Along the Oregon Trail

   On a recent trip west we veered off coarse to follow the old Oregon Trail, the historic wagon route and emigrant trail from Missouri to Oregon. Along the way we saw Courthouse and Jailhouse rock.

Chimney Rock 

We also stopped at Chimney Rock.

Scotts Bluff

Just past Chimney Rock is another sandstone and siltstone formation knows as Scotts Bluff. This was another well known landmark to the westward emigrants. 

After 1850 emigrant travelers preferred the improved trail through Mitchell Pass just to the south of the bluffs.

Trail through Mitchell Pass.

Although  overgrown and hard to see, these are ruts left by the wagons in the soft sandstone as they went over Mitchells Pass.

You can drive to the top of Scotts Bluff on a nice paved road which goes through several tunnels. You can also hike up on a nice trail. On the day of our visit it was 100 degrees so we drove. Here is a video.

From the top of the Bluff there is a nice view of the surrounding area.

Fort Laramie

We drove to Fort Laramie about a hour by car from Scotts Bluff. It would have taken the emigrants a good day to get this far. The King Iron bridge over the North Platte river would have been a big improvement for this part of the trip.

Some pictures from inside the fort.

There has been a fort at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte rivers since 1834. The US Army bought the location, and renamed it Fort Laramie, in 1849 to establish a military presence along the emigrant trails. It also played an important role in treaty negotiations and military campaigns with the Northern Plains Indian Nations. As a need for a military presence diminished on the northern plains, the post was abandoned in 1874.

Old Bedlam
Originally built in 1849 as a bachelor officers quarters it also served as post headquarters.

Cavalry Barracks built in 1874

Trail Ruts

 Additional trail ruts near Guernsey, WY.

Independence Rock

This summit in the Sweetwater Valley was about half way for the emigrants and usually reached in early July, about the time the rest of the nation celebrated Independence Day.

French and Indian War

Fort Necessity

On a nice spring day we traveled to Ft Necessity near Uniontown, PA. In July of 1754 this was the site of one of the first battles of the French and Indian War fought for control of the Upper Ohio valley and, ultimately, the North American continent. The war is also know as the Seven Years' War that was fought by the British and French elsewhere around the world. It was also the first major event in the military career of the young Virginian, George Washington.



Interior of fort

Great Meadows

Washington had set the fort too close to the woods and the French and Indians had excellent cover to fire on the fort from this location.

Jumonville Glen

The fighting had started on May 28, 1754 when Washington and a small group of men and their Indian allies encountered a group of Frenchmen encamped along Chestnut Ridge. During the skirmish the French commander, Joseph Coulon de Villiers, Sieur de Jumonville, was killed. 

This lead to a large force of French and their Indian allies under the command of Louis Coulon de Villiers, brother of Joseph, to leave Ft Duquesne at present day Pittsburgh, PA to confront Washington at Ft Necessity. After heavy casualties during fighting on July 3, 1754, Washington and his men were allowed to withdraw after signing a surrender document.

Although this is probably not original forest, this area feels very desolate and give a good indication of the effect this type of wilderness and terrain must have had on these men in the 1750's

 

 

Braddock Campaign

Unable to accept the outcome of this battle and the French presence in the America's, the British planned a campaign against several French strongholds in the east. The centerpiece of these attacks was to be Maj. Gen. Edward Braddock's expedition to take Ft Duquesne at the head of the Ohio River at present day Pittsburgh, PA. He had a seemingly formidable force of 2400 men but little experience with wilderness fighting. In April 1755, Braddock moved out widening Washington's old road as he went. On June 25th he passed the Great Meadows and the ruins of Ft Necessity. Splitting his force on July 9 1755, Braddock moving forward with about 1300 men and collided with about 600 French and Indians 8 miles from Ft Duquesne. At the end of the battle two-thirds of the British troops and most of their officers were dead or wounded.

 

Braddock himself was mortally wounded and died on July 13 1755 during the retreat. He was buried in the middle of the road to disguise the grave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Workmen repairing a section of the old Braddock road believe they found Braddock's remains in 1804. These remains were re interred on a nearby knoll next to the National Road, present day Rt 40. A large granite monument marks this spot.

Mount Washington Tavern

While in the area, we also stopped at the Mt Washington Tavern. Built about 1827-1828, it was one of the first stagecoach stops along the National Road.

This is all part of the Ft Necessity National Battlefield run by the National Park Service. More information is at www.nps.gov/fone.