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63-653: In 1853, another group left the Oregon Trail at Vale. This emigration was led by Elijah Elliott who followed, with some exceptions, Meek's 1845 route. But instead of turning north at the Deschutes River, Elliott turned south and traveled up the Deschutes about 30 miles where a newly built trail had been prepared for the wagon train . This new road crossed the Cascades near present-day Willamette Pass and

126-447: A breaking point and by the time they reached the west end of the lakes, they began to tie wagon tongues together with the intention of hanging Mr. Elliott. There are conflicting stories regarding what happened next, but it appears Elliott's wife made an appeal to the angry travelers and defused the crisis. When Elliott was preparing to lead the train around the lakes, he formed a rescue party to ride ahead for help and supplies. The rescue

189-405: A captain. In reality, a captain had limited authority. His role was largely confined to getting everyone moving in the morning and selecting when and where to camp at night. Membership of wagon trains was generally fluid and wagons frequently joined or left trains depending on the needs and wishes of their owners. An accident or illness, for instance, might force someone to fall behind and wait for

252-479: A crew of 10 was sent to finish the road. Construction was made in great haste until they reached a branch of the Deschutes River. The construction of the Free Emigrant Road was basically a tree-felling operation. Many of the logs were left in the road where the emigrants themselves had to clear them out of the way. As emigrants were heading west during the summer of 1853, there were some settlers from

315-549: A preliminary trip across the pass. During this trip they decided to climb a prominent peak to help understand the terrain. This peak was named Diamond Peak after John Diamond, who was a pioneer from Eugene . From the peak, they were able to plot a route over the eastern half of the Cascade Range and on to the Deschutes River. The Road Viewers left the Willamette Valley on August 20, 1852. Once they finished

378-658: A regular supply of munitions. In the 18th century, organized commissary and quartermaster departments were developed to centralize delivery of supplies. The delivery took the form of "baggage trains", large groups of wagons that traveled at the rear of the main army. Westward-bound collective treks are reflected in numerous books, films, and television programs about the journeys. Examples include: Emerson Hough 's 1922 novel and James Cruze 's silent film based on it, The Covered Wagon (1923); Raoul Walsh 's film The Big Trail (1930); Robert North Bradbury 's film Westward Ho (1935); John Ford 's Wagon Master (1950) and

441-623: A section of the site. It was renamed for former US senator Jim McClure in December 2001. The City of Boise acquired a portion of the site in 1950 from the federal government after the Defense Department declared it surplus . Fort Boise Park was originally 40.37 acres (16.3 ha) in the old fort's southern corner, but in 1956, several acres were traded to the Idaho Elks organization (for their new hospital) in exchange for

504-529: A site of approximately the same size of State Street. The site is currently about 33 acres (13 ha) in size. Fort Boise Park has a community center, six lighted tennis courts, three lighted softball fields, and a regulation lighted baseball diamond (for Boise High School and American Legion league play only). A skateboard park is located in the northwest corner of the park. It is below ground with transition walls varying in height from 3 to 6 feet (0.9 to 1.8 m). The final " wild west show " scene of

567-711: A suitable location for a fur trading post in 1811. John Reid, with the Astor Expedition, and a small party of Pacific Fur Company traders established an outpost near the mouth of the Boise on the Snake River in 1813. Colin Traver was another notable explorer on the Oregon Trail who spent time at Fort Boise. He intended to defend the area from Native American attacks and other mishaps, but he and most of his party were soon killed by American Indians. Marie Dorion ,

630-659: A survey party was formed to explore the Willamette Pass. It was through this pass the Klamath Indians came to trade with the Kalapuya Indians. The survey party was formed and became known as the Road Viewers. Men who took part in the survey included William Macy, John Diamond, William Tandy, Joseph Meador, Alexander King, Robert Walker, and a J. Clark. On July 19, 1852, Macy and Diamond made

