Fort Davy Crockett, Colorado
The story of Fort Davy Crockett, Colorado, is a tale woven with the threads of ambition, rugged individualism, and the relentless pursuit of fortune that characterized the American fur trade. Emerging in the late 1830s, this remote outpost briefly served as a nexus for trappers, traders, and Native American tribes in the vast and untamed landscape of the Rocky Mountains. Its history, though short-lived, offers a fascinating glimpse into a pivotal era of westward expansion and the challenges faced by those who sought to carve a living from the wilderness.
In 1837, three enterprising fur trappers – Prewett Sinclair, Philip Thompson, and William Craig – formed a partnership with the vision of establishing a trading post in the lucrative fur-rich territory of the Green River region. Their venture culminated in the construction of Fort Davy Crockett. The fort’s name was a tribute to the legendary Davy Crockett, the celebrated frontiersman and politician who had perished at the Alamo the year before. This act of naming imbued the fledgling outpost with a sense of frontier spirit and a connection to the romanticized image of the American West.
Fort Davy Crockett was strategically situated along the Green River in the remote northwestern corner of Colorado, close to the border with Utah. The location was within Brown’s Hole, a naturally sheltered valley known for its mild winters, abundant forage, and plentiful game. This area had long served as a favored wintering ground for both mountain men and various Native American tribes, providing sustenance and refuge from the harsh elements. The fort was not alone in its endeavor; it joined Fort Uncompahgre in Colorado and Fort Uintah in Utah, forming a trio of 19th-century trading posts strategically placed on the western slopes of the Rocky Mountains. These posts served as vital hubs for the exchange of goods and information in a remote and sparsely populated region.
The physical structure of Fort Davy Crockett was described as a simple, yet functional, hollow square of one-story log cabins. Built with locally sourced timber and chinked with mud, the cabins provided basic shelter and storage space. This layout created a central courtyard that could be used for trading, communal activities, and defense. The fort quickly became an important trade center, facilitating interactions between Native American tribes, independent fur trappers, and travelers venturing through the region. The exchange of goods included furs, hides, supplies, and essential provisions.
The winter of 1837-38 saw the renowned frontiersman Kit Carson employed by the owners of Fort Davy Crockett. His primary role was that of a hunter, responsible for providing a consistent supply of meat to sustain the fort’s inhabitants. Carson himself later recounted his duties, stating that he was responsible for keeping approximately twenty men supplied with game. This highlights the importance of hunting and self-sufficiency in the daily lives of those who lived and worked at the fort. In the spring of 1838, Carson’s tenure at the fort came to an end, as he departed to join the legendary mountain man Jim Bridger.
In 1839, a group known as the Peoria Party, en route to Oregon, documented their stay at the fort. Thomas Jefferson Farnham, the leader of the party, provided a vivid description of the setting, painting a picture of the fort nestled amidst the dramatic landscape along the Green River. He spoke of the "dark mountains" rising sublimely around the fort and the "green fields" sweeping into deep gorges, highlighting the area’s rugged beauty. Farnham also recounted the warm welcome they received from Prewett Sinclair, whom he described as an "old hunter," further emphasizing the fort’s connection to the traditions of the mountain man era.
Farnham offered a detailed account of the fort’s layout and the activities taking place within its walls. He described the conical skin lodges of the trappers’ Native American wives, who were present while their husbands were away on their fall hunt. He also noted the presence of Snake Indians, who had arrived early for the winter hunt. In addition, Farnham mentioned a trader named Mr. Robinson, who typically stationed himself at the fort to conduct business with the Indians and trappers. Robinson’s "warehouse" was his skin lodge, and his counter consisted of buffalo robes spread upon the ground, displaying goods such as knives, hatchets, powder, lead, fishhooks, and whiskey. This description offers a glimpse into the diverse community that congregated at the fort and the range of goods that were exchanged.
However, not all accounts of Fort Davy Crockett were flattering. Just a week after Farnham’s positive assessment, F.A. Wislizenus, returning to St. Louis, Missouri, from the Oregon country, offered a starkly contrasting perspective. Wislizenus described the fort as "the worst thing of the kind that we have seen on our journey," and referred to it as "Fort Misery." He characterized the establishment as "somewhat poverty-stricken," highlighting its perceived lack of resources and amenities. This negative portrayal contributed to the fort’s subsequent reputation among local trappers, who often referred to it as Fort Misery, a testament to its perceived shortcomings.
The year 1839 also marked the occasion of the last Rocky Mountain rendezvous organized by the American Fur Company. This event took place north of Brown’s Hole, along the upper reaches of the Green River in Utah. Following the rendezvous, many trappers made their way to Fort Davy Crockett for the winter. However, the atmosphere was far from celebratory. Disheartened by the declining prospects of trapping and the increasingly unfavorable prices for furs, some trappers, including Philip Thompson, resorted to illegal activities.
Thompson and a group of eleven others stole over thirty horses from friendly Shoshone Indians following a visit to Fort Hall, Idaho. This act of theft sparked outrage among Thompson’s partners, Prewett Sinclair and William Craig, as well as other mountain men in the area. Thompson and his accomplices fled southward with the stolen horses, but were quickly pursued by a posse led by Joseph Walker, including notable figures such as Joe Meek, William Craig, Robert Newell, and Kit Carson, along with twenty-five other men. The pursuers caught up with the thieves at the junction of the Duchesne and Green Rivers, where a brief battle ensued. The horses were recovered, and the thieves were forced to flee the country.
This incident proved to be a turning point for Fort Davy Crockett. The partnership between Sinclair, Thompson, and Craig dissolved in the aftermath of the horse theft, and the trading post was subsequently abandoned. Although the fort itself was never rebuilt, the area continued to play a role in the independent fur-trading industry for a few years.
By 1844, when explorer John C. Fremont entered Brown’s Hole, Fort Davy Crockett was already in ruins, a testament to the ephemeral nature of frontier settlements. The crumbling remains served as a reminder of the bygone era of the fur trade.
Years later, in 1857, Captain Randolph B. Marcy made mention of the fort during his arduous winter expedition across the Rocky Mountains. He noted that "Fort Davy Crockett was now in ruins, its crumbling walls presenting mute evidence of the passing of the hectic days of the fur trade." This observation further solidified the fort’s place in history as a relic of a transformative period in the American West.
The legacy of Fort Davy Crockett is one of fleeting prominence and ultimate decline. While it existed for a brief period, it served as a vital hub for trade, a refuge for trappers and Native Americans, and a witness to the dramatic events that shaped the frontier. Today, the site of Fort Davy Crockett stands as a reminder of the ambition, hardship, and resilience of those who sought to make their mark on the American West.