Early Trails in Clark’s Fork - Pryor Creek Region
Revised 30
March 2003 [Added Sawyer’s 1st Trail Comments by General Dodge]
Wednesday, May 30, 2012 – Added French’s gravesite 1864 reference.
Early pioneers and fortune seekers traveling into the area for settlement (or just passing through) created trails that have been presented by most genealogical researchers in generalized verbal or visual form. These renditions vary from publication to publication, and soon it becomes difficult to understand where these settlers traveled. This small section describes precisely where the major trails and wagon roads used by the white man were actually located. The lands surrounding the Clark’s Fork Bottom (Yellowstone County – Crow Indian Reservation) are mainly rugged vertical sandstone bluffs rising about 500 feet above the Yellowstone River’s stream bed. The remainder of the land east of the river contains steep rolling hills, deeply cut with streambeds and creeks. In the spring these waterways are generally full of water, but by early summer they are dry. The soil itself is typically hard-packed when dry, but extremely soft and clayey when wet. Travelers, even those walking on this type of soil, can destroy the sparse vegetation growth for decades, traveling by wagon and horses will leave impressions that last for centuries.
After settlers gained a strong foothold in the area, including the Indian landowners, the face of the land started to dramatically change: trails and small streams were plowed under and flattened to accommodate farming needs; permanent roadbeds were created for easier travel, and rail lines established for the movement of freight. If one wanted to “walk” the path of an immigrant settler, it is essential to first identify where the probably roadway was, based upon available letters, diaries, and maps. Then by extracting the trail; from the original survey notes available at the BLM and creating a personal map of the route, it is possible to overlay the current area map to determine exactly where that trail existed. Virtually all of these trails are embedded within private homeowner’s lands, and permissions to cross will be required. The BLM maps contained within the surveyor’s field notes typically depict exact directions of objects, precise locations and widths of streams, heights to plateaus, gullies, streambeds and the like. Generally these are created in a quarter-section grid for the area being surveyed.
This is a portion of the Jim Bridger map he created
and was used in the Powder River Expedition as presented by Stanley Vestal in
1946. There are other sections to the map that shows the route leading to
The early local area maps were created from field
survey notes from surveyors, Walter W. de Lacy, William McElroy, Malcolm A.
Swan, Samuel Burdock, Loomis E. Minott, and many others. They span survey years
from 1878 to 1902. To understand where the actual trails were, it is necessary
to connect the trails together from several maps before establishing the most
probable route. The trails are quite often identified by name on the survey,
but since these maps were created months apart, the names are sometimes
slightly different. For example: There are three specific trails to Bozeman
depicted in the area, but historians generally refer to the last one with the
shortest route created by the Sawyer Expedition in 1866 as the “Bozeman Trail”.
The others are various Trails to
Generally the trails follow the streambeds, or
preferably traverse the rocky hillside plateaus wherever they can. It wasn’t
until the Sawyers’ Expeditions graded real roads (had the wagon trains keep in
single-file to leave wagon ruts was their primary method) through the area,
that an understanding of where the water source was, and what obstacles had to
be overcome for travelers. Of course, all this came at the time when Indian
Tribal Treaties prohibited the creations of the roadways, and war broke out.
Clark’s Fork Valley & Pryor Creek Area Trails
“For centuries Indians and other travelers used a
trail up Bitter Creek. In 1900 it became the “Coburn to
There are several separate and distinct trails
identified in various early maps and early years, and identified as either the
Bozeman Trail, or the Bridger Trail; but often known as “the
John Bozeman & John Jacobs (Guide) - 1863
Trail
They traveled east from Bannock without
wagons, in an attempt to open up a shorter route to the gold fields
[via the North Platte River & east of the
John Bozeman Wagon Trail - 1864 Trail
John Bozeman returned to the
Just off the
trail, as it passes through Carbon County, a small grouping of rocks form a
rectangular indentation, about 20 inches by 40 inches, forming a child’s
coffin-like appearance. Two rocks, wedged in vertically at each end, mark the
head and foot of a grave for “
Jim Bridger Wagon Trail - 1864
Jim Bridger was a long time guide and trapper in
the area, and knew the area quite well. After
John Bozeman Wagon Trail - 1864 to 1865
Some emigrants seeking quick passage to the gold fields
started to travel the 1864 trail established by John Bozeman. From diary
excerpts, it appears that most of these trains got lost or confused in the
landscape as they made their way across the Indian lands. However, it appears
that they all made it through the same general area as laid out by John
Bozeman. Instead of traveling north of Sacrifice Cliff, they approached it from
the southeast, and ended up at or near the Hill Climb (Off-Road Vehicle) area,
and then down to the flat land on the south side of the river through the use
of ropes.
Bozeman Wagon Trail - 1865 to 1866 (Sawyers First Expedition)
This was a government-funded
road building expedition. He initially received $20,000 from Congress, although
the total reported amount received for the effort was $50,000. He followed War
Man Creek up to its junction with the
During the Powder River Campaign, under General
Connor, he issued orders in July to send companies of the Fifth US Volunteers,
with two howitzers, under Captain G. W. Williford, to act as escort for Col
Sawyer’s road construction party. The route was established to be from
“In compliance
with orders dated April 25, 1865, Companies C and D proceeded via Steamer JH
Lucy to the mouth of the Niobrara River for the purpose of escorting a party of
engineers opening a wagon road from that point westward. On the 13th
of June we started out, marching about ten to fifteen miles a day. On the 16th
Lt John R. Woods and 24 men belonging to Company B, First Dakota Volunteers,
reporting to me, joined us. When we reached within 20 miles of Powder River it
was determined by our guide that the country was too rough to advance the way
we were going. We retraced our steps. On the 2nd day of our retreat
we were attacked by several thousand Indian warriors, who kept us corralled for
nearly four days. After the siege they left, and we pursued our journey to a
point some 60 miles farther south, where we struck General Connor’s trail on
the 22nd. On the 23rd our command was found to be only 15
miles from Fort Connor, and received orders from General Connor to report with
the detachment to that post for duty. The order relieved me of command and
ordered Colonel James H. Kidd, of the Sixth Michigan Cavalry to furnish
suitable escort for the engineering party. In the engagement with the Indians
Orland Sous (John Rouse), Anthony Nelson from Company B; and Nathan D. Hedges,
sutler with the Sawyer train, were killed.”
General Dodge reported that a fine wagon road
already exists from Sioux City to Montana via Fort Laramie [South Pass Trail.]
He stated further, “that Col Sawyer’s wagon party endeavored this season to
find a road on the route directly to Montana via the Powder River and north of
the Little Horn River. The obstacles were too great and they abandoned the
attempt, struck south and took the road made by General Connor from Fort
Laramie to the base of the Big Horn Mountains. Then to Three Forks, and on to
Virginia City… From the Platte [North Platte River] is a fine natural road and
with the exception of running water for 100 miles from the Platte to Powder
River, is abundantly supplied with clear running water, grass, wood and game.
