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This excerpt from the congressional report of the Secretary of War includes the abstracts of two journals, one by Lieutenant William B. Franklin, a topographical engineer, and another by Lieutenant H.S. Turner of the 1st dragoons stationed at Fort Leavenworth. Under the command of Stephen Kearny, the 1st dragoons and their accompanying engineers left Fort Leavenworth on a military 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 was intended as a display of the United States' military power to both native tribes and the British government (which at this time was exerting its authority over Oregon Territory). For the most part this abstract details their route, but it does include a transcription of a conversation between Kearny and a Sioux chief named Bull Tail.
Date: 1846
This is an excellent account of the military's contact with native tribes on the plains. It is also useful when combined with Kearny's report on the expedition, as well as Franklin's map of their route (which is mentioned in the second paragraph). All of these sources served to illuminate how the military helped establish and protect trade routes and other trails through Kansas. It also gives a glimpse of Native American responses to this expedition.
KS:7th:1.5:Forts and Trails (2005)
Item Number: 210399
Call Number: U.S. Congress. House of Representatives. The Executive Documents. 29th Cong., 1st sess., vol. 1, 1845-6. Series 480. House doc. 2, no. 1.
KSHS Identifier: DaRT ID: 210399
Business and Industry - Occupations/Professions - Military
Collections - Library
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
Military - Service - Army - Cavalry
Military - Service - Army - Dragoons
Objects and Artifacts - Communication Artifacts - Documentary Artifact - Record, Government
People - American Indians - Tribes - Cheyenne
People - American Indians - Tribes - Sioux
Places - Forts and military installations - Fort Leavenworth
Places - Other States - Colorado
Places - Other States - Nebraska
Places - Other States - Wyoming
Places - Rivers - Arkansas
Thematic Time Period - Indian Territory, 1820 - 1854
Transportation - Trails - Military
Transportation - Trails - Oregon-California
Transportation - Trails - Santa Fe
Type of Material - Printed materials - Government publications
http://www.kansasmemory.org/item/210399