Table of Contents
Who led the first wagon train to Oregon?
John Gantt
In what was dubbed “The Great Migration of 1843” or the “Wagon Train of 1843”, an estimated 700 to 1,000 emigrants left for Oregon. They were led initially by John Gantt, a former U.S. Army Captain and fur trader who was contracted to guide the train to Fort Hall for $1 per person.
Where did the first wagon train go?
The first major wagon train to the northwest departs from Elm Grove. Missouri, on the Oregon Trail.
Who founded the Oregon Trail?
Robert Stuart of the Astorians (a group of fur traders who established Fort Astoria on the Columbia River in western Oregon) became the first white man to use what later became known as the Oregon Trail. Stuart’s 2,000-mile journey from Fort Astoria to St.
When did the first wagon train cross the Sierra?
The lower canyon was so rough that they were forced to ride and walk down the riverbed. After many dangers and hardships, including almost losing one man to the raging river, they worked their way down the canyon to Sutter’s Fort, arriving on December 10, 1844. The wagon train group was not as fortunate.
What was the plan for the first wagon train?
The plan was for the faster horseback party to reach Sutter’s Fort first and send back fresh animals and supplies for the wagon train. The six members of the horseback party headed south up the Truckee River, into the unknown, as Chief Truckee had not told them much about the river route.
How old were the pioneers when they crossed the Sierra?
At the time it was called Greenwood’s Cutoff. Eighty year old Greenwood knew the route very well up to Fort Hall, Idaho, but beyond that, he knew little of the route. The trail to California had been traveled by only two wagon trains, and they had not sent back any information on the route. Neither had been able to get their wagons into California.
When did the first pioneers arrive in Truckee?
Truckee’s historical timeline really begins with this event. The Stephens-Townsend-Murphy party was a well organized party consisting of ten families who were seeking a better future for themselves in California. The fifty member group left Council Bluffs, Iowa on May 22, 1844.