The road is marked on the military maps.”
This road
previously used to reach Virginia City followed the North Platte River to South
Pass, then up the Snake River. This is a trail used by the fur trappers in the
1830’s. The newer road, on which Fort Connor is situated (renamed Fort Reno on
November 11, 1865), saves about 350 miles in journey. From Fort Laramie to
Three Forks the distance saved is 450 miles. The military operations under
General Connor opened this road in the summer of 1865. It was planned that
all travel from the Platte to Montana would use that road in the future, after
the Indian operations were concluded. Congressional funding requests were in
process to improve this road initially called “the Connor Road.” Fort Connor”,
is about 70 miles north of North Platte River, on the east side of the Big Horn
Mountain Range. Sawyer followed the road northwest until they intersected the
emigrant trail seven miles south of Clear Creek. Col Kidd placed Captain Don G.
Lovell in charge of the military escort. Connor’s guide for part of his
campaign during this time period was Jim Bridger, and he left a note for Sawyer
on Prairie Dog advising them to turn left at the fork, and take the old Bozeman
Road (emigrant trail.) They followed his instructions and crossed Goose Creek
before reaching the Tongue River on August 31st.
Major Jim
Bridger was General Connor’s guide when the military created the new road (Connor’s
Road); a name that was almost immediately forgotten, and almost instantly
became the
“On August 29, 1865 in a dawn attack, General Connor led 330 troops and
scouts against Chief Black Bear's Arapahoe village that was camped on the
Tongue River. The Indians lost 250 lodges and 1,100 horses. Connor was
victorious over superior numbers; however, he had carried the fighting to women
and children, apparently indirect violation of his stated agreement
with his superiors of August 11th. For this, Connor was relieved
of his command and returned to
the military District of Utah where he was discharged as a Brevet Major-General
in the spring of 1866. From August 31 to September
1865, a thirteen-day time span, the Arapahoe Indians fought and harassed Colonel
J.A. Sawyer's road building expedition at the Tongue River Crossing on the
Bozeman Trail. This fight was undoubtedly in retaliation for Connor's dawn
attack made two days earlier on the Arapahoe village four miles to the east.
Sawyers abandoned his road project and was attempting to return to Fort Connor
when a relief party from General Connor’s command came to save him, and then
they escorted them on towards the Montana gold fields.[2]”
Bozeman Wagon Trail - 1866 (Sawyers Second Expedition)
This expedition was not funded, but he was
determined to establish a route due west across the Indian lands that lay in
the
Bozeman Wagon Trail - 1866 (Jim Bridger Train & Military
Road)
Col. Carrington was under orders to establish
three forts in the Indian Lands. [These were to eventually be named: Phil
Kearny, C. F. Smith, and Fisher.] The first two forts were established, and Jim
Bridger was assigned the responsibility to establish the route for the Bozeman
Military Road from Fort Phil Kearny to the gold fields. He laid out the trail
to Fort C. F. Smith; about two weeks after the Sawyers Second Expedition had
passed through. He then was assigned to lead several very large wagon trains
across the Indian lands and on to the gold fields, and then establish the site
for Fort Fisher on the Yellowstone River, and the route for the road itself. He
crossed the Big Horn at Fort C. F. Smith, and then proceeded to follow the
Sawyers Second Expedition across the Indian Lands. He made a few minor changes
in the Sawyers route after reaching the South hills area, but arrived at the
same Edgar location. This was where he initially planned for Col. Carrington to
establish Fort Fisher. [The fort was never created.] This was essentially the
end of emigrant travel on the trails, as all such traffic was stopped. Bridger
identified the Bozeman Trail - Military Montana Road in detail, and the listing
was reported in Col. Carrington’s report of military affairs on the
reservation, along with an accompanying map. This route was defined as being the
one he used to traverse the area.
Fort C. F. Smith Wagon Supply Route - 1867 to 1868 (The Last
Bozeman Trail)
Jim Bridger returned to Fort C. F. Smith on 29
September after completing the journey above, along with some military escort,
bringing news that the gold fields had played out. The rushed need for the
military route vanished. In returning, he was spotted on the edge of South
Hills bluffs west of Pryor Creek. The trail hasn’t been recorded as such in
journals, excepting for this one comment. Nelson Story and Perry McAdow
established a trade contract with Fort C. F. Smith in early 1867 to supply them
with produce and other food supplies from Gallatin Valley. They held this
contract until the fort’s closure in 1868. The road used by them is defined in
early Surveyor General Maps for the years 1868 to 1872. There is considerable
distortion in the exact location of the major creeks in the area, due to the
fact that no “land survey” had been accomplished until 1878 and later; but the
relative locations of creek junctions are clearly identified, from which the
trail-road locations can be transcribed onto the early survey maps of the
region. This road crosses Clark’s Fork near Silesia, travels along the ridge
lines of the South hills area, passing through the Twin Monuments location, the
north end of Cottonwood Creek Road, through the summit of Yellowstone County,
onto McCormick’s Hill, and down Monument Creek to Pryor Creek, where it crosses
and through Devil’s Gap [an area with straight sided walls along side of Hay
Creek], and o to the Big Horn River. This is a fairly smooth road to travel,
and can be traversed almost in its entirety by automobile, although permission
to traverse has to be obtained from current landowners. This route is almost
completely defined on the early survey maps. In traveling from the Twin
Monuments, and on to McCormick’s Hill, there is a wide arrangement of stone
trail markers, that border what appear to be aged wagon wheel ruts following
close along the cliff edges. At McCormick’s Hill there is evidence of minor
road construction at that point to make the trail more accessible for two-way
traffic. Going eastward, one can descend the cliff edges at McCormick’s Hill
with wagons, but would not be able to ascend without the prepared cut. It is
believed that the name Monument Creek, and monument Trail came about from these
route markers that border the trail across this eastern section of land. After
1868, all traffic was stopped until after 1878, when all Indian wars were
essentially stopped. Soon thereafter, freighting started in earnest, and was
used to support supplies needed by the Crow Indians, and the land lease grazing
permittee holders in the area. Paul McCormick in the early 1880's and on
through the early 1900's was a major lease holder, as well as contractor for
feed and supplies. Lease proposals on the Crow reservation used his fence line
as reference points for their location. After the 1884 South Bridge was
constructed, freighting apparently increased, and the Monument Trail became
known by the Crow Indians as “McCormick’s Trail..At the top of McCormick’s
Hill, before settlers arrived, Red Eye Smith’s saloon located on the flat area
at the top, was a respite for the sheep herders.