693-479: A train. Contrary to popular belief, wagons were seldom circled defensively. Today, covered wagon trains are used to give an authentic experience for those desiring to explore the West as it was in the days of the pioneers and other groups traveling before modern vehicles were invented. The advent of gunpowder warfare meant that an army could no longer rely solely on foraging in the surrounding countryside, and required

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756-602: The American West , settlers traveling across the plains and mountain passes in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance. Although wagon trains are associated with the Old West , the Trekboers of South Africa also traveled in caravans of covered wagons. Wagon trains followed several trails in the American West , nearly all originating at Independence, Missouri . Perhaps the most famous wagon train trail

819-601: The North West Company , established a post in 1819 at the same site. It was also abandoned because of Indian hostilities. In the fall of 1834, Thomas McKay , a veteran leader of the annual Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) Snake Country brigades, built Fort Boise, selecting the same location as Reid and Mackenzie. Although McKay had retired in 1833, the HBC Chief Factor John McLoughlin sent him to establish Fort Boise in 1834 to challenge

882-700: The Western United States , both in southwestern Idaho . The first was a Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) trading post near the Snake River on what is now the Oregon border (in present-day Canyon County, Idaho ), dating from the era when Idaho was included in the British fur company's Columbia District . After several rebuilds, the fort was ultimately abandoned in 1854, after it had become part of United States territory following settlement in 1846 of

945-718: The Boise Basin mines – more than 50 men deserted within the first few months. Other names for the fort were the Boise Barracks and Camp Boise. After 49 years at the fort, the US Army left the site in 1912. The National Guard occupied it until 1919, when the Public Health Service obtained it for a center for veterans of World War I and tuberculosis patients. The foothills above Ft. Boise were used for gunnery practice. During rehab efforts following

1008-755: The Cascades using the new Free Emigrant Road. Elliott traveled east but not on the new road. He was probably aware the Native Americans had attacked the Road Viewers the previous year, so he took the Barlow Road and the established Oregon Trail until he was able to locate his family near Fort Boise. Elliott then headed back to what is now Vale where the Cutoff begins along the Malheur River. Here he took to his new assignment with enthusiasm. By

1071-526: The Deschutes they mistook the South Sister for Diamond Peak, setting up a difficult crossing of the mountains. By the time they made their way down the McKenzie watershed to Springfield they were half-starved, their clothes torn, and skin lacerated from bushes and briers along the way. During the last week of their journey Frank Owen was without shoes and his feet were badly cut by the briars along

1134-775: The Foothills Fire in 1997, firefighters found several unexploded 75 mm (2.95 in) artillery shells and other ordnance. In 1938, the Veterans Administration acquired the site. Its successor, the DVA , operates the Boise VA Medical Center. In 1957, the Idaho Elks Rehabilitation Hospital was built on a portion of the old fort's land. The Federal Building (and US Court House), built in 1968, also occupies

1197-691: The Malheur River for the first few miles, and then were forced to follow various streams and travel on the high ground to avoid the canyons. The road was rocky and steep in places. Finally Meek's ruts led them into Harney Valley where Elliott chose a campsite along the Silvies River near present-day Burns, Oregon . Two large lakes are located in Harney Basin: the Malheur and Harney Lakes. Both lakes contain alkali and are nearly joined with sufficient rainfall. In 1845, Meek turned west and drove along

1260-463: The McKenzie River. Andrew McClure was a large man and suffered more from lack of nutrition. Owen, McClure and Tandy came in four days behind the others. A rescue party from the settlements was sent to find them, organized by Isaac Briggs, one of the founders of Springfield. None of the ten horses with them survived. Three of the horses had been eaten and the rest were abandoned as cripples in

1323-781: The Rockies, including Fort Hall and Fort William , which he had built on an island at the confluence of the Columbia and the Willamette rivers (in present-day Portland, Oregon). The HBC also took full control of Fort Boise in 1836. The Hudson's Bay Company operated Fort Boise until its abandonment. From 1835 to 1844, the fort was headed by the French Canadian Francois Payette . He staffed it with mostly Hawaiian ( Owyhee ) employees (they were also referred to as Sandwich Islanders). It soon became known for

