John Bozeman's Trail
When John Bozeman headed for Montana, and its gold fields, there were only two routes westward to Montana from the East. One followed the Missouri River north and west and then turned south. The other route went to present-day western Wyoming and then passed north through what is now Idaho.
Determined to find a more direct way, Bozeman traced what became known as the Bozeman Trail. This trail ran from western Montana east past the Bighorn Mountains, where it turned south. The only problem was that the trail passed through lands that were reserved by treaty to the Sioux Indians. But government and politicians being what they were, went right ahead and built some military forts along this Bozeman Trail to protect people traveling to the Montana gold fields and other points westward.
Red Cloud and Crazy Horse
This whole Bozeman fort building project accomplished at least one major thing-it stirred up the Indians fiercely, namely a couple of good ole boys of the Sioux people who went by the names of Red Cloud and Crazy Horse. Eventually, Red Cloud won that event. The military abandoned the forts they had built along the Bozeman Trail and Red Cloud had a fort-roasting party, most likely minus the marshmallows.
Immigrant Families Come to Stay
But still, all of this fort-burning didn't stem the tide of wagon trains crossing the Plains along the Oregon and California Trails. Whereas previously most of these westward travelers had been men, who had left their families back east, now they were bringing their families with them with the intentions of staying where they landed and putting down roots.
Cholera, Small Pox, and Measles
These folks were not only bringing their kids and cows with them but also riding along for the jaunt was the dreaded cholera, small pox, measles, and a host of other ailments for which the native population had no immunity. Plus their cattle were stripping the grass that was food for the buffalo.
They Headed West: America's Westward Expansion continues with The Cow or the Buffalo: The West Not Big Enough For Both.
Previous: More Gold Rushes: Little Beaver and Colorado Gold.
