From Southeastern Wyoming,
traveling North.
- Fort Laramie National Historic Site
Located off U.S. Hwy. 26, three miles from the town of Fort Laramie, the site
is open year around. Built in 1834 as a fur trading post (named Fort William), the U.S.
Army purchased the post in 1849 to guard the Oregon Trail. It later protected the
California, Pony Express, Mormon, Bozeman, and Bridger Trail; and the Pacific Telegraph.
It was an important post in campaigns again Sioux and Cheyennes in 1876. It was abandoned
in 1890 and became a National Park Service area in 1938. Fort Laramie was the site of
several very important treaties. Over 21 building are standing and the post headquarters
and bachelor officers quarters, Old Bedlam, has been completely restored and refurnished.
See Calendar of Events for activities at the old post in 2000.
- Horseshoe Station
John "Portugee" Phillips sent a telegram from Fort Phil Kearny
Commander, Henry B. Carrington, from here to Fort Laramie and to the Mountain District
headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska, alerting them as to the loss of Capt. Fetterman and his
entire command in a battle with Lakota (Sioux), Cheyennes and Arapahoes, near Fort Phil
Kearny, Dec. 21, 1866.
- Bridger's Ferry
From 1866 into '67 Bridger's ferry was an important starting point for Bozeman
Trail traffic. In 1865, the government furnished materials and equipment to Jim Bridger
and associates to build a cable ferry across the dangerous North Platte River. Bridger
left the ferry with others and went with Carrington in 1866 as chief guide and
interpreter.
- Deer Creek Station
- Richard's Bridge
- Cooke's 17 Mile Stage Station
- Powder River Crossing, 1878-1892
- Townsend Wagon Train Fight
A large train of 467 people and 150 wagons was attacked on July 7 a few miles
west of the Powder River Crossing by a large Sioux and Cheyenne war party. The Indians
came to the camp, asking to accompany the wagon train and requesting food. They were not
allowed to accompany the train, but were given food. John Boyer and Rafael Gallegos tried
to talk to them. According to historian Robert A. Murray, "as one man was missing,
Townsend sent a small force out to look for him. The Indians, knowing the man had been
killed by one of them, threw down their food, and hand-to-hand fighting ensued. Three
emigrant men were killed in the fight ...an estimated thirteen Indians were killed."
- Fort Fetterman State Historic Site, near
Douglas
- Fort Caspar and Platte Bridge Station at Casper
- Dull Knife Battlesite, near Kaycee, Wyoming
- Fort Reno and Cantonment Reno, northeast of
Kaycee
- Crazy Woman Fight site
- Historic TA Ranch, near Buffalo
- Mountain Plains Heritage Park at Buffalo
- Fort Phil Kearny State Historic Site
- Fetterman Fight Site
- Wagon Box Fight Site
- Lt. E.R.P. Shurly's Fight, 1867, near Sheridan
- Bozeman Trail Stage Station at Big Horn
- Crook's Camps near Big Horn and Sheridan
- Connor Battlesite near Ranchester
- Sawyers Expedition Camp & Fight Site,
between Dayton and Ranchester
- Skirmish at Tongue River Heights, near Sheridan
From Southeastern Montana, traveling North
- Indian Encampment on the Tongue
River, 1866
This was a huge camp of Cheyennes, Sioux, and Arapahoe Tribes, placed to watch
what they called the Buffalo Creek Fort (Fort Phil Kearny). According to the late Cheyenne
historian, Bill Tall Bull, "A camp this large would afford the Indian people
protection and concentrate efforts to attack the Buffalo Creek Fort at every
opportunity." It was from these camps, that warriors rode to decoy and destroy the
entire command of Capt. Williams J. Fetterman on December 21, 1866.
- Rosebud Battlesite
- Fort C. F. Smith and the Hayfield Fight Site
- Little Bighorn Battlesite near Crow Agency
- Pictograph Caves near Billings
- Chief Plenty Coup Museum and Historic Home,
near Pryor
- Nelson Story's Cow Camp and Ranch Operations
- Absorkee Crow Agency #2, near Absarokee
- Crow Agency #1, near Livingston
- Benson Landing, near Livingston
- Fort Ellis, near Bozeman
- Virginia City and Nevada City
- Bannack
- Last Chance Gulch, at Helena
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