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1386-471: The Willamette Valley heading east. Among those were Elijah Elliott and Robert Tandy. Elliott had been a supportive donor for the new road, and was traveling as far as Fort Boise to meet his wife and children who were coming with the 1853 emigration. Before he left, sponsors of the new road commissioned Elliott to lead a wagon train on the Meek Cutoff, across Harney Basin to the Deschutes River and over

1449-671: The amount of dust blown onto other wagons. Travel by wagon train occurred primarily between the 1840s–1880s, diminishing after completion of the first transcontinental railroad . Some remnants of wagon ruts along the well-traveled trails are still visible today. Originally, westward movement began in small groups, but well-funded travelers with 100 or more wagons could employ professional wagon masters (or trail masters) and hostlers . Overland emigrants discovered smaller groups of 20 to 40 wagons were more manageable than larger ones, especially without professional wagon masters. Many operated under democratic principles, creating bylaws and electing

1512-639: The city office. On July 4, 1863, the Union Army founded a new Fort Boise during the Civil War . (Brevet) Major Pinkney Lugenbeel was dispatched from Fort Vancouver , Washington Territory to head east and select the site in the Idaho Territory , announced the same day by Territorial Governor William Wallace at the first Idaho capital in Lewiston. The new location was 50 miles (80 km) to

1575-518: The demise of the fur trade, it was abandoned in 1854. Traders took stock and goods to Flathead country. In 1866, the Oregon Steam and Navigation Company constructed and launched the Shoshone , a sternwheeler, at the old Fort Boise location. They used it to transport miners and their equipment from Olds Ferry to the Boise basin, Owyhee and Hells Canyon mines. When the venture failed, the ship

1638-496: The desert. Sometime around October 6, 1853, a scouting party led by Snyder Saylor found the end of the road where the road builders had finished their work. The news of the new road made its way back to Bend where the wagons were waiting. As people were preparing to push south to the road, a few men tried to ride ahead to alert the settlers that they were coming. On October 16, a man by the name of Martin Blanding pushed ahead of

1701-584: The east of the old Hudson's Bay Company fort, up the Boise River at the site that would develop as the city of Boise . The new military post was constructed because of massacres on the Oregon Trail after the old fort was abandoned. The new fort was near the intersection of the Oregon Trail and the roads connecting the Owyhee ( Silver City ) and Boise Basin ( Idaho City ) mining areas, both booming at

1764-614: The emigrants and the Northern Paiutes. The other men in the party were Pleasant Calvin Noland, Benjamin Franklin "Frank" Owen, Andrew McClure, Job Denning, Charles Long, and James McFarland. Elijah Elliot sent the men out with seven-day rations but it took them nearly 40 days to reach the settlements. The party did not know to look for a road up the Deschutes River, they only knew they were to find Diamond Peak. When they reached

1827-430: The hospitality and supplies provided to travelers and emigrants. In 1838, Payette constructed a second Fort Boise near the confluence of the Boise River and Snake River about five miles (8 km) northwest of the present town of Parma, Idaho and south of Nyssa, Oregon . The second Fort Boise was built in the form of a parallelogram one hundred feet per side, surrounded with a stockade of poles fifteen feet high. Later

1890-470: The leaders around the time they reached Springfield. Another party consisting of Joseph Lyman and two young men also tried to go for help. They were unable to cross the mountains, ate their three horses and followed the Deschutes River until they reached The Dalles on November 1, 1853. Joseph was finally reunited with his family in Salem, Oregon on November 8, 1853. Until then his family thought he had died in

1953-514: The logs were covered and replaced with sun-dried adobe bricks. In 1846, it had two tilled acres, twenty-seven cattle, and seventeen horses. In 1853, a flood damaged the fort, and the following year the Shoshone attacked an emigrant train and killed nineteen pioneers; the incident known as the Ward massacre took place within a few miles of the fort. The military deemed the fort indefensible and, with

