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THE MOST IMPORTANT HISTORIC PIONEER TRAILS IN NORTH AMERICA
The Oregon/Californa and Mormon trails.
By the 1830's, the migration had already pushed the frontier to the Mississippi Valley. Explorers, missionaries and traders who had gone farther west told of great forests and fertile valleys in the Oregon region and lands west of the Rocky Mountains. This was exciting news for many midwestern settlers and in the 1840's, some chose to go to Oregon in search of more opportunities. From 1835 to 1855, more than 10,000 people died on the Oregon Trail usually from firearms accidents and such diseases as cholera and smallpox. Indian attacks accounted for only 4 percent of the deaths.
One of the wagons used by American pioneers, was invented by the Pennsylvania Dutch and called the CONESTOGA WAGON. The wagon was named for the Conestoga Valley in Pennsylvania, where it was first built during the early 1700's. Conestoga wagons carried most of the freight for people that moved westward from the 1770's until about 1850. Wheels with broad rims prevented bogging down in mud. The wheels could be removed and the wagon could be used as a boat. Conestoga wagons were drawn by teams of from four to six horses.
The other wagon used by the American pioneers resembled the Conestoga but was smaller and sleeker. It was called a prairie schooner because, from a distance, its white top looked like the sails of a ship. The prairie schooner, was first built by the German farmers of Pennsylvania. On the long trip, sometimes as many as 200 wagons would join together to form a caravan called a wagon train. More common though was trains of 30 or fewer wagons. For a family going from Independence to Oregon or California in the 1840's, it would take about four to six months. They had to bring enough supplies for the trip because there were few places where they could buy goods along the way.
The other wagon used by the American pioneers resembled the Conestoga but was smaller and sleeker. It was called a prairie schooner because, from a distance, its white top looked like the sails of a ship. The prairie schooner, was first built by the German farmers of Pennsylvania. On the long trip, sometimes as many as 200 wagons would join together to form a caravan called a wagon train. More common though was trains of 30 or fewer wagons. For a family going from Independence to Oregon or California in the 1840's, it would take about four to six months. They had to bring enough supplies for the trip because there were few places where they could buy goods along the way.
The Oregon Trail crossed lands that the U.S. government had guaranteed to the Indians. The route ran through Indian hunting grounds. Fighting occasionally broke out between the pioneers and the Indians, who opposed this intrusion on their territory. However, most wagon trains had a peaceful journey along the trail. Some tribes would even guide the early pioneers or helped them at difficult river crossings. The Indians supplied some wagon trains with vegetables and buffalo meat in exchange for tobacco, whiskey, or pieces of iron.
Routes to the West were hard, they had to cross the Great Plains, a vast grassland that runs between Canada in the north and Texas and New Mexico in the south. The rugged Rocky Mountains rose west of the Great Plains, and beyond the mountains lay a stretch of desertlike terrain known as the Great Basin. The weather was also a problem. Each wagon train elected a leader, called a captain or wagon master. All wagon trains were guided by a scout who knew the route and the best places to camp. Most wagon trains could travel about 12 to 20 miles a day. They would stop for a day or two at outposts as Fort Laramie to repair equipment and buy supplies. Almost all westward journeys would start in the spring to insure time to get through the western mountains before snow blocked the passes. It also helped ensure adequate grass for the livestock.
Routes to the West were hard, they had to cross the Great Plains, a vast grassland that runs between Canada in the north and Texas and New Mexico in the south. The rugged Rocky Mountains rose west of the Great Plains, and beyond the mountains lay a stretch of desertlike terrain known as the Great Basin. The weather was also a problem. Each wagon train elected a leader, called a captain or wagon master. All wagon trains were guided by a scout who knew the route and the best places to camp. Most wagon trains could travel about 12 to 20 miles a day. They would stop for a day or two at outposts as Fort Laramie to repair equipment and buy supplies. Almost all westward journeys would start in the spring to insure time to get through the western mountains before snow blocked the passes. It also helped ensure adequate grass for the livestock.
Here I am at Fort Laramie on the Oregon trail
From the "starting points" along the Missouri River like Independence, St. Joseph, and the Council Bluffs area, the emigrants heading for Oregon, California and Utah, travelled on the same trails, at that time called the Oregon-California Trail. This trail followed the Platte and Sweetwater Rivers to South Pass, where the early trail went on to Fort Bridgers Tradingpost built in 1843. Then further in a northwest direction to Snake River and Fort Halls Tradingpost built in 1834. They who were going to Oregon moved on along the Snake River while they who were heading for Californa took a southwest direction at Raft River to reach the Humboldt River and then further over the Sierra Nevada to California. In the following years when the Mormons settled in Salt Lake Valley and the goldrush started in 1849, more branches and smaller trails from this head trail were created. Befor the Civil War 300,000 emigrants had travelled these trails to the west.
Before the goldrush in 1849 most of the settlers travelled either to the Willamette Valley in Oregon (from 1841) or to the Salt Lake Valley (beginning in 1847). Between 1841 and 1848 11,000 people emigrated to Oregon and 2,700 to California. In 1847-48, 4,600 Mormons had settled in the Salt Lake Valley. Later on when the goldrush started 1849-54, 200,000 people went to Californa and only 35,000 to Oregon. From 1855 to 1860 the movement to Californa decreased to less than 50,000, and 1859 being the best year (18,000 people). In 1860, 43,000 Mormons had settled in the Utah area.
Before the goldrush in 1849 most of the settlers travelled either to the Willamette Valley in Oregon (from 1841) or to the Salt Lake Valley (beginning in 1847). Between 1841 and 1848 11,000 people emigrated to Oregon and 2,700 to California. In 1847-48, 4,600 Mormons had settled in the Salt Lake Valley. Later on when the goldrush started 1849-54, 200,000 people went to Californa and only 35,000 to Oregon. From 1855 to 1860 the movement to Californa decreased to less than 50,000, and 1859 being the best year (18,000 people). In 1860, 43,000 Mormons had settled in the Utah area.
Independence Rock along the Oregon trail.
My own photo 2004
..... A day on the trail would begin before dawn. After rounding up their livestock, hitching their teams to the wagons, and eating breakfast, the train would start out. About midday, it stopped for a break known as nooning. This break gave both the pioneers and the livestock a chance to eat and to rest. Afterward, the train pressed on to the place where the travelers would camp for the night. When the train arrived at the campsite, the wagons formed a circle for protection against wild animals and possible Indian attacks. In the evening before bed, the pioneers gathered around campfires in the circle to eat and chat. Sometimes, if someone had a fiddle, they sang and danced. Usually, however, they were so exhausted by their day on the trail that they went to sleep as early as possible.
Food on the frontier was simple. Flour served as the basic food, because it was nourishing and did not spoil. The people used it in sourdough biscuits and bread, and in flapjacks, or pancakes. Other important foods included dried beans; game, such as bison, deer, elk, antelope, and wild fowl; and preserved meats such as bacon, salt pork, and jerky, or dried meat. Frontier people rarely ate fresh fruit and vegetables or dairy products. Even cowboys did not milk cows.
..... Clothing had to be practical, and most people wore the same plain garments day after day. Men wore cowhide boots; woolen trousers or overalls; a wool shirt; a jacket or vest; and a felt hat. Some had socks. A man often wore a red bandanna handkerchief around his neck to protect himself from the dust and cold. Women wore sunbonnets and simple calico and gingham dresses. Cowboys wore leather chaps to protect their legs from brush. Cowboy hats, called sombreros, had a wide brim to shield the eyes, and a deep crown so that the hat would not blow off. Some men bought deerskin clothes from the Indians.
The Bozeman Trail
In 1861 John Bozeman, an adventurous man from Georgia travelled to the newly discovered goldfields in Montana. He then found a short cut north west of the well-known emigrant trails. The trail was called "the bloody Bozeman" as settlers , goldminers and the US Army often were confronted with Sioux, Crow, Apache and Blackfeet indians. The indians looked at it as a trespassing on their hunting grounds. In the spring of 1863, Bozeman guided the first group of settlers on the trail. They were attacked by indians near today´s Buffalo, Wyoming and everyone without Bozeman himself turned back. By travelling in the nighttime John Bozeman finally reached Virginia City.
The Bozeman trail was in the beginning as earlier mentioned a short cut to the goldmines in Montana. It went through indian country and followed earlier trappers and discoverers routes in Wyoming and Montana. After leaving the Oregon trail at Fort Laramie the emigrants moved further through today´s Wyoming, and then over the Big Horn Mountains in Montana. They then followed the Yellowstone River westwards to the goldfields around Helena, Bannack and Virgina City.
As only 3,500 settlers used the trail 1864-66, it is most known because it went straight through the Powder River Basin, the last and best hunting grounds of the northern plains indians. The trail also made it easier for the US Army to enter the area, and actually resulted in the indian wars on the northern plains. When the settlers stopped using it, the Army used it for transportation to the Forts in the area. The trail was closed and abandoned in 1868 according to the Fort Laramie treaty. It was used again in 1876 by General George C. Crooks troops and shortly after the battle of Little Big Horn the trail opened again for settlers.The use of the trail actually created the history of the states Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.
The Bozeman Trail
In 1861 John Bozeman, an adventurous man from Georgia travelled to the newly discovered goldfields in Montana. He then found a short cut north west of the well-known emigrant trails. The trail was called "the bloody Bozeman" as settlers , goldminers and the US Army often were confronted with Sioux, Crow, Apache and Blackfeet indians. The indians looked at it as a trespassing on their hunting grounds. In the spring of 1863, Bozeman guided the first group of settlers on the trail. They were attacked by indians near today´s Buffalo, Wyoming and everyone without Bozeman himself turned back. By travelling in the nighttime John Bozeman finally reached Virginia City.
The Bozeman trail was in the beginning as earlier mentioned a short cut to the goldmines in Montana. It went through indian country and followed earlier trappers and discoverers routes in Wyoming and Montana. After leaving the Oregon trail at Fort Laramie the emigrants moved further through today´s Wyoming, and then over the Big Horn Mountains in Montana. They then followed the Yellowstone River westwards to the goldfields around Helena, Bannack and Virgina City.
As only 3,500 settlers used the trail 1864-66, it is most known because it went straight through the Powder River Basin, the last and best hunting grounds of the northern plains indians. The trail also made it easier for the US Army to enter the area, and actually resulted in the indian wars on the northern plains. When the settlers stopped using it, the Army used it for transportation to the Forts in the area. The trail was closed and abandoned in 1868 according to the Fort Laramie treaty. It was used again in 1876 by General George C. Crooks troops and shortly after the battle of Little Big Horn the trail opened again for settlers.The use of the trail actually created the history of the states Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota.
Links to important landmarks on the Oregon Trail:
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