diseases like measles, which devastated the local Native population and fueled their anger towards the settlers. This situation underscores the complex and often violent history between American pioneers and indigenous peoples, reflecting broader themes of cultural encounters and the consequences of colonial expansion.