Fort Platte, Wyoming
Fort Platte, Wyoming, stands as a testament to the bustling fur trade era of the American West. Established in 1840 by the ambitious Lancaster Lupton, a former army officer who transitioned into the world of fur trading, Fort Platte’s story is intertwined with competition, commerce, and the eventual decline of the once-lucrative fur industry. Its location, a strategic point on the North Platte River, played a vital role in its brief but impactful existence.
Lupton’s decision to erect Fort Platte was largely driven by the perceived inadequacies of Fort William, later known as Fort Laramie, which was situated just a mile upstream. At the time, Fort William was grappling with ineffective management and struggling with supply chain issues. Lupton, having already established Fort Lupton in Colorado, possessed a well-organized supply system and recognized an opportunity to capitalize on his competitor’s weaknesses. The creation of Fort Platte, Wyoming, was a calculated move to gain a foothold in the regional fur trade.
The logistics of the fur trade were demanding. Trade goods destined for the rival posts traveled via wagons along the Platte Valley road from St. Joseph, Missouri, or along trails from Fort Pierre, South Dakota, which lay on the upper Missouri River. These journeys were lengthy and fraught with challenges. Upon their return, the wagons were laden with valuable cargo: packs of buffalo robes and furs, destined for the markets of St. Louis, Missouri. This intricate network of transportation and trade underscored the economic significance of the region. Fort Platte, Wyoming, became an important node in this vast network.
However, the competition within the fur trade was fierce and often led to unscrupulous practices. As the industry began to decline, traders resorted to increasingly desperate measures, including the open sale of alcohol to Native Americans. This practice had devastating consequences, leading to widespread drunkenness and social disruption among the tribes. Several travelers in the early 1840s documented the debauchery they witnessed, painting a grim picture of the fur trade’s impact on the indigenous population. The history of Fort Platte, Wyoming, is inexorably linked to these troubling events.
Despite its initial commercial success, Lupton’s venture at Fort Platte, Wyoming, ultimately faced financial difficulties. In 1842, he declared bankruptcy, and the fort was sold to the well-established firm of Pratte & Cabanne in 1843. This company was owned by Bernard Pratte and Jean Pierre Cabanne, seasoned figures in the fur trade. Pratte and Cabanne continued to operate Fort Platte from 1843 to 1845.
In 1845, a significant decision was made to relocate the fort’s operations to a new location known as Fort Bernard. This move was motivated by the desire to intercept and capitalize on the increasing number of travelers heading west along the Oregon Trail. With the focus shifted to Fort Bernard, the original Fort Platte, Wyoming, was abandoned, its brief but eventful chapter in history drawing to a close.
A valuable description of Fort Platte comes from Rufus B. Sage’s 1846 book, Rocky Mountain Life. Sage, a keen observer of the Western landscape and its inhabitants, provided a detailed account of the fort’s structure and surroundings. He noted its strategic importance, placing it second only to Fort Hall in Idaho as a critical point along the route to Oregon.
According to Sage, Fort Platte was situated on the left bank of the North Fork of the Platte River, approximately three-quarters of a mile above the confluence with the Laramie River. It lay directly on the wagon road leading to Oregon via the South Pass, making it a vital stopping point for westward-bound travelers.
The fort’s location placed it in close proximity to the Oglala and Brule divisions of the Sioux Nation, although it was somewhat further removed from the Cheyenne and Arapaho tribes. This proximity to various Native American groups highlights the complex relationships between the fur traders and the indigenous populations.
Sage’s description of the fort’s physical structure is particularly illuminating. The walls were constructed of "adobes," thick sun-dried bricks, measuring four feet in thickness and twenty feet in height. These walls enclosed a rectangular area measuring 250 feet in length and 200 feet in width. Bastions were strategically positioned at the northwest and southwest corners, providing a commanding view of the surrounding terrain and allowing for the defense of the fort from all directions.
Within the fort’s walls, Sage counted a total of twelve buildings. These structures served a variety of purposes, including an office for administrative tasks, a store for trading goods, a warehouse for storing furs and supplies, a meat house for preserving provisions, a blacksmith’s shop for repairing tools and equipment, a carpenter’s shop for woodworking, a kitchen for preparing meals, and five dwellings for the fort’s personnel. These buildings were arranged in a way that created a central yard and corral, providing ample space and security for over 200 animals.
The fort’s workforce typically consisted of around thirty men, whose primary responsibility was to promote the interests of the fur trade and respond to the various demands of life on the frontier. These men were responsible for trading with Native Americans, maintaining the fort’s infrastructure, and protecting it from potential threats.
Sage also provided a vivid description of the surrounding landscape. He noted that the fort was situated in a level plain, characterized by fertile soil and scenic beauty. The plain was bordered by hills, many of which were adorned with pines and cedars. The river bottoms were thickly vegetated with cottonwood, ash, willow, and box-elder trees, providing essential timber and fuel for the fort’s inhabitants.
Today, little remains of Fort Platte. The physical structures have long since vanished, leaving only a historic marker located about a mile west of Fort Laramie as a reminder of its existence. Despite its physical absence, Fort Platte’s legacy endures as a symbol of the fur trade era and its impact on the American West. The story of Fort Platte, Wyoming, serves as a valuable reminder of the complex history of this region, encompassing both the opportunities and the challenges that shaped its development. The location and the description of Fort Platte, Wyoming, may be lost, but the historical marker stands as a memorial.