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Yellowstone County History
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Sawyer’s Expedition –
Congressional Record
Sunday, April 06, 2003
These motions form a part of the wagon-road construction granted to Col. James
Sawyer in 1865. It is reported in most all publications and books that he
received $50,000 from Congress for its construction. The associated documents
established that this amount for that portion of the road hasn’t been
factually located. The 39th Congress (1st Session)
reportedly passed House Executive Document No. 58 establishing the actual
construction. It appears that the original funding of $50,000 established on
March 3, 1865, was for two roads, and that additional funds be diverted from
the Cheyenne Road in Dakota to the Niobrara road being constructed by Sawyer.
HR 107 stopped these funding diversions in 1866 for future road improvements.
Sawyers didn’t actually build a road, and there is no record of any
connecting routes created by Brookings during this time frame.
 Sawyer
started out from Sioux City and traveled to
where Turtle River
(Keya Paha
River) intersects with the Missouri. From there
they went to the mouth of the Niobrara River and started the actual
construction. Sawyer was determined to travel into the Powder River area,
against advice given by General Connor to stay out of that region. On June 13,
1865 he started out, traveling west along the south side of the Niobrara River.
On the 12th of July they left the river and headed northwest towards
the Powder River. When he was about 50 miles east of the river his train was
attacked. This is where he and his military escort disagreed as to what should
be accomplished. They changed direction and were escorted to Fort Connor by Lt.
Williford, where a new military escort was assigned to lead them to the Big
Horn River. This initial segment was not a very