Location of the South Hills -
Sawyers Trail Routes
The area routes depicted below identify the
common trails in use during the1880’s. The main travel route, shown on the
north side of Yellowstone River existed for many years as an Indian and trapper
trail. In mid-1880 various river and railroad surveyors used it as they
traversed the area. By this time the mode of travel shifted from walking and
horseback to the use of numerous wagons retained by the army guards. This
probably started to leave deep ruts into the landscape, and need for creation of
close-by parallel paths for smoother travel. Review of the detailed survey
notes show the existence of pieces of the parallel trails. (Currently all
covered with houses and tilled farmland.) This trail became a full-fledged
road when the area was officially opened for settlement, after the area plat
map was submitted to the Bozeman Land Office in April 1877. Survey for the map
was performed in 1876, but no land markers were created. Stage travel was
established between Bozeman and Tongue River (Miles City.), and the maps
indicated that the route was established and so named by October 1878 [Bozeman
to Tongue River.] One of the first persons to travel the planned stage
route was William Alonzo Allen in September 1877, when he was asked to “check
out the route.” Prior to that time, the existing Indian trail’s name hasn’t
been identified. Allen at that time was hired on to be a blacksmith for the
stage line, and he resided in the Coulson area. This route traversed the low
land lying to north side of the Yellowstone River, and for the most part was
quite near to the river itself. Parts of this trail were reported to be
impassable during rainy seasons. A parallel, drier trail was in existence that
traversed the higher elevations along the rimed mountainous areas a few miles
further to the north. This trail also provided better protection from possible
enemies, but was longer in distance. Very little evidence of its existence or
exact locations remains. Heavy freighter wagons , as well as the stage lines,
used these trails to haul merchandise between the settlements.
There are numerous biographies about John Bozeman
and the trail he founded that led gold seekers into the territory through a
shortcut he created. Portions of that trail passed through the area that eventually
became Yellowstone County. The 1878-1902 surveyed locations of that trail are
presented in the map [scaled down from a much larger one], and overlaid with
the corresponding Sawyer Expedition road construction diary locations for 1865
and 1866. These diary notes locate three versions of the “Bozeman Trails” as
they became shortened in length and slightly improved for the travelers. [Note:
the survey maps and notes depict pieces of the Bozeman Trail to be in various
locations. By joining these pieces together one can identify specific trails
that were probably used by the settlers and gold seekers before the road
through the Indian lands was closed in 1868]. The trail histories compiled from
various biographies[i] leading to the trail’s conversion into a road for easier
travel are presented below. There are numerous other definitive facts about the
trail outside of the local area that are well discussed in the Montana History
site:
1) The1851 Fort Laramie Treaty (really a series of treaties with several
tribes) was to have guaranteed peace between the US and many of the Indian
tribes in a huge area east of the Rocky Mountains, all the way to Minnesota,
and north of the Texas-New Mexico lines. In setting up the “Big Council of 1851
on Horse Creek”, at the Indian town where white traders with Lakota Tetons
Indian wives (Western, buffalo hunting Sioux) lived in a fort whose gates were
open to all. Early on there was a white man’s road past the fort, but travelers
didn’t stay. The trail had started with a trickle of white men and women and
grew to many. None came back, and the Sioux wondered how could there be so many
people? The soldiers bought the trading post and now encamped in their midst.
The treaty started when a young Minneconjou with Great War honors said: “these
soldiers of the whites who have pushed into our country with their wagon guns
are not many. They are really only a very few, a puff of the breath in the
middle of the dark cloud in our warriors.” But before he could reach the others
and prepare for war, other Sioux met with the soldiers and signed the peace
paper[2]. The gates to the fort were then closed to Indians. [Father
Pierre Jean de Smet had earlier in the summer met with the various Indian
Tribes and encouraged them to attend a treaty. The Oregon Trail, passing
through the trading post (Fort Laramie) by 1850 had over 100,000 emigrants on
it. This mass of humanity had cut the hunting grounds in half, and the wagon
trains and their stock had decimated the prairie. Buffalo would no longer pass
over the trail [Medicine Road]; thus two herds were created, a north and a
south herd. Much of the land was lost due to the trails effect, and the plain
was turned into a desert. To assure continued safety for the fur trade and the
ease of transportation from the trapping grounds, Fort Laramie was chosen as a
Treaty site. Invited were: Sioux, Crows, Assiniboines, Mandans, Hidatsa and
Rees. Not invited were the Shoshones (Snakes), who came because of their friendship
with Jim Bridger, and the desire to assure they would not lose any land. Col
Mitchell demanded that the Indians select one chief to represent each tribe.
Col Mitchell picked Stirring Bear, and he had to accept, knowing that it meant
his tribe would kill him, or be branded a coward. As feared, the treaty gave
the Crows a part of the Snake County, the Big Horn Country clear to the Wind
River Range.]
The basic agreement was:
The US agreed to pay $50,000
per year (proportional to the populations of each Indian nation) for any
damages resulting from the provisions of the Treaty, which included:
"ARTICLE 2. The
aforesaid nations do hereby recognize the right of the United States Government
to establish roads, military and other posts, within their respective
territories." [This was
a matter of later dispute, with Red Cloud (Oglala), Sitting Bull (Hunkpapa),
and Dull Knife (Cheyenne), maintaining that this was a violation of the 1851
Treaty, as they had understood it. (They didn’t sign Treaty.) ]
The Treaty included the right
of travel of citizens of the US:
"ARTICLE 4. The
aforesaid Indian nations do hereby agree and bind themselves to make
restitution or satisfaction for any wrongs committed, after the ratification of
this treaty, by any band or individual of their people, on the people of the
United States, whilst lawfully residing in or passing through their respective
territories."
The Lakota territory was
delineated, including the Black Hills, and the Powder River Basin area to the
Big Horn Mountains was assigned to the Crow.
The US government was also
responsible for maintaining peace and protecting the Indians of all the
signatory tribes from depredations by Americans.
2) From 1851-1862, the Lakota, in alliance with
the Northern Cheyenne, fought against the Crow, eventually cutting them off
from American posts, which were providing them with supplies, and eventually
drove the Crow completely out of Wyoming and up into Montana. Eventually, from
1872-1875, the Lakota, with their Cheyenne and Arapahoe allies, then drove the
Crow out of eastern Montana, because of competition for the shrinking hunting
grounds for buffalo.
3) Some Indians thought there
should be no travel through their lands, and would openly attack civilian wagon
trains passing through, which were permitted by the 1851 Treaty. This led to
the US providing military escorts to emigrants traveling to Oregon through the
Powder River Basin (from the Black Hills on the east, to the Big Horn Mountains
in Wyoming on the west). This then resulted in battles between Indians and the
US military as well as the emigrants.