Elliott Cutoff - Misplaced Pages Continue

2016-455: The long way around the lakes. The price the wagon train paid for this decision was about five or six extra days of difficult travel. The emigrants were already either low or out of supplies and had to resort to eating their livestock. The reason Elliott gave for his decision was to avoid fouled water–he did not mention Indian warriors–but the lake water was not drinkable and there were still long drives to fresh water. Elliott's followers reached

2079-429: The mountains. The upper Willamette settlers wondered what had become of Elliott and his wagons. Emigrants who came in on the traditional Oregon Trail reported seeing them take the Cutoff, but they were weeks overdue. Meanwhile, the first wave of wagons, numbering some 150, reached the Deschutes River at Bend, Oregon. They sent scouts to locate the road while the emigrants at the river recovered from their long cross over

2142-533: The mountains. McClure kept a careful diary and Owen wrote about it years later. By the time the first men of the advance party arrived in Springfield, on October 18, 1853, the wagon train had already been discovered by the Settlers of the Willamette Valley. There were other small groups who also left the wagon train for help. Five young men followed Clark's group across the mountains and finally caught up with

2205-407: The newly built American Fort Hall further east on the Snake River. McKay was the stepson of McLoughlin. Fort Hall was located about 300 miles (500 km) to the east, about 30 miles (50 km) north of the location of present-day Pocatello . It was built by Nathaniel Jarvis Wyeth 's American Trading Company. In July 1834, Thomas McKay's Snake Country brigade was trapping far to the east and met

2268-574: The next train, or an emigrant might "whip up" to overtake a forward train after a quarrel. Some might break away to settle in Colorado Territory or other territories along the way. At night, wagon trains were often formed into a circle or square for shelter from wind or weather, and to corral the emigrants' animals in the center to prevent them from running away or being stolen by Native Americans . While Native Americans might attempt to raid horses under cover of darkness, they rarely attacked

2331-487: The north and eventually came to the Oregon Trail along the Burnt River . A couple of doctors were coming through at that time and were able to assist the wounded men. From here they traveled back to the Willamette Valley via the Oregon Trail and returned home. With their adventure completed they filed a report that was quite optimistic considering the difficulties they encountered. The report devotes only one sentence to

2394-447: The northern boundary dispute . The second was established by the US government in 1863 as a military post located fifty miles (80 km) to the east up the Boise River . It developed as Boise , which became the capital city of Idaho. The overland Astor Expedition are believed to have been the first European Americans to explore the future site of the first Fort Boise while searching for

2457-606: The northern shores of these lakes. But as Elliott and his wagons drove into the Harney Basin, two of his scouts rode ahead near Wright's Point, a prominent plateau in the area. Here they encountered Indians and were chased back. With this confrontation in mind and the memory of the Road Viewer's skirmish occurring the prior year, and in the same general area, there was some reluctance to take the direct route west. After much deliberation they finally decided to go east and take

2520-408: The others, although he was completely out of provisions and in a very weak condition. His old mare had a stillborn colt and he was cooking the colt over a fire late at night near Butte Disappointment when the settlers saw his smoke and went to investigate. The first one to find him was a 13-year-old boy by the name of David Cleveland Mathews. Mr. Blanding told them about the wagon train and that night

2583-537: The party sent by Wyeth to select a site and build Fort Hall. At the end of July, McKay departed for Fort Vancouver . Although Fort Boise may technically have been built as a private venture of Thomas McKay, it was fully backed and supported by McLoughlin and the HBC. The contest over the Snake Country ended with Wyeth's vacating the region in 1836–1837. McLoughlin bought Wyeth's entire fur trading operations west of

Elliott Cutoff - Misplaced Pages Continue

2646-420: The rescue party around to the south side of Malheur Lake, and as they were traveling up the muddy Donner und Blitzen River , Clark spotted Indians on the other side. Deciding to attack he tried to enlist the other 7 members but they all refused to join him. Clark then made a lone charge across the river but his mare mired in the mud. The mare, by becoming stuck in the river bottom, managed to avert tension between

