Millions of people will be traveling throughout Labor Day weekend in the U.S. In recognition of all those miles covered and the well-deserved time off for so many, we're continuing to look at an extraordinary journey that took place about the time the Mexican-American War began, after a dispute over the border of Texas
Last week, I shared a 178-year-old article written to help travelers headed to California in 1847. It was penned by the ex-Governor of Missouri, Lilburn Boggs. On the surface, it's a great artifact helping us understand some of the needs and valuable directions given to pioneers headed west.
From the book, "California: An Intimate History," Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Looking deeper, there was a lot going on both in and around the article. As is often the case, the significance of the story lies in the background of it. Let's first look at the writer, Lilburn Boggs, and what drove him to California in the first place. Mr. Boggs was the sixth governor of Missouri (1836-1840). Some might claim that he had finally had enough of politics in the Show-Me state, with that being the reason he decided to pull up stakes and head for the west coast. It appears, though, that his troubles were amplified when he signed a proclamation in 1838 to enforce the removal of Mormons who had been deemed as troublemakers. These legal wranglings occurred after repeated issues of threats and violence both within and outside of the Missouri Mormon population.
Ultimately, the 1838 legislation seemed to fan the flames of dissention with the climax being the attempted assassination of Boggs. On May 6, 1842 (exactly five years before Boggs penned the California letter), he sat in his study reading the newspaper, unaware that the rainy night was hiding a would-be assassin. As gunfire rang out, heavy buckshot tore through the window and mutilated Boggs' head and neck. Reeling from the impact, he clung to life with one ball in his neck, two lodged in his skull, and another in the throat. It was a gruesome scene and many wrote him off as dead. One newspaper even published an obituary! Overcoming all odds, though, he did survive, and eventually opted to leave Missouri permanently in the spring of 1846.
The wagon train he departed with was initially led by legendary frontier freighter, Pony Express founder, and stage line operator, William H. Russell. However, a little over a month after leaving Missouri, Russell resigned from his leadership of the wagon train. Boggs was then selected to be the new captain. He was accompanied by his wife, Panthea (great granddaughter of Daniel Boone) as well as his children. They arrived in Sonoma, California in November of 1846.
While the main company of wagons had left Independence, Missouri on May 6, 1846, the train was joined by another group of travelers on May 19th at Indian Creek, roughly one hundred miles west of Independence. That new addition of folks was what we now know as the legendary Donner-Reed party.
By the time the train arrived at the Little Sandy River in Wyoming, the Donner-Reed group decided to part with Boggs and head for Fort Bridger to take the newly-touted 'Hastings Cutoff'. Taking the advice of Lansford Hastings and Jim Bridger, the Donner Company was lured by the dream of a faster, better way - albeit unproven. After leaving Ft.Bridger, the initial progress was good. Just prior to the middle of August, however, the progress drastically slowed as the group had to literally hack and chop a crude trail through the brush and trees of the Wasatch Mountains. By the end of August, the Donner Party stopped at Redlum Spring, tanking up on water and grass before they took on the Great Salt Lake Desert.
Fort Bridger in 1851, roughly six years after the stopover by the Donner Party. Credit - Wikimedia Commons
Note the purported shortcut in the Hastings Cutoff shown above. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
Meanwhile, the Boggs Party continued to follow the more traveled Oregon and California Trails. It's interesting to note that Boggs made it very clear in his 1847 letter to "be careful to take no new routes." It appears to be a special appeal due to the overwhelming news of what ultimately happened to the Donner party after separating fom the Boggs' train. The so-called shortcut of the "Hastings Cutoff" included ninety miles of waterless waste across the Great Salt Lake desert -although the Donner-Reed Parties had been told it was half that amount! The desolation was overwhelming. The area has often been described as some of the most barren country in the U.S.
Searing heat, mirages, no water to drink, ground that literally swallowed wagon wheels, poisonous snakes, spiders, scorpions, as well as toxic bacteria and plants were among the treacherous things that still call this desert 'home.' It was a place where almost every inch of ground had the potential to kill, maim, or wound any portion of body, mind, and spirit - whether woman, man, beast, wagon, or supplies! It was - and remains -a literal crucible testing the courage and determination of anyone that dares to enter unprepared.
Shown are horse and mule shoes as well as ox bows, guns, bits, and other artifacts found on the Hastings Cutoff. Image courtesy of Chad Douglas, Wikimedia Commons.
