Wagon Bed Springs Chapter/SFTA

05/27/2012

Spending 8 years (1821-1829) exploring and mapping the West, and his first venture on the Santa Fe Trail, Jedediah Stong Smith is missing from the Smith, Jackson, & Sublette caravan (May 27, 1831) while on the Cimarron Route. Jedediah and Thomas "Broken-hand" Fitzpatrick strike out ahead of the caravan in search for water. Smith and Fritzpatrick split up in their search, and Jedediah is never seen again

05/24/2012

May 23rd, 1831 the Smith, Jackson & Sublette caravan reach the Arkansas River and prepare to strike out on the 24th on the "much dreaded route" of the Santa Fe Trail, the Cimarron Route. This 60 mile stretch has no reliable water source along it until you make it to the "Lower Cimarron Spring (Wagon Bed)".

05/20/2012

Fifteen days since our last post (05-04-12), when we were following the Smith, Jackson & Sublette caravan en-route to Santa Fe. We last left the caravan crossing the Big Blue River, East of Independence on May 4, 1831.
Since that time, they have crossed numerous water courses, such as, the Neosho River, Cottonwood River, Little Arkansas, Walnut Creek, just to name a few. These water crossing require extra time to cross, and certainly are delaying the caravan's progress.
Just East of the Pawnee Fork, several hundred mounted Indians made a small charge upon the caravan, but quickly retreated when the caravans "six-pounder" sounded off.
Upon reaching the Pawnee Fork at present day Larned, KS., 181 years ago today, the caraven suffered it first loss of life on May 19, 1831. William Sublette & David Jackson's clerk named "_ Minter", was in pursuit of antelope, and was out of the reach of safety from the caravan, when 12 mounted Indians came in on him, and he lost his life.
Stay tuned in, there could be more developing.......... on the Santa Fe wagon road. jt

05/09/2012

The Grant County Historical Society Annual Meeting will be held this evening May 9 @ 6:30 pm at the Historic Adobe Museum. Please enter through the Blue door on the West side. Program: Exploring the Santa Fe Trail by Jeff Trotman Everyone is welcome to attend.

05/09/2012

Everyone is invited to attend "Wagons Ho! Trail Transportation through Time". This will be a great opportunity to get the family out, and have a great time.
The event will be hosted by Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site and the Bent’s Fort Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail Association on May 12-13. Six associations will join forces to hold a special weekend at Bent's Fort, featuring displays, demonstrations, and presentations about wagons. Visitors will have the opportunity to see wagons in action on Saturday and walk the prairie beside some of the wagons on Sunday.

05/05/2012

On April 10, 1831 the Smith, Jackson, Sublette caravan consisting of 74 men and 22 mule drawn wagons left St. Louis, MO., en- route to Santa Fe. By the end of April the caravan had made it to Lexington, MO.
May 4th, 1831 - One hundred eighty one years ago today,
the caravan left the Big Blue River east of Independence.
Just before the caravan left camp at the "Big Blue", Thomas "Broken hand" Fitzpatrick made his unexpected appearance, and joined the Smith Jackson & Sublette caravan to Santa Fe.
Stay tuned, more to come! jt

04/20/2012

East & West bound trail travelers converge in the Lower Cimarron Spring area today. The Santa Fe Trail Association Board of Directors meeting to commence at 8:00am Friday morning at the Historic Adobe Museum in Ulysses. It was great to see all Santa Fe National Historic Trail enthusiast this evening!

04/15/2012

The Wagon Bed Springs Chapter will be hosting the Santa Fe Trail Association, Board of Directors Meeting and Workshop this week, April 20-21, at the Historic Adobe Museum in Ulysses, KS. Hope to see you there. jt

04/10/2012

The Wagon Bed Springs Chapter will meet this Thursday, April 12 @ 7:00 pm at the Haskell County Museum complex in Sublette, Kansas. We will go over the final plans for the upcoming Santa Fe Trail Association Board of Directors & workshop meetings, that will be held in Ulysses, Kansas April 20-21.

03/27/2012

150 years ago today, was the battle of Glorieta Pass, March 26-28 1862

03/26/2012

03/20/2012

Just a reminder about the meeting to finalize the plans for the upcoming Santa Fe Trail Association Board of Directors meeting & workshop that will be hosted by the Wagon Bed Springs Chapter on April 19-22.

Our planning meeting will be at Alejandro's Restaurant in Ulysses tomorrow, Tuesday March 20 @ 6:30 pm. We will be meeting in the main dining area instead of the back. Hope to see you there. Have a "Swale Day" jt