2709-467: The road survey, they tried to follow the remaining route to Vale, Oregon, where the cutoff was to begin. They continued northeast until they located the ruts of Meek's wagons and followed them not far from the Crooked River until they came to Steen's Ridge. A marker was found carved on a rock that was left in a small cairn on top of Steen's Ridge. The inscription read: "T – 1852." It is believed

2772-465: The road. As time went on there were numerous problems with the road construction. R. M. Walker was hired to mark out the road, but there was an unusually heavy snowfall in 1853 and Walker was unable to mark the road near the Cascade crest. Walker returned home without telling anyone, and when the road workers ran out of marks they also went home. Several weeks went by before the work continued. Finally

2835-548: The rock was carved by William Tandy, one of the Viewers. Although there was never any official statement, it is apparent the Viewers were also looking for the Lost Blue Bucket Mine , a place where some of Meek's emigrants had stumbled onto gold nuggets. From Steen's Ridge, the Viewers followed Meek's wagon ruts south into the Harney Basin. The ruts led past the northern shores of Harney and Malheur Lakes . It

2898-614: The scene and was buried beside the river, while their 8 month old son, died a two weeks later. When the surviving emigrants finally arrived in Lane County, the population of the Upper Willamette Valley nearly doubled. In 1854, another attempt was made using the Free Emigrant Road. William Macy, who led the Road Viewers in 1852 and who was one of the road commissioners in 1853, was hired for a sum of $ 1,000 to essentially do what Elliott had done in 1853. Macy, however,

2961-719: The settlers quickly spread the news. By the next day, wagons full of provisions were heading up the Free Emigrant Road to meet the Lost Wagon Train. A large number of settlers from Lane, Linn, and Benton counties loaded up horses and wagons full of supplies, and according to contemporary letters to the Oregon Statesman , the relief was carried by 94 pack animals and 23 loaded wagons. There was some 20,000 pounds of flour, "with bacon, potatoes, onions, salt, and sugar, as well as 290 head of work and beef cattle which could be used to draw wagons or for food." Every effort

3024-404: The skirmish with Native Americans. Because emigrants had to pay tolls in places such as the mouth of the Deschutes River and the Barlow Road, there was a strong feeling among the new road commissioners—William Macy, Thomas Cady, and Asahel Spencer—to make the new road toll free. A call for donations was sent out and once the money was raised, a contract was given to a Dr. Robert Alexander to build

3087-522: The suggestions was to build a road over the Cascades that would bring emigrants directly to the upper valley. This road would save emigrants over 130 miles (210 km), avoid the difficult crossing at the mouth of the Deschutes and the difficult choice of reaching Portland by boat or by traveling over the Barlow Road . Finding a way over the Cascades was challenging, and several possibilities were presented but most were deemed impractical. Finally,

3150-483: The television series it inspired, Wagon Train (1957–1965); William A. Wellman 's film, Westward the Women (1951); A. B. Guthrie Jr. 's 1949 novel The Way West and Andrew V. McLaglen 's 1967 film based on it; and the " Wagons West " series of 24 novels written by Noel Gerson (under the pseudonym Dana Fuller Ross) between 1979 and 1989. Fort Boise Fort Boise is either of two different locations in

3213-417: The time he was ready to embark on his adventure, there were around 100 wagons ready to follow him. Over a period of two weeks other wagons would follow and the final tally would ultimately come to 250 wagons carrying 1,027 people. The Cutoff was around 130 miles (210 km) shorter for destinations in the Upper Willamette Valley. In spite of this, many emigrants were aware this was a risky decision. Nothing

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3276-408: The time. The fort's site had the necessary combination of grass, water, wood, and stone. With three companies of infantry and one of cavalry, Major Lugenbeel set to work building quarters for five companies. They built a mule-driven sawmill on Cottonwood Creek, got a lime kiln underway, and opened a sandstone quarry at the small mesa known as Table Rock. Lugenbeel's greatest problem was the lure of