4) Because of the fighting,
and the desire to reach gold fields earlier, caused some American civilians to turn
north from the Power River Basin in Wyoming to go up to the gold fields in
Montana via the trail to Bozeman created by John Bozeman in 1863. About 1500
emigrants used this original trail[3].This was a clear violation of the 1851
Treaty, according to the Indians, but as understood by the US government,
travel was permitted. However, what really was not permitted was the intention
of those who traveled the trail to Bozeman via the shortcut, to remain on the
Indian Territory and dig for gold. This led to more armed conflicts which
reached a breaking point in 1865. The Lakota and Cheyenne gathered in force
during March and April of 1865 to attack every white settlement, steamboat,
stagecoach, and emigrant wagon train that invaded their territory. They were defending
their way of life against the growing invasion of whites. The whites didn't see
it that way, and called for help. The US government and military responded with
troops.
5) Ignoring the Indian
attacks on the settlers using the trail to Bozeman, in March 1865, Congress
issued a $50,000 grant to James Sawyer to construct a good wagon road from the
mouth of the Niobrara River (on the Missouri River) to Virginia City in Montana
Territory[4]. He led four wagon trains of equipment and about 50 men along the
Bozeman Trail to clear it for suitable travel. Eight military escorts
accompanied him. He had very little intelligent route details to assist him in
the planning, and apparently his guides weren’t much better. On September 19th
he reaches the Yellowstone River, south of “Hell Gate’s Rapids”, later
identified in June 1875 as such by Col. Grant. [At the entrance to Clark’s
Fork Valley Bottom Land, north of where the NPR currently crosses the river.]
It appears that his road construction crew activities helped to trigger the
forthcoming hostilities regarding travel across the Indian Territories, and
precipitated the abandonment of the 1851 Fort Laramie Treaty.
6) Concurrent with the road
construction activities, the US Government sent emissaries in the fall of 1865
in an attempt to negotiate with the Sioux, Cheyenne and Arapaho Indians living
in the vicinity of the Bozeman Trail. This attempt was ineptly managed and
since the army was already in process of securing the road by military means,
the effort was fruitless. Also the Crow Indians were deliberately left out from
the negotiations, although the road ran straight through the heart of their
lands. The main objective was to gain permission for use that portion of the
trail to Bozeman that passed through the Indian lands. Second in their minds
was to quietly abandon the 1851 treaty.
7) In August & September
1865, General Patrick Conner led a 3,000-man US military invasion of the Powder
River Basin. He ordered his troops to: "Attack and kill every male Indian
over twelve years of age."His troops attacked a large Arapahoe village,
killing about 50 men, women, and children, and destroying the entire supplies
of the tribe (Battle of Tongue River). The Sioux under Red Cloud and
Sitting Bull, and the Cheyenne under Roman Nose and Dull Knife, fought the army
troops and drove them out of the Indian Territory. During this time, the army
essentially closed the emigrant trail to Bozeman during the period of their
fighting. [It was re-opened to settlers later in 1868[5].]
8) In June 1866, the
negotiators met with the Tribal leaders at Fort Laramie and started to discuss
a new treaty and use of the trail. Unfortunately on June 13, 1866 Col. Henry B.
Carrington, commander of the 18thInfantry, arrived at Fort Laramie
to take military control of the trail. The Indians left the negotiations in
anger and on June 17th the Bozeman Trail War was underway[6].
9) Completely ignoring the anger caused by the
military action and the ensuing war, the government hired James Sawyers in the
summer of 1866 to improve the wagon route from Big Horn River to the cutoff
leading west to Bozeman. This action created what is generally referred to as
the official “Bozeman Trail”, and is the third in the series of major trails
passing through the local area that lead to Bozeman, and the one people
generally consider being the real trail that is so heavily publicized. On 3
August 1866 the Sawyers’ crew reached the Clark’s Fork River, were the trail
joined with the westward passage route. During this time frame in 1866 the army
constructed two forts on the trail, Fort Phil Kearny and Fort Reno, followed by
Fort CF Smith on the Big Horn River. Shortly after 12 August 1866, while at the
location where Fort CF Smith was to be constructed, Col Carrington ordered Jim
Bridger to map out a road leading to the gold fields (Virginia City). This
route was from Fort CF Smith, straight to Clark’s Fork, and on to Bozeman &
Virginia City. Thus two government road constructions were underway at
essentially the same time. Sawyers’ trail [not a formal road] is depicted on
the 1871 Surveyor General’s Map of Montana crosses Clark’s Fork at Edgar; the
Army constructed road leading from Fort Kearny to Fort CF Smith and across to
Clark’s Fork where it joins the Bridger Trail is shown on the 1871 and 1872
maps. It crosses the Clark’s Fork first at Silesia, the approximately at
Rockdale. [The John Bozeman trail was reported by the Sioux Indians to be lined
with guide markers.][7]
10) On December 21, 1866 the
Fetterman Massacre at Fort Kearny took place. The Sioux Indians called this
“Hundred Men Fight”. All 81 men in the army command were killed. The Crows
learned of the battle before others in the army command. The Crows were afraid
that the army would abandon the new forts, and the Sioux, who hated the Crows,
ordered the Crows to leave the area. This caused much friction between the Crow
factions. Before the fight several Crows would carry messages for the army, but
after the battle none would do so[8]. Crows who had been partial to the Sioux
now turned on them and took five Sioux scalps and stated to their elders “they
would kill every Sioux who fell into their hands[9].”
11) In February 1867 Orville
Browning, Secretary of the Interior, convened a six-member board to gather
information about the Fetterman Battle and to investigate the causes for the
Bozeman Trail conflict. Judge John Kinney was assigned to mediate. He took no
immediate action, but most members preferred Sioux control over the Crow’s
treaty rights. Judge Kinney viewed this action as an opportunity to transfer
the Crows from a nomadic lifestyle to a sedentary “Christian” lifestyle.
12) On August 2, 1867 the
Wagon Box fight near Fort Kearny took place.
13) On March 19, 1868 the Horsecreek
Station battle, led by Crazy Horse took place. Following this action the new
Fort Laramie Treaty was signed. The two new forts were abandoned, and use of
the trail was again permitted.
Details of the Trails and Early Roads through
Yellowstone County Vicinity
Depending upon when your
ancestor passed through the area, or settled in Clark’s Fork Valley, the trail
they probably used would be dependant upon the time they arrived. Settlers arriving
before 1877 would probably remained on the east side of the river, as it was
generally unsafe for them to cross over, as they would be in land that
essentially belonged to the Sioux. Not shown on the maps below are the trails
leading into the area from Bismarck. According to the diary accounts of Alice
Reed that trail was not well defined and their large wagon train (summer 1877)
had difficulty in knowing where to go. They eventually crossed the Tongue
River, near to its mouth on the Big Horn River. Wagon trains arriving after
1877 were mainly destined for settlement in the area north of the Yellowstone
River, before that time, settlement, traders and gold field seekers headed
towards Bozeman and the gold camps. The Yellowstone River was a formidable foe
to cross. In the early spring the average water flow reported by Col. Grant in
1875 was about 5-8 miles an hour, and was typically 7-8 feet deep. Later in the
season (probably October and later) the water level would have dropped
sufficiently so that wagon trains could cross without too much difficulty. Soon
after Perry McAdow settled in the area (Coulson Stage & Post Stop), he had
his sawmill operating[10]. He constructed a well-built ferry that was operated
by John Schock, and John Reed. Thomas McGirl operated another Ferry at Pryor
Creek (Baker Ground). The McGirl ferry was reported to be a flimsy affair,
mainly planks used to float the wagons, but he successfully garnered more
business in river-crossing trade by having placed a signpost at the trail
junction leading to Coulson that informed emigrants that he had a ferry, thus
most travelers continued on to Pryor Creek.
