Category Archives: Bidwell-Bartleson Party

Monday, 26th. Left Green river – moved off in a W. direction – distance 12 miles — encamped on a branch of Green river called Ham’s fork. Land high, dry, and barren, except upon the streams, which afford grass in … Continue reading →

John Bidwell recorded some prices in his entry for July 25, 1841. I will not omit to state the prices of several kinds of mountain goods. Powder which is sold by the cupful (pint) is worth $1 per cup. Lead … Continue reading →

Sunday, 25th. Left the rendezvous this morning, 6 of the company, viz., John Gray, Peyton, Frye, Rogers, Jones, and Romaine, started to return to the United States. Baker stopped in the mountains to trap; crossed Green river and descended it … Continue reading →

Saturday, 24th. Remained at this encampment and continued our traffic with the hunters. Chiles sold his oxen, 2 yoke, and wagon, another also was left. The hunters, or fur trappers, bought all the alcohol brought by Bartleson and others, as … Continue reading →

Friday, 23rd. Went to Green river — distance 8 miles — spent the remainder of the day trading with the hunters. I don’t imagine John Bartleson had any problem selling the whiskey he brought with him to Fraeb’s hunters.

Wednesday, 21st. Descended Big Sandy about 15 miles and again encamped upon it — no grass, had a little rain this evening but not enough to lay the dust. There’s a little grass in this picture, but you can see … Continue reading →

Tuesday, 20th. Traveled about 18 miles in a circuitous direction, first west and then south. Country was extremely dry and dusty — no game seen but a few antelope — encamped on Big Sandy, having come about 18 miles. Or, … Continue reading →

Monday, 19th. 15 miles took us on to Big Sandy, which is likewise a branch of Green river — 2 buffalo were killed. They are roughly at the halfway point of their journey. They have been traveling three months, and … Continue reading →

Sunday, 18th. Left Sweet Water this morning, course SW. Crossed the divide which separates the water of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, and after a travel of 20 miles reached Little Sandy, a branch of Green river — 1 buffalo … Continue reading →

Saturday, 17th. Traveled about 5 miles — still on Sweet Water. Not all days are exciting. Plenty of days on the trail were humdrum — travel a few miles, hunt for game, try to preserve some meat, take care of … Continue reading →