Chronological List Of Fort Laramie History

1812 - Robert Stuart and the returning Astorians are the first
recorded white men to pass by what will become Fort Laramie. While camped at the
mouth of the Laramie River they leave the first recorded description of the
area. Without knowing it they discover what will become the Oregon Trail.

1821 - Jacque Laramee is killed on the Laramie River somewhere near
the present site of Fort Laramie. Several geographical landmarks later take his
name.

1830 - Smith, Jackson, and Sublette haul supplies to the annual
rendezvous by wagon, thus becoming the first to pass the future site of Fort
Laramie and the first on what will become the Oregon Trail.

1834 - William Sublette and Robert Campbell establish a log-stockaded
fort at the confluence of the Laramie and North Platte rivers to trade with the
Indians, and name it Fort William (the first Fort Laramie).

1835 - Fort William is sold to Jim Bridger, William Fitzpatrick, and
Milton Sublette.

1836 - Fort William is sold to the American Fur Company.

1836 - Elizabeth Spaulding and Narcissa Whitman visit Fort Laramie,
and become the first white women to pass over the Oregon Trail, and the first
known white women in the future state of Wyoming.

1841 - A rival fort, adobe-walled Fort Platte is built on the Platte
River within a mile of Fort William. In response to the construction of Fort
Platte, the American Fur Company replaces deteriorating log Fort William with a
new fort, Fort John, also made of adobe (the second Fort Laramie).

1841 - The Bidwell-Bartelson party passes Fort Laramie enroute to
California, the first true wagon train bound for California.

1842 - Lieutenant John C. Fremont passes on his first exploratory trip
to the Rockies.

1843 - The Cow Column passes Fort Laramie. This train represented the
first of the wagon trains to Oregon.

1845 - Colonel Stephen W. Kearny councils with the Indians at Fort
Laramie to insure safe passage for the growing tide of emigrants traveling along
the trail. This is the first peace council at Fort Laramie.

1845 - Fort Platte is abandoned

1846 - The Donner Party passes through Fort Laramie on their fateful
trip to the west.

1847 - Brigham Young leads the first of the Mormon emigrants through
Fort Laramie in search of their Zion, the valley of the Great Salt Lake.

1849 - Fort John (Fort Laramie) is purchased by the Army for $4,000 on
June 26th. The first garrison is comprised of two companies of Mounted Riflemen
and one company of the 6th Infantry.

1850 - The high tide of emigration passes Fort Laramie, nearly 50,000
people.

1851 - Fort Laramie Treaty of 1851 (Horse Creek Treaty) is signed.

1853 - The Platte Ferry, just north of Fort Laramie, is seized by the
Sioux. A skirmish results between Fort Laramie soldiers and the Sioux with the
result of three Indians killed, three wounded, and two taken prisoner.

1854 - The Grattan Fight takes place on August 19th, after Brevet
Second Lieutenant Grattan tries to arrest a Miniconjou brave for the killing of
an emigrant's cow, eight miles east of Fort Laramie. All whites at the fight
died. This is the first major battle of the Northern Plains Indian Wars.

1856 - Mormon emigrants pass Fort Laramie using "handcarts," the first
of many handcart pioneers.

1857 - A large column of troops move through Fort Laramie enroute to
Utah to suppress the rebellious Mormons.

1860 - April 6th, the Pony Express starts its express mail delivery
through Fort Laramie.

1861 - The continental telegraph line is completed. The telegraph runs
through Fort Laramie. The Pony Express ceases operations.

1864 - The only recorded attack on Fort Laramie. A scout detachment
unsaddled their mounts on the Parade ground and approximately 30 warriors dashed
through the fort, stealing the command's horses. No injuries or loss of life
were reported.

1865 - Powder River Expedition is organized at Fort Laramie under
General Patrick E. Connor to punish Indians in the region.

1866 - Peace Council is held at Fort Laramie to secure the right to
use the Bozeman Trail. The peace council fails after Colonel Henry B. Carrington
arrives with troops to establish Bozeman Trail forts. Start of Red Cloud's War.

1866 - Fetterman Fight takes place on December 21, and 81 soldiers die
at the battle. John Phillips and Daniel Dixon start their ride to Deer Creek
Station. Phillips continues on to Fort Laramie, arriving (so goes the legend)
during a Christmas Night party at Old Bedlam.

1868 - Red Cloud wins his war with the government and a peace council
is held at Fort Laramie, resulting in the signing of the Treaty of 1868, which
sets aside the Great Sioux Reservation.

1874 - Gold is discovered in the Black Hills, causing a rush of miners
to travel through Fort Laramie up the Cheyenne-Deadwood Trail.

1875 - A bridge is built over the North Platte River, the first iron
bridge in Wyoming.

1876 - The campaign of 1876 begins, involving troops from Fort Laramie
under the command of General George Crook. Fort Laramie troops fight in the
Reynolds Fight of March 17th, and the Battle of the Rosebud on June 17th.

1883 - Last cavalry company leaves Fort Laramie, only infantry troops
remain.

1889 - Order to abandon Fort Laramie is issued August 31.

1890 - Last garrison of the post marches away on March 2nd. A public
auction is held on April 9th to sell the remaining property and buildings. On
April 20th the fort is officially abandoned.