There are numerous trails in
the area, but prior to the Sawyers’ Expeditions, they were mainly small-narrow
affairs, used by dog sleds, horses and foot traffic. Sawyers provided a Road
Plow to assist in cleaning up the slopes to make the journey more passable. Two
of his expeditions are of importance, since they create physical “land cuts”
from which future travelers would reap the benefits. His first expedition
followed the early John Bozeman route north to some extent, but after it was
created, it was quickly abandoned since he discovered that a shorter way was
possible by going directly west from the Big Horn River crossing and connects
with the Rock Creek crossing. Even this didn’t last, as improvements were again
made. These two expedition routes are plotted to provide plausible evidence
that his crews didn’t pass through the McCormick Hill territory at the south
edge of South Hills, in Billings. There are two large rock-Cairns [called Twin
Monuments] located there that mark two trail divisions and a way up to the
plateau some 150 feet above the basis floor. Their builder and eventual purpose
is under investigation. Vernon Drake is conducting this investigation.
Current
investigation shows the Twin Monuments to be located in Section 5, Township 4
South, Range 25E. It appears that wagon trains passing to the east would
typically traverse the South Hills ridgelines to this point, then descend to
the valley floor, travel along the Fourth-of-July Creek, and eastward from
there. Conversely, those traveling west would ascend the ridge line using the
Monument Trail route, which can be reached by either Four-Corners [in the
valley floor], or from Pryor Creek near to the Hay Creek junction.
The trail locations shown on
the following map segments were created from the field survey notes, survey
maps generated predominately of the local area in 1879 & 1879, and
specifically from the comments provided by the members of Sawyers’ Expeditions.
The mileages and specific trail directions and characteristics provided by the
survey teams were used to provide an overlay onto the current area map.
Photographs were taken in 2002 to assist in locating the routes using current
local area roads as guideposts for those interested in viewing where the trails
were.
Sawyers
Expedition June 13, 1865 [Route through the Yellowstone County Regions from 18
to 26 September]
This route starts just before
he reaches the Big Horn River, and continues through where he connects with the
“Old Bridger” trail near Edgar. Sawyers contracted with CE Hedges and Company
freighting firm to provide transportation and he arranged for military escort.
The expedition left Niobrara City, Nebraska on June 13, 1865. He had 80 wagons
and over 600 head of stock at the start. Included also were five emigrant wagon
wagons, but one soon turned back. Ten emigrants in the four remaining wagons
stayed with the group, and were generally stuck in the middle of the freighter
wagons. Sawyers forced all wagons to travel single file, and didn’t allow them
to spread out across the countryside. His road crew (about 50 men) went ahead
of the train to “clear the way.” The road construction was minimal, and
consisted mainly of scraping down slopes at coulees, creeks and small bluffs.
The train traveled through the midst of the Powder River Indian Campaign, they
faced real danger, and several were killed. Sawyers was under the mistaken
impression that his “road building” achievement was a success, but in reality
his efforts faded away. [See Susan
Doyle’s’ book, referenced in the sources listed at the bottom of the page. It
is an exceptional publication, and a “must” for anyone interested in the
Bozeman Trail.] He had
expected to improve upon and perhaps surpass John Bozeman’s achievements in
finding a trail across the territorial areas that reached Virginia City and
other gold mining towns. Some of the wagons in his train were pulling another
wagon, (double-wagon), and these required additional turning room. The route
shown is a culmination of each segments mileage, and these plotted trails
distances agree with the reported total mileages recorded in the diaries. Most
of his travels ended up following a good portion of John Bozeman’s early trail.
In General
Dodge’s report to Congress on his Powder River Indian Expedition for the period
from December 9, 1864 through November 1, 1865 he reported that there are four
great roads for emigrant travel to the western lands. The first led to the gold
fields of Montana, but for all four he described the routes best to use as: “Up the great valleys and over the higher tables
are the best natural roads in the world, and nature has so constructed them that this great belt there
are four great water courses traversing it at right angles at distances from
each other of from 100 to 200 miles. The first overland route, on the north, is
known as the Niobrara, up which stream runs the road to its source, and up to
this time crosses the Platte, terminating at Fort Laramie. Colonel Sawyer’s wagon party endeavored this
season to find a road on this route through directly to Montana, via Powder
River and north of Little Horn River, but obstacles met with determined them to
abandon it, and they struck south and took the road made and explored by
General Connor from Fort Laramie to the base of the Big Horn Mountains; thence
to Three Forks of the Missouri and thence to Virginia City. This from the
Platte is a natural road …...” He further reported
that this route saved 450 miles in travel between Fort Laramie and Three Forks.
He also stated that his military operations in the summer of 1865 opened up the
road, but that additional funding would be needed to expand it after the Indian
operations are concluded.
Comment: He
denies in his report that James Sawyer’s efforts did little to create a road,
but that General Connors (Major Jim Bridger as guide) created the road. He
identifies the road as “a-a” on his attached map of operations with his report.
Full details of military dispatches are summarized in an attached
note describing events related to the
The trail locations taken by Sawyers
are plotted with small blue dots. The trail is not viewable today, except in
certain locations, and these locations are noted in the following segments with
an indicator mark; photos taken from these spots are attached. The map used for
the trail overlay was created by the BLM in 2001. (Note that the Josephine
River Packet Boat is improperly date located on that map. Should read
“1877”.)
Trails plotted by the BLM
(GLO) 1867, 1871, and 1872 maps for the region all refer to the trail to
Bozeman essentially created by Sawyers’ Expedition in 1866 and the Army command
under Col Carrington after 1866. These trails/roads became known as the
“Bozeman Trail”, and are so noted on the 1878 - 1903 detailed Survey Maps for
the region. Additionally, the trail used by Sawyers in his 1865 Expedition was
not specifically identified, but the trail has been changed to a road, and is
plotted on the survey maps. Only portions of this route used the original 1863
and 1864 John Bozeman wagon trails. These John Bozeman 1863 initial trails for
the area near the northern junctions of the Coburn Road and the Yellowstone
River junctions have not been located. Only the “Bozeman Trail” southern route
created by Sawyers is plotted on the maps for reference. As more details become
available, the other routes will be plotted, but insufficient information
currently exists to link the segments together for the northern routes. One
should also note that the wagon road from
Travel distances reported by
the Expedition (Sawyers mileage records) for the area passing through the
plotted areas are:
Segment 1 18.0 miles
Segment 2 19.5
Segment 3 11.0
Segment 4 37.5
86.0 Total (86.5
according to Lee)
Segment 1 – Reaching the Big Horn River
We pick up the trail as he
leaves his campsite of the 18th on War Man Creek. To arrive at this
point, Sawyers created a new trail for the wagon train, and they had to make a steep
descent into the valley, crossing Soap Creek, and then camped a short distance
from the Big Horn River crossing.
