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Jim Bridger and his partner, Louis
Vasquez, built a trading post on Black's Fort of the
Green River in 1842; it "opened for business"
the following year. Continuing disputes between Bridger
and Mormon authorities in Salt Lake City culminated in a
takeover of the site by the latter in 1853. The fort was
substantially rebuilt in 1855, but abandoned and burned
by the Mormons in October, 1857, upon the approach of
United States troops which were part of the Utah
Expedition (sometimes called "The Mormon
War"). In November, 1857, the U.S. Government
leased what remained of the fort from Bridger to be used
for military purposes. Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston ,
2nd U.S. Cavalry [who, as a Confederate General, bled to
death from a wound at Shiloh], formally designated the
area an army post named Fort Bridger when, on June 7,
1858, he prepared to lead his troops on to Utah.
Bridger received $6,000 from the
government for the improvements he had made on the site
but no purchase money because he was unable to
demonstrate he held clear title to the property since it
was located on a nine square mile Mexican land grant. At
the end of May, 1878, the post was abandoned, but
reoccupied two years later in response to the Meeker
Massacre and Ute uprising. The post was permanently
abandoned on November 6, 1890. Today, it is a State
Historic Site open to the public in the town of Fort
Bridger. |
Theodore Talbot, August, 1843
Wed. 30th. Came nearly along Black's Fork
passing under the bluff on which Vasquez (and)
Bridger's houses are built. We found them deserted and
dismantled. They are built of logs, plastered with
mud. We crossed Black's Fork (and) camped in the
pretty valley which lies along either side of its
winding course.
Joel Palmer, 1845
July 25. This day we traveled about
sixteen miles, crossed the creek several times, and
encamped nearFort Bridger. This is a trading post
owned by Bridger and Bascus (sic.). It is built of
poles and daubed with mud; it is a shabby concern.
Here are about twenty-five lodges of Indians, or
rather white trappers' lodges occupied by their Indian
wives. |
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John Wood, 1850
The fort is occupied by a number of French and
Indians of the Snake tribe, who live well and prosper by
trading. The chief articles they have to trade are furs,
moccasins, whiskey, milk and buckskin pantalouns, etc.
They sell milk at 10 cents a pint, and whiskey at $2 a
pint. They have hundreds of very fine cattle and horses
which the Indians take a great delight in riding. |
John McGlashen, 1850
May 31st. After journeying over 28 miles
across a plain barren country we reached Fort Bridger. It is a
rectangular building built of sun-dried brick and is now
occupied as a trading post. It is situated in the country
occupied by the Snake Indians, a powerful tribe. I had some
conversation with Mr. Bridger, who is a regular mountaineer.
He has for the last twenty years been living among the Snake
tribe of Indians. He is familiar with every pass and road in
this part of the country. Around the fort there is more grass
than is to be met with in several, days journey. Here all were
willing to rest a day, the animals giving unmistakable prood
of the need of rest. The distence (sic.) from the Missouri to
this place is about 1200 miles, which we have travelled in one
month, not including resting days.
Richard Thomas Ackley, 1858
August
25, 1858. Several Mormon teams passed us on their way from the
valley to Fort Bridger loaded with butter, eggs, cheese,
potatoes and so on; merchandise of all kinds brings a good
price here; sugar and coffee $1.00 per pound, butter 75c,
potatoes $10.00, and flour $12.00 per hundred, eggs 60c per
dozen and other things in proportion. August 25, 1858. Several
Mormon teams passed us on their way from the valley to Fort
Bridger loaded with butter, eggs, cheese, potatoes and so on;
merchandise of all kinds brings a good price here; sugar and
coffee $1.00 per pound, butter 75c, potatoes $10.00, and flour
$12.00 per hundred, eggs 60c per dozen and other things in
proportion.
For additional information on Fort Bridger, see the following:
Robert L. Munkres, "Fort Bridger," Overland Journal, Volume 8, Number 2, 1990.
The information presented about this site has been adapted
from Robert L. Munkres, "How The Forts of the Trail Got
Their Names," News from the Plains: Newsletter of the
Oregon-California Trails Association, January, 1998.
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