, 1923-02-11
By GRACE RAYMOND HEBARD
University Of Wyoming.

lnCAo AAo
riyen as to the reason why the
platte Bridge Station had its name
hanged to that of Fort Caspar. but
I'm the last few years new informa-
ton has been found relative to the
event which lead to h changing
Of the name of the fertilization at
the bend of the North Platte River
where the city of Casper is now
located. This new information is
Ger forth IN two chapters that ap-
near in a recent publication by G.
R.PHebard and z. A. B%rininstool,
.<he Bozeman Trail. published by
4 the Arthur H. Clark Co. What
NAV follow is extracted from this
recent publication.
The problem how to protect the
frontiersmen, the home-seeker. and
the immigrant going over the Gre
Eon Trail, particularly that part OF
the rail from Fort Laramie in the
present Goshen county by the way
NJ Douglas, Glenrock, Casper. In
dependence Rock and to South
Pass, was one with which our Unit
ed States government had difficulty
IN solving for 1t seemed that n all
Of the combats between h white
nan and the Indian, the red man
vas in nearly every case success
full in his attempt to drive the
white man back from his ances-
torial territory. In order to in n
way attempt to subdue the Indians
which in the early sixties had pos
yession OF the entire country cross
by the stage lines, it was necessary
TO put in the stage stations nlong
tile Oregon and Overland Trail,
armed forces for the conditions on
the travels had become so serious
and complicated hat they present
led a problem hat challenged the
kSenest strategic and military abil-
!ty of cur army that was then oper-
ating on the plains.
Two Detachments on Duty.
At the Platte Bridge Station the
18th Ohio and the 18th Kansas
Cavalry together with two com
panies of the 18th Ohio and about
IL OF the United States Infantry
largely prisoners who enlisted in
the United States service to fight
Indians in preference to staying in
the military PRISON., were stationed
operating between the bridge and
independence Rock. In presenting
this new information quotations
must to made from the Dairy of 1t.
VIM. Y. Drew, Company /, 18th
Kansas Cavalry, the manuscript
having been presented to the auth
ors of the Bozeman Trail Though
the courtesy of Hon. w. e. Con-
nelley, Secretary of tho Kansas
State Historical Society. sold
Platte Bridge" was located on the
south side of the North Platte
River, about one hundred and thir-
~ miles west of Fort Laramie. The
<station was a stockade, inside or
which were accommodations for a
garrison of about one hundred men.
About fifteen rods northwest from
the station was a bridge about Il
hundred feet long. Nearly half 4
mile west of the bridge. on the
north side of the river, a deep gulch
came down from the moth to the
river. Af:nr crossing tire bridge
the road took a nor'nw esterly
course over the bottom land up to
the bluff, along the edge of which
It a for a mile or two in plain
sight of the nv er and STATEN. The
telegraph line ran along the side of
the road. The country north of
the road was covered with sand
hills and deep ravines. Altogether
there were about. ITO men at this
Bridge Station under the command
of Major NJ. Anderson OF the 18th
Kansas. OF this number only 20 or
so had guns, the rest being armed
with revolvers. OF these guns n few
were of the Smith breach-loading
carbines with n few Spencer Re-
heating rifles. On July %, 1865 at
Platte Bridge there had been a des-
perate engagement In which sold
n iers and Indians had beer killed in
1 Sreat numbers. On the following
morning after this battle. July 20,
no Indians were to be seen on the
south side of the North Platte but
on the north side there were some
moving about while others were
scattered or the hills. 1t was at
this time hat Major Anderson
ordered 1t. Caspar w, Collins Of
N-N ~ IA ~ INV NSAAA
mand of a detail of rs men and re-
inforce a wagon train that was
coming over the Oregon Trail. 1t.
Collins had been at Fort Laramie
and was on. his way back to his
command ut Sweetwater and had
reached the bridge about three days
before this time. On reaching the
top OF the bluff near the present
site OF Casper two Indians were
seen at the top OF the telegraph
poles cutting the wires. As o o as
these Indians saw the soldiers they
slid down the poles, mounted their
ponies and started for the back
country as fast as the animals
gould carry them. Their mounts
rappeared to be very lame, and they
! did not appear to make much head.
way.
1t looked like a soft snap to take
them In" and Lieutenant Collins
ordered tho boys TO go for them
before the Indians could rench
their friends. This charge, of
course. took them off the road and
away from tho sight of tho river.
The instant the last man disnp.