The yellow dots indicate
the previous day’s journey and camping on the War Man Creek. The early maps
indicated that War Man Creek split at the juncture of where they camped. This
north-flowing small branch is not indicated on the current BLM Lodge Grass map
used to plot the trail, and there appears to be no indication of what happened
to it. This is of no importance in establishing the route.
Key factors used from the diaries to assist in
plotting the route were:
1) Sawyers stated: came six miles [up the Bighorn River] over good roadbed in
the valley, and grading down the banks, forded the Big Horn River[11]. This
stream is about 400 feet wide, and in most places, at the time we were there,
would swim a horse, but after repeated trials we found a place with only 3 ½
feet of water
2) Smith stated: came north six miles and crossed the Big Horn in good shape,
river is about 300 feet wide and three and a half deep in channel.
3) Lee stated: this is the largest stream we have crossed yet. Most places
it will swim a team. We crossed over onto a small island. Came six miles.
4) The Survey Notes showed: the trails identified as “the Bozeman Road”
following on the west side of War Man Creek, and crossing the river where
Sawyers made a sharp turn to the east. There are several other trails in the
area, including the Black Coulee Road three miles to the west of the Bozeman
Trail.
5) Doyle stated: At the Bighorn crossing Sawyers hired Huber Rouleau, one of
Connor’s guides who was with the escort. It was soon apparent, however, that
Rouleau was totally unfamiliar with the region, which forced Sawyers to follow Bozeman’s 1864 route west of
the Bighorn. [According
to the diary notes, Sawyers either created or followed Indian Trails to Pryor
Creek. The Bozeman Trail went virtually due west, while the Expedition traveled
northwest from their campsite of the 19th .]
Key factors used to describe the trail
were:
1) Sawyers stated: Fine day, many buffaloes in sight; crossed one creek [Hay Creek] by bridging and
another by fording [Beauvais Creek]; traveled eighteen miles over a country requiring considerable grading in
places to make it passable, and camped on a creek [Little Woody Creek] leading
into the Big Horn. Grass, water, and wood poor at this camp.
2) Smith stated: Came 18 miles and
camped on a dry creek [Little Woody Creek] with water about in holes. No grass or hardly any. Roads in
forenoon fine but quite broken in the afternoon. Country more like the Cheyenne
than any we have seen. Some buffalo about. Crossed two small muddy creeks [Hay
Creek and Beauvais Creek] with bad bottoms.
3) Smith stated on the 21st: County fair laying land. 19 ½ miles northwest to
Pryors Fork [Pryor Creek] where we camped [This was the next day’s remarks.]
4) Lee stated: Started early and traveled 18
miles and camped on a dry branch [Little Woody
Creek] in which water stands only in holes at present. No wood and very little
grass. During the forenoon the road was very good and level and through a good
country. But in the afternoon it was the most miserable rough hilly, crooked,
and sideling [road]. The country barren and considerable of alkali. Crossed two branches [Hay Creek and Beauvais
Creek]that would make good camping
streams but very short drive
from Big Horn of eleven miles.
Having crossed downstream of
the Bozeman Trail (where it crossed a few miles southwest), Sawyers struck out
due west for about a mile, then headed northwest towards the Yellowstone River.
He traveled along the ridgelines except for fording creeks and ravines. This
trail is noted on the early maps, and their distances match the reported
mileages and terrain characteristics from the Expedition. None of the other
routes for the numerous trails in the area provide a match.
Segment 2 – Reaching Pryor Creek
Sawyers started out from the previous nights camp
on a branch of Little Woody Creek and traveled northwest towards the
Yellowstone River. He followed the ridgelines as much as practical. The entire
trail shown by the blue dots is extracted from the 1904 survey maps. He crossed
Woody Creek about eight miles from camp. Later this trail became a road known
as “Billings to Mission Road”. The mission was St. Xavier, and there was a fair
amount of freight and passenger traffic between the two locales. There are two
main supply routes leading into St. Xavier, and connections were made to the
northern most trails.
1) CM Lee reports that the country has very much the
appearance of having once been under water, at least most of it.
2) CM Lee reports
that the hills for miles being perpendicular clay or rock [sedimentary
sandstone] like the banks of most of the streams.
3) The diaries
state they traveled 19 ½ miles to reach Pryor Creek.
4) The trails identified in the WR Randy survey maps
place the trail directly upon the ridgelines leading in the most part to just
north of Wetts Creek branch on the Pryor Creek.
[Trail continues to campsite of the 21st)
There are two power lines and one pipeline
currently passing through the area, and roughly paralleling the Sawyers route.
These lines converge near the Pictograph Cave. There are currently numerous
roads in the area, and virtually the entire trail is on private reservation
land and off limits to public viewing. Points of interest where one may stop
and view the trail are indicated on the two section maps created for this
segment of the journey. The day’s journey’s end appears to be south of the
present day
Segment 3 – Reaching the Yellowstone River
There are several critical
factors that created Sawyers’ route depicted here:
1) By traveling northeast he would be unable to
cross the high plateau to the west (South Hills) and into the east bank of the
Yellowstone. He would have ended up intersecting the Yellowstone River north of
Sacrifice Cliff (called “Eagle Buttes” by Col’s Grant and Forsythe in their
1875 trip up the Yellowstone, stopping beyond Duck Creek), and then would have
to cross into territory generally considered by the Sioux Indians to be theirs
exclusively. That would have meant almost certain death, or at least a real
battle if caught. There was no apparent attempt by Sawyer to ever cross over
into that region west of the Yellowstone River.
2) None of the persons who made notes about their
journey reported traveling over any creek beds. In all of the other segments of
the journey each faithfully recorded the various crossings and creek
conditions. Blue Creek is normally dry in the fall, and is not a major source
of concern to cross over, and might even have been thought to be a gulch where
they crossed.
3) Two records of the passage indicated that the
route was north, or more north than west, and that the distance was eleven
miles, with the last five miles very rough. Sawyers had to do considerable
grading during the last part of the day’s journey in order to descend to the
river bottom, especially to make the trail wide enough for the “double-wagons.”
