The Cheyenne daily leader. [volume] (Cheyenne, Wyo.) 1870-1884, 1882-04-04
TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1882.
FORT LARAMIE.
A Brief sketch OF Its Interesting
HIstory-A Massacre

AItNpA
HIstory-A Massacre.
Fort Laramie is one of the most
widely known military posts In the
west, and 1t is not long since 1t was the
most important frontier defense. Its
name is associated indiscerptibly with
the development and settlement Of the
Pacific coast. The gold seekers and
st~ockgrowers of Oregon, and the nor
mons of Utah, passed by this post In
the early days, on the way to their
future homes. Around the name Oi
Fort Laramie there is clustered the
memory Of Indian war n~Iassacres,
rapes aud the usual brutalities Of say.
age outbreaks. To some its history
seems 10 be written Ill blood. Those
who have read the accounts Of Gen.
Fremont's trip ACROSS the plains VIII
never forget The fascinating story which
The weavvd around the fort. But the
days OF Its glory and usefulness ure
past. The necessity Of building II no
longer exists u vUuchsufe Its coutInu-
atiun. IL must fall III the pathway vi
progress, II prey to advancing clvIliIa-
tion. Over its ruins wlll one day -four
ish a tine city, the Central mart Of II
rich mining district. Aud the future
Wyuminglte Will Sit GU the bridge That
crosses the Platte and Laramie rivers,
and contemplate the caparisOned ennis
saries OF the government who, in the
sos protected the tide OF emigranIs
that flowed toward the golden Pacific.
Fort Laramie is located at the juno.
ton OF the North Platte and Laramie
rivers, about ninety-six miles north Of
Cheyenne. 1t is prettily situated on
elevated ground, and overlooks the
broad valleys Of the two mentioned
rivers. These streams are Of good size
and flow vast volumes of water. The
origin of the fort was u fur trading
post, established by John Laramie, n
French hunter and trapper, who was
employed by the French firm of Chateau
d Co., st. Louis. 1t was in 1882 that
Laramie began the building OF the
stockade known "a Fort John, which
WAS square in shape, with bastions at
respectively. 1t enclosed about two
acres.
Laramie hunted and trapped along
the Laramie river, which took his name,
as did also the Laramie Peak and Lar
annie plains. Mr.. Laramie WAS allowed
to pursue his career Of sport and pleas
ure in perfect peace, although the Sioux
swarmed like flies all over this portion
Of Wyoming. The savages found Lar
annie a source Of profit, for he vas
always ready to buy what furs they had
to sell, paying for them in provisions,
arms ammunition and trinkets.
1t WAS in 1872 that Gen. Fremont ar
rived at Fort John with his expedition.
He made this his stopping place for u
time, and held friendly councils with
the Sioux. But he passed on, and the
old fort relapsed into a mere FUR trading
post, remaining 30 until lSi0, when the
government took Possession with two
companies Of the 9th infantry and one
company OF the mounted rifles, now the
Sd cavalry, all commanded by Major
at once changed TO Fort Laramie. They
erected a stockade with walls twenty
feet high, and otherwise prepared II for
effective defense in case OF necessity.
OF all the buildings that were then
erected but two remain standing: the
western portion Of the suffers store,
and n double residence. These are so
improved and changed AS to be unrec-
ogniZable, save to the venerable Ser
gesnt Schuyler, who WAS n private in
the 9th Infantry and assisted In erect
. ing them.
But the greatest value Of Fort Lara
mie was demonstrated when the tide ui
emigration set in. TIE emigrant trail
at first leu from LeavenwOrth, Kansas,
and Fort Krarnry WAS the ouly plac,
between Leayenwurth and Fort Lara
mis- that WAS occupied by whites. Aftel
passing Fort Kesrney, the trail followed
the great Platte river as far as III,
junction OF the North Platte, when 4
Rugged the latter stream TO Fort Lara
mie. Here 1t deyiated from the rive.
and wound around the hills near III,
present lite Of Hartville, through tn,
plains now occupied by Addoms s
Glover and Dater Brothers & Harring
ton as ranges, and thence westward.
At Fort Laramie the emigrants usu
ally camped for a rest and to recruit
their horses and mules, for they wer,
about TO enter upon the most rugged
part Of the journey. The orders Of TIL
government to the troops were to rem.
der the utmost assistance to the emf
grants, both in advice and in the NOR
substantial way of provisions. 1t hav,
ing beer the wise policy Of the govern.
ment to encourage the settlement o
the Pacific coast with American citl
zens, It rendered all the assistance pos
sIble. E%nigrants who needed proyi