The US Army’s role in protecting the Oregon Trail is best described by the soldiers (2/3)-- OT Ruts State Historic Site nr Guernsey WY
N 42° 15.363 W 104° 44.908
13T E 520747 N 4678236
Quick Description: A series of six brown historical markers next to each other along the trail from the parking lot to the trail ruts -- this is 5th of 6, and second of a set of three markers on the same subject.
Location: Wyoming, United States
Date Posted: 1/31/2014 12:06:59 PM
Waymark Code: WMK1XE
Views: 2
Long Description:This fifth of six historical markers is located along the very short trail from the parking lot to the trail ruts at the OT Ruts State Historic Site near Guernsey WY. It was placed by the US Army to reproduce period letters and writings by US Army soldiers stationed at the Forts, Camps, and Stations along the Oregon Trail. This is the second of the three markers in this subset.
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The marker reads as follows:
"THE US ARMY’S ROLE IN PROTECTING THE OREGON TRAIL IS BEST DESCRIBED BY THE SOLDIERS. (continued)
"Well is because of all this trouble now? Just one bad man. “The man who killed the cow.” The Great Father does not care about the cow, but that fellow was a bad fellow, and was not given up, this caused all the difficulty. It was a very little thing, yet see how it spread over the whole Sioux Nation, from one bad fellow. I hope all the great people will remember this…" General William S Harney, commander of the Punitive Expedition Against the Soux for the August 1854 Grattan fight, Fort Pierre Peace Council March 1 – 5, 1856.
“We are so busy now building and getting ready to pass the winter, comfortably that I can't write as interesting letters as I could other wise. When we get done building we will go to Hollywood and then as soon as it will do we will go to making hay. We can get eight dollars per ton for cutting and curing hay. The weather is so warm that we sleep outdoors in wagons. We spread our gum blankets and bed ticks over the bows for a cover and it is as dry and cool in there as anywhere.” Private Hervey Johnson, Company G, 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry, June 24, 1864, Deer Creek Station.
“Cold dreary wind and cloudy all night; very chilly, cold and windy. Most of the men are in their tents, overcoats on, to keep comfortable. Capt. Green of B Company and detachment just starting for Deer Creek. Snowing like forty thousand devils; round covered with snow; still pouring down the near way; very cold, wet snow. Quick snowing but clears after dinner; cool Northwest wind.” First Sgt. Isaac B Pennock, Company T 11th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry, June 17, 1865, Platte Bridge Station." [end of 2nd of 3 markers]