From Fort Guijarros to Fort Ross to Sutter's Fort, old California stretched her outposts from the late 1700's to the middle 1800's. Built by the Spanish, French, English, Russians, and Americans who were lured to this rich land, the forts tell the story of California as it changed from wilderness to civilization. Here then is the story of Lelia Byrd, a Yankee brig, who with her three-pounders defeated the big guns at Fort Guijarros, and the famed Fort Ross legend, and the men who were destined to lead free California—Mariano Vallejo, José Castro, and Juan Alvarado.

From the book