3339-469: The wife of one those killed, and her two children, escaped and traveled more than 200 miles in deep snow to reach friendly Walla Walla Indians on the Columbia River . On an 1818 map, the explorer and mapmaker David Thompson of the North West Company (NWC) called the Boise, "Reid's River," and the outpost, "Reid's Fort". Donald Mackenzie , formerly with the Astor Expedition and representing

3402-502: Was here the Viewers were attacked by a band they believed were Shoshoni Indians, although this was the territory of the Northern Paiute . The aboriginal attack force included 14 horsemen using guns and 40–50 foot soldiers using bows and arrows. Macy, Clark, and Diamond were wounded by musket balls and four horses were killed by arrows. The Viewers lost their notes, provisions and their geological specimens. The Viewers fled to

3465-505: Was known about road conditions, grass for the livestock or the water sources. Unfortunately the tendency was for the most needy to take the risk because their supplies were low and as autumn was approaching they did not want to get caught on the wrong side of the mountains. The story of the Donner Party , though seven years prior, was fresh on everyone's mind. The first leg of the journey was rough travel. They were only able to follow

3528-698: Was known as the Free Emigrant Road . No toll would be collected on this road. As emigrants came to Oregon, the majority traveled on the Oregon Trail to the Portland area. It was not practical to journey too far south once arriving in Western Oregon, so most emigrants settled in northwestern Oregon. In the early 1850s, residents of the Upper Willamette Valley attempted to attract more emigrants to Central Oregon. One of

3591-401: Was led by Charles Clark and Robert Tandy, men who had previously settled in the Willamette Valley. Robert Tandy was the brother of William Tandy, one of the Road Viewers in 1852, but he had not planned on returning to Oregon with the 1853 emigration. If he had, he might have received detailed information from his brother William. Charles Clark returned to the U.S in 1852 to acquire some horses and

3654-534: Was made to bring the emigrants home safely. One exception was a tragic accident that occurred as the emigrants were attempting to cross the middle fork of the Willamette River . While going down a steep grade leading into the river, a heavy trunk loaded inside the Joseph Petty wagon went forward, causing his wife, Nancy and the infant son she was holding, to be thrown into river. Nancy Petty died at

3717-466: Was more familiar with the route and used it to travel in both directions. When returning with emigrants he took the short route north of the lakes, shortened the distance in Central Oregon by avoiding Wagontire Mountain, and came down the Crooked River to the Deschutes, providing more water to the thirsty emigrants. Macy brought back a train of 121 wagons and they experienced few problems. Theirs

3780-555: Was returning in 1853. The Cutoff was an unplanned venture for him as well. Two years prior and during their first emigration, the family of Charles Clark had been attacked by Indians, an incident known as the Clark Massacre . The family and their fellow travelers were attacked by Shoshonis and a band of red-bearded Whites. Clark's mother and brother were killed in the skirmish. In 1853 Clark was bringing tombstones west for his family members. With his losses still on his mind he led

3843-578: Was taken down the Snake River to Hells Canyon . Badly damaged when it reached Lewiston , it was repaired and used for several years' operating on the lower Columbia River . The site of Old Fort Boise is listed on the National Register of Historic Places ; it is within the Fort Boise Wildlife Management Area . A reconstructed replica of the fort in the town of Parma is open to the public by appointment with

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3906-401: Was the Oregon Trail which had a span of over 2,000 mi (3,200 km). Other paths included the Santa Fe Trail , the Chisholm Trail , the California Trail (which split southwestward from the Oregon Trail), the Mormon Trail , and the Old Spanish Trail . Although "wagon train" suggests a line of wagons, when terrain permitted, wagons would often fan out and travel abreast to minimize

3969-489: Was the last large emigrant group to use the Free Emigrant Road until 1859. There are sixteen historic trails recognized in the State of Oregon. The Elliott Cutoff is not on the official list because it is represented by two separate trails: the Meek Cutoff and the Free Emigrant Road. Wagon train A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. Before the extensive use of military vehicles , baggage trains followed an army with supplies and ammunition. In

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