After crossing the desert and losing a large number of oxen and even wagons, the real trouble was only getting started. The emigrants were seeing that they had been fed a bill of goods related to the route. It was far from a proven path and definitely not a time-saver as promoted. Ultimately, the trek was a good 125 miles longer and far riskier than could have been imagined. The decision to leave the security of the Boggs party was a monumentally fateful move as the so-called shortcut added another month to their journey - crucial time they wouldn't have lost if they had stayed with the Boggs' party.
Sierra, Nevada as seen from Big Pine. Image courtesy of Wikimedia Commons.
As they made their way into the Sierras, it was late in the traveling season and winter was coming. Still, they pushed forward into the mountains. Then, the snows came. These were no ordinary weather events.They found themselves immersed in five feet of snow by early November. It was paralyzing and no where near the eventual 15-20 feet that would accumulate. It was impossible to do anything but struggle to survive.
Using words like difficult, troublesome, disastrous, insufferable, or even distressful seems like poor attempts to describe the incredibly horrific challenges faced by the Donner party. Enduring one major source of suffering after another... from a lack of wood, food, fire, and sufficient shelter to vehicle breakdowns, swollen rivers, sickness, disease, runaway and stolen oxen, dying oxen, bitter freezing conditions, internal fighting, and the literal abandonment of family and friends, the group became fragmented and was surrounded by constant death, brutal weather, unfathomable snowfalls, murders, and a seemingly unreal list of other calamities.
From the original eighty-seven in the Donner Party, only forty-eight survived the trip. Of the eighty-one trapped in the mountains, thirty-six died. Overall, the majority of the deaths were men. Roughly two-thirds of the women and children are said to have survived. More than twenty were cannibalized. The story is so horrific that it remains one of the most dramatic reminders of the raw, ruthlessness that could define the Old West. The last members of the group were rescued in late April of 1847, roughly nine months before the discovery of gold at Sutter's Mill.
For early vehicle collectors, historians, and enthusiasts, this old article from Lilburn Boggs also offers insights into what was considered a suitable cross-country vehicle at the time. Among the common vehicle traits then were linch pin wheels versus axle skeins with threaded nuts that many are familiar with today. Additional wagon-related recommendations for the trip were...
Carry "extra tongue bolts & linch pins..." -These were parts that could weaken, break or be easily lost on a trip spanning well over 2,000 miles. It would have been crucial to have sufficient substitutes.
As wagon designs evolved, there were multiple changes to linch pin wheel designs. Either of the above could have been seen in the group of wagons used by the Boggs' and Donner Parties.
Make sure the "axletrees are made of good timber..." - The terrain could be harsh and demanding. Like the wheels an axle would be subjected to tremendous beatings. Timber that was riddled with bugs, knots, or was poorly seasoned could hold a world of trouble for travelers.
Use "crooked bed or frame bed..." wagons - The reference here is for strong wagons that were not unnecessarily bulky or heavy. These are not "Conestoga" wagons.
"Have good double covers..." for the wagons - Being shielded from the wind and weather was essential for the belongings and pioneers.
"See that your... slides and coupling pole are well ironed..." - I'll be talking more about this at Council Grove, Kansas on September 19-20. Don't forget to sign up and, if you have a wagon that you want to know more about - BRING IT!
Use "...iron pins to fasten it (tent) down, instead of wooden pegs..." - This is an interesting comment from someone that lived the experience and saw greater value in iron stakes over wooden ones.
I'll cover more details like this in my presentations at Council Grove, Kansas in less than a month. I hope to see you there on Friday and Saturday, September 19-20. I'll say it again - DON'T MISS THIS EVENT. Social media is chock full of confusing and misleading information and these interactive seminars will include historically sound information not found anywhere else.
Contact information to sign up for the 2-day wagon show is... Mark Brooks, mark.brooks@ks.gov His number is 620-307-2754. The schedule says that I'll be talking about 'Parts of a wagon' but it will be much, much more than that. I'll try and give one more reminder before the event. Council Grove, Kansas (west of Kansas City) is a beautiful area and there should be some great vehicles to review. If you want to know more about your wagon - again, bring it. What you learn about it and other pieces could be the most important part of your time there.
Back to the article references above... Just like so many other artifacts in the Wheels That Won The West® collection, I've had the 1847 article from Boggs for a long time. While I realized the value of his travel instructions, I had initially overlooked the Donner connection and other elements. The same thing can happen as we review early wagons and stages. Every element tells another part of the vehicle's story. So, if you're wanting to learn more about America's early western transportation or an antique wagon you have, this will be a rare opportunity to network with others while taking home more than best guesses or speculations. Looking forward to seeing you there!
David
Psalm 20:7