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This typescript recounts the journey of the 1st Dragoons under the command of Stephen Watts Kearny. In 1845, the dragoons (cavalry troops) left Fort Leavenworth on a circular march, heading northwest on what would become the Oregon Trail, down along the Rocky Mountains to Mexican territory, and back up via the Santa Fe Trail. This march displayed the military power of the United States to both native tribes and to the British government (which at this time was exerting its authority over Oregon Territory). Kearny described in detail the route taken by the dragoons, their encounters with the Pawnee, Sioux, Cheyenne, and Arapaho, the soil and landscape of the plains, and the traders moving goods to and from Santa Fe. Kearny also discussed his opinion on the best way to protect American settlers traveling to Oregon--he disliked the idea of establishing a military post near Fort Laramie and instead advocated making large circular marches every few years to remind the Indian tribes of "the facility and rapidity with which our dragoons can march through any part of their country." The report includes a postscript by General Winfield Scott and was published as part of the Report of the Secretary of War delivered to the 29th Congress, in serial set 480, document 2, no. 1, pp. 210-214.
Creator: Kearny, Stephen Watts, 1794-1848
Date: September 15, 1845
This is an excellent account of the military's contact with native tribes on the plains. It is also useful when combined with the journals of Lieutenant Franklin and Lieutenant Turner, as well as Franklin's map of their route. All of these sources served to illuminate how the military helped establish and protect trade routes and other trails through Kansas.
KS:7th:1.5:Forts and Trails (2005)
Item Number: 210397
Call Number: Miscellaneous Kearny, Philip
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 210397
Collections - Manuscript - Miscellaneous
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Kansas forts and trails (Indicator 5) - Fort Leavenworth
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Kansas forts and trails (Indicator 5) - Oregon-California Trail
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Kansas forts and trails (Indicator 5) - Santa Fe Trail
Curriculum - 7th Grade Standards - Kansas History Standards - Prehistory to 1854 (Benchmark 1) - Kansas forts and trails (Indicator 5) - US Cavalry
Date - 1800-1819
Environment - Landscape
Military - Service - Army - Cavalry
Military - Service - Army - Dragoons
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Manuscript
People - American Indians - Tribes - Arapaho
People - American Indians - Tribes - Cheyenne
People - American Indians - Tribes - Pawnee
People - American Indians - Tribes - Sioux
Places - Counties - Leavenworth
Places - Forts and military installations - Fort Leavenworth
Places - Other States - Colorado
Places - Other States - Nebraska
Places - Other States - Wyoming
Places - Rivers - Arkansas
Places - Rivers - Big Blue
Places - Rivers - Missouri
Thematic Time Period - Indian Territory, 1820 - 1854
Thematic Time Period - Trails, 1821 - 1880
Transportation - Non-motorized - Riding animals
Transportation - Trails - Military
Transportation - Trails - Oregon-California
Transportation - Trails - Santa Fe
Type of Material - Unpublished documents - Transcript
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210397