Bridger’s Pass, Wyoming – Legends of America
Okay, picture this: you’re smack-dab in the middle of Wyoming, surrounded by wide-open spaces and a sky that seems to stretch on forever. You’re standing at Bridger’s Pass, a spot that’s got more history baked into its soil than a sourdough starter.
Bridger’s Pass is basically a low point in the Continental Divide – that imaginary line that splits North America in half, dictating which way the rivers flow. This particular spot is in southern Wyoming, specifically in Carbon County. The landscape is gently rolling, covered in sagebrush, grasses, and all sorts of other plants that make it feel alive. Look up, and you’ll see ridges dotted with scrub pine and the occasional aspen grove. It’s a beautiful place, no doubt about it.
Why "Bridger’s" Pass?
Well, it’s named after none other than James Bridger, a legendary mountain man who knew this area like the back of his hand. He’d roamed these parts long before 1861, and his knowledge of the land proved invaluable.
Now, Bridger’s Pass wasn’t the only way to cross the Continental Divide back in the day. South Pass, also in Wyoming, was another popular option. But Bridger’s Pass was a close second, especially during the big Westward Expansion push in the mid-1800s. Think of it as a vital shortcut for folks heading west in search of a new life.
A Trail Through Time
It’s hard to say exactly when people first started using Bridger’s Pass. But archaeologists have carbon-dated artifacts suggesting that prehistoric people were migrating across the High Plains through this area as far back as 11,000 years ago!
Later on, Western fur trappers, who were always keen on following Native American trails, probably used the pass during the Rocky Mountain fur trade era. But the first documented crossing was in 1850, led by Captain Howard Stansbury of the U.S. Army Corps of Topographical Engineers.
Stansbury was on his way back east after surveying the Great Salt Lake. He hired Jim Bridger himself to guide him and find a direct route that would avoid the more well-known South Pass. Bridger led Stansbury’s crew along Bitter Creek, Muddy Creek, and right through Bridger’s Pass. They even skirted the north side of Elk Mountain before heading north to Fort Laramie.
Stansbury’s report basically put Bridger’s Pass on the map. It highlighted the potential of this overland route, and it wasn’t long before people started using it more and more.
The Cherokee Trail and the Gold Rush
The trail that went through Bridger’s Pass became known as the Cherokee Trail. It got its name from a group of Cherokee Indians who passed through the region in 1849 on their way to the California Gold Rush.
Speaking of the Gold Rush, that massive influx of people heading west really boosted traffic through Bridger’s Pass. Throughout the 1850s, emigrants used it as a shortcut to get to the goldfields.
The Army Gets Involved
In 1856, the U.S. Army started to see the potential of Stansbury’s route as a military road. Lieutenant Francis Bryan was tasked with surveying a route for a military road between Fort Riley, Kansas, and the Salt Lake Valley.
Bryan followed the Platte River west to the mouth of Lodgepole Creek (near present-day Julesburg, Colorado). From there, he followed Lodgepole Creek across southwestern Nebraska and southeastern Wyoming (which was then part of Dakota Territory). Bryan and his wagons rolled through Bridger’s Pass in August, carving out a trail and making some improvements along the way.
Once Bryan crossed the Continental Divide with his wagons, he considered his mission a success. He headed back over the pass and returned to the Laramie Plains and into Colorado. Bryan’s assessment of the Lodgepole Creek-Bridger Pass route was positive, but he did note that the lack of water, grass, and wood in certain areas could be a problem.
Tensions Rise in Utah
Things got a little hairy in 1857. U.S. President James Buchanan declared Utah to be in rebellion against the U.S. government and mobilized a regiment of the U.S. Army.
Tensions had been building between the federal government and the Mormon community in Utah. Brigham Young, the governor of Utah, even mentioned rumors that the U.S. was sending troops into the territory.
President Buchanan appointed a new territorial governor, Alfred Cumming, and directed him to accompany the military forces into Utah. Colonel Edmond Alexander and his troops began their journey to Utah.
Meanwhile, Mormon scouts learned about the Army’s plans and informed Brigham Young. In response, Young declared martial law, forbidding any armed forces from entering the territory.
The "Mormon War"
What followed is sometimes referred to as the "Mormon War." It wasn’t exactly a full-blown war, but there were definitely some tense moments and skirmishes.
Colonel Albert Sidney Johnston replaced General Harney as commander of the U.S. troops and ordered the regiment to spend the winter at Camp Scott near Fort Bridger.
One of Johnston’s men, John Bartleston, went over Bridger’s Pass to see if it would be suitable for moving troops from Fort Laramie. Bartleston concluded that the pass was even better than South Pass.
Eventually, a negotiator named Thomas Kane arrived in Salt Lake City to try and broker a peace deal between the Mormons and the Army. Brigham Young agreed to step aside for the new governor in exchange for peace.
In the end, the "Mormon War" was seen by many as a blunder. Buchanan sent a peace commission with an offer of pardon for Utah citizens who would submit to federal laws, and Young accepted the offer.
Johnston’s Army arrived in Utah and established Camp Floyd, about 50 miles from Salt Lake City.
The Overland Trail and Indian Attacks
After the "Mormon War," Bridger’s Pass saw less activity until 1862. By this time, the Civil War was in full swing, and the military presence in the West was stretched thin. Native American harassment increased, making the Oregon-California Trail unsafe.
To avoid the Indian attacks, the Overland Stage Line was rerouted through Bridger’s Pass. New stage stations were built along the route, including one right at Bridger’s Pass.
This section of the trail became a hot spot for Indian attacks, especially during the summer of 1865. Attacks occurred at Bridger Pass, Sage Creek, Pine Grove, and Sulphur Springs. Soldiers were sent from Fort Halleck to protect the mail route, and cavalry escorts accompanied the stagecoaches.
Despite these efforts, the Indians managed to disrupt stage travel, destroy stage stations, steal livestock, and kill several white men.
The Indian attacks continued in 1867, fueled by the Powder River Wars to the north. Stage stations were burned, stagecoaches were destroyed, and employees were killed.
Peace at Last
The Peace Commission of 1867 negotiated with the Indians, and by late 1868, treaties were signed that largely ended the attacks along the Overland Trail in the Wyoming Territory.
So, there you have it – a quick look at the history of Bridger’s Pass, Wyoming. It’s a place that’s seen a lot of action, from prehistoric migrations to fur trappers, gold rush emigrants, military expeditions, and Indian conflicts. It’s a place that’s worth exploring if you ever find yourself in southern Wyoming. You can almost feel the echoes of the past as you stand there, surrounded by the vastness of the American West.