4) Lewis H. Smith defined the last portion of the
trail in fair detail, stating that they had to descend about 200 feet through a
65-degree slope, cut by Sawyers, to reach the camp at Yellowstone River. On the
left were high bluffs, and on the right was a high hill.
5) Travel up or down coulees is not possible due to their
extreme depths, heavy undergrowth, and sharp drainage angles of over 60
degrees.
There is one apparent
locatable and probably passable route that matches these criteria. The exit
from the OHV area down to the river bottom is not precisely located, but should
be quite close to the placement. There is much damage to the terrain since the
site was used for motorcycle hill climbing in early 1940’s before its location
was moved to the west about ½ mile distant. They would have ascended the
foothills on the north side of Wetts Creek through an old Indian Trail, and
onto the South Hills plateau; a gentle climb of about 160 feet over a
three-mile distance. This is all now private property. Reaching the top they
would have traversed the crests of the hills (deep ravines that are cut into
the surface of the plateau prevent direct travel to the river), and onto a
ledge overlooking the river. They would have passed through the “South Hills
OVH Area”, and descended into the flat plateau immediately east of Riverfront
Park. It was reported by Smith in his diary “the River here is quite a respectable stream with
a rocky and gravely bottom and a very swift current. Not a great deal of
timber. Cottonwood, Willow, Elm.” The survey notes created in 1904-stated
“Sandy River bottom (farm land), scattered timber, and loam 1st
rate, River channel is along left bank of river, leaving wide rocky bench on
right bank (rocky bottom).” The following segment distances coincide with
this location, and the area where they stopped was on the future Wilkerson’s
homestead, near to where the “Old South Bridge” was located. There was plenty
of land available for the wagon train to camp, and the area is suitable to the
Sawyers Expedition for a campsite. This location is also just north of the main
Hill Climb area. Virtually this entire segment is closed to travel and viewing,
and nearly all land have been converted to farm use, off-road recreational fun,
or homes.
Note: After Perry McAdow
settled in the area (May 1877), and a variety of other settlers arrived, it
became important to get a shorter route across the South Hills, or at least a
decent one that would accommodate stage travel and freighter routes traveling
in both directions leading to Pryor and other eastern communities and farmers.
Dr. Allen, who by this time knew the area quite well, reportedly established
some of these routes. [The roads created by him haven’t yet been actually
identified as such in current literature, but the survey maps created later in
the 1800’s show trade routes identified as “roads” that essentially parallel
some of the existing area roads.] One of these roads starts at the Old
South Bridge and passes through the north boundary area of the Off Highway
Vehicular (OHV) area shown on this map, and connected directly east with Pryor
Road. This road is fully described in the Freighter & Stage Trails Section,
but passage is no longer possible.
Segment 4 – Reaching Rock Creek Camp Site
Sawyers started out from
the campsite near the
Key factors used to locate
the trail were obtained from:
1) Lee reported
that they followed up the river five or six miles. Then ascended the bluffs
making quite a detour to the south to head of some ravines. Part of the time
they were not over three or four miles from yesterday’s trail [heading north to
their campsite]. They descended from the bluffs into a dry creek bed [Duck
Creek] a short distance from the river. They then traveled down to the river
and proceeded up the valley four or five miles and camped on the bank of the
stream.
2) The distances
recorded by two persons was 18 miles; one person, Smith, reported they traveled
5 miles to the juncture where they ascended into the hills, and that they
traveled 8 miles total. [This summary distance must be a transcription
error, and should read “18” miles.]
3) All reported
they camped near the riverbank [could have been the Yellowstone, the Clark’s
Fork, or its junction, the area location is the same.]
The route over the South Hills follows the crest contours
according to the 1879 survey maps, and very few small gullies exist along the
route. The Sawyers’ scouts must have examined the terrain quite carefully
before proceeding, since most of the area looks the same.
This view shows the rolling hills to the west
from near the center of South Hills. Each of the “tree-lines” defines the start
of a coulee, which in turn quickly leads into a creek, or water shed stream.
These deeper areas are not passable, even to foot traffic. The banks quickly
erode away to about a 70-degree angle, and portions of the banks have deer and
other game animal tracks. (Photo 1977-Kimmel)
Travel is possible only along the ridgelines, but
at the end of ridges are steep bluffs that descend to the river. Very few
places exist where the slope to the river is gradual enough to permit two-way
travel by wagon. The soil becomes increasingly rocky (small sandstone slabs in
the top soil) as one moves southeast across the plateau. This makes for good
wagon roads, and the wheels don’t leave deep depressions.
The bulk of the soil contains a great deal of
bentonite, and a type of weak shale that is six to ten feet below the surface.
This shale provides for rainwater drainage and occasionally the drained water
appears in the land surface as “springs” throughout the region.
Sawyers
remained at the
Key factors used to locate
the trail that ended for the night of the 25th, six miles west of where Edgar
is currently located, were:
1) They camped on the main branch of Clark’s Fork
[Rock Creek] on the west side.
2) They crossed Clark’s Fork a mile or two from the
24th night’s camp and followed the bluffs between it and Yellowstone River
during the afternoon.
3) Passed an old trail to the right where John
Bozeman undertook to reach the Yellowstone [over the bluffs] and could not get
down to the river [and he] had to come back onto the same trail.[12]
4) The road was reported to be very good and the
train traveled south quite rapidly and not much west. Little road construction
effort was reported.
5) The 1878 survey maps plotted all but 1 ½ mile of the
trail, and it was identified as both the Bozeman and Bridger trail.
6) At the stopping point (Campsite of the 25thSeptember,
1865) Sawyers and Lee noted that they probably could have saved time[13]if they
went directly west from the Big Horn, rather than going the way they did. In
1866, Sawyers did go west and intersected the earlier Bozeman Trail. [The
belief is that Lee came up with the shortcut idea.]
John Bozeman, earlier in 1864
had attempted to take a shortcut across the hills, and discovered he was unable
to get through, and had to retrace his steps. The “RED” squares depict the spot
where he probably attempted the shortcut. This portion of a trail that leads to
nowhere, but later joins up with a completed trail that makes the journey
shorter, is shown on the 1878 maps. Later, several farm trails were created.
John reportedly placed a stick at the juncture of his departure, warning
travelers not to take the western shortcut. Sawyers located the stick on his
1865 journey.
Identification of the trail that follows the
survey notes’ coordinates were taken from these comments:
1) Sawyers
stated: came southwest nineteen and a half miles, crossing Clark’s fork, and
camped on Rocky fork [Rock Creek]. Clark’s fork is about one hundred and fifty
feet wide at the crossing, by one and a half foot deep, with very swift
current, and the water, at the time of our crossing, was quite muddy, probably
from snow melting on the mountains, or from the immense herds of buffalo that
were crossing above.
2) Smith stated:
came southwest 19 ½ miles. Camped on
Rocky Creek [Rock Creek] 1 ½ miles above fork with the Clarks Creek [Clarks Fork[14]]. Face of country good to
travel over and days travel fine. Generally country hazy so that we couldn’t
see around much. Grass at camp poor. Wood and water fine.
3) Lee stated:
Monday, Cool in morning. Traveled 20 miles to day and camped on the main branch
of Clark’s Fork [Rock Creek] on the west side. Crossed Clark’s Fork a mile or two from last night’s camp
and followed the bluffs between it and Yellowstone during the afternoon. Passed an old trail to the right where Bozeman
undertook to reach the Yellowstone and could not get down to the river [and he]
had to come back onto this trail.[15] The road very good. [We] are traveling
south pretty fast and not much west.
[The distances reported take the group to the
point indicated, and it agrees with the trail crossings noted in the survey
files. The next day’s journey is plotted in RED, and its mileage and campsites
correspond to the diary notes for that day. This would indicate that they did
camp approximately at the location noted by the BLUE triangle. However, there
is one inconsistency that needs to be addressed: Smith’s statement about the
camp said “ Camped on
Rocky Creek 1 ½ miles above fork with the Clarks Creek.” This is not a possibility, as the group, according
to all the other indicators followed Rock Creek to their campsite for the night
of 25 September 1865. This places them about eight to nine miles due west from
the town of Edgar, which is on Clarks Fork. The “fork” being referred to must
be Cow Creek, a fork on Rock Creek. Their campsite is about 1-½ miles above
(upstream of) that location according to the 1878 maps. If additional details
about the campsite are known, please advise ; and corrections will be made as
needed.]
R. W. Clark
(Dick) Travel Remarks on Bozeman Trail (1866)
Clark followed the Bozeman Trail in 1866 before
the 2nd Sawyer Expedition had started on their journey. He and
others arrived at Fort Laramie in May 1866 and had 40 wagons with four-horse
teams, 60 men, and the officer in charge of the fort. The wagons were fully
loaded and they had 40 barrels of whisky. Jim Bridger advised Dick Clark and
others that they had to wait until the Indians were dispersed, since they were
out to kill all whites. Three women were with the group; Billy Fletcher’s wife,
a lady about 18 and a girl of 14. John Reed was picked as captain, and all
agreed to obey his commands[16]. They arrived in Bozeman on August 1, 1866.
“Crossing the Big Horn was the biggest job of all.
They were ten days crossing and had to build rafts out of dry cottonwoods. The
river was high but the crossing was made in good shape. The only accident was
one of the women fell off the raft and an Englishman who was along rescued
her.”
“We left the Bozeman Trail [south of Billings]
going down a steep hill they had to set a big post as snubbing post to let the
wagons down the hill with a rope.”
“The main idea in making for the Yellowstone was
that the report was they could not find the Clarks Fork at the Bridger
Crossing. They found the Yellowstone high and were pleased with the large flat
section of land over the river. They pulled back up the Clarks Fork, crossing
the Fork [by Bridger]. From there they followed the Bridger Trail and came out
to Yellowstone [River, about 30 miles this side of Livingston.] There was a
ferry near where Hunters is now [1928.] They arrived in Bozeman on August 1stover
the Bozeman Pass.”
Sawyers 2nd
Expedition [Route through the Southern Yellowstone
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1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Web Master . All Rights Reserved.
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[1] Preface to Trails and Trails
[2] Crazy
Horse, Sandoz, pp 6 & 7. Two southern camps from the Teton Circle of Sioux,
Minneconjou, Hunkpapa, No Bows, Two Kettles and Blackfoot signed.
[3] .John S.
Gray, “Blazing the Bozeman and Bridger Trails,” Annals of Wyoming, 49 (Spring
1977), 23-51. The identity of the Indians who stopped Bozeman and Jacobs has
never been satisfactorily determined. See Susan Badger Doyle, “Journeys to the
Land of Gold: Emigrants on the Bozeman Trail, 1863Ð1866,” Montana The Magazine
of Western History, 41 (Autumn 1991), 56-59.
[4] Extracted
from “Journeys to the Land of Gold”, see footnotes for details.
[5] Hyde, Red
Cloud’s Folk, 56-81
[6] Colonel
Henry B. Carrington, “Indian Operations on the Plains”, 1866, 50th Cong., 1st
Session, 1887-1888, S. Doc. 33, serial 2504, pp. 5-6. Margaret Carrington,
“Ab-sa-ra-ka, Home of the Crows”, (Philadelphia, 1868), 72-80.
[7] Crazy
Horse, Sandoz, 1961.
[8] Templeton
diary, December 28, 31, 1866, January 2, 1867; “Captain N. C. Kinney Report,
February 9, 1867, an Investigation.”
[9] “What
Half-Yellow Face Knows.” [Historical Society article at Bozeman.]
[10] Details
of how the sawmill arrived need to be established. Witnesses state it was in
operation before September 1877, four months after he arrived.
[11] They went
six miles up the east side of the river and forded at “Emigrant Trail”
crossing. {Also called Spotted Rabbit Crossing}
[12] This is
where Bozeman had backtracked the previous year and left a note telling the
trains following him not to turn here.
[13] The 1866
trail made by Sawyers 2nd Expedition did save miles. See comments in
that section.
[14] This must
actually be Cow Creek, not Clarks Fork itself.
[15] This is
where Bozeman had backtracked the previous year and left a note telling the
trains following him not to turn here.
[16] Refer to
RW Clark biography dated 1928 as prepared by ID O’Donnell “The Bozeman Trail
Story” for additional details.
[i]F769.F62C58, “Civilian, Military, and
Native American Portraits of Fort Kearny” by members of Fort Phil Kearny,
Banner, WY, 1993.
F594.J68.2000,
“Journeys to the Land of Gold”, Emigrant Diaries from the Bozeman Trail, 1863 –
1966. Edited by Susan Badger Doyle, Helena, MT
F591.H4.1978,
“The Bozeman Trail”, by Grace Raymond Hebard, 1861-1936. (AMS Press, NY)
F731.J6, “The
Bloody Bozeman”, by Dorothy M. Johnson, Missoula, NT Mountain Press 1983.
F767.094L69,
“The Bridger Trail”, by James A. Lowe, Spokane WA, 1999
F594.W75M33,
“Beyond the Bozeman Trail”, by Walter K. McAdam, West Lebanon, NH, 1996
921.B76, “Jim
Bridger, Mountain Man”, by Stanley Vestal, 1946
[1] Report of the campaign by General GM Dodge,
compiled from the official records of the War of the Rebellion, published 1896.
[2] Fort Phil Kearny, published in June 2002
(Summary of events reported in the War of the Rebellion) Sheridan, WY Official
Web Site by’ Laura’
[3] Currently spelled “Wets”, Crow Chief Wetts had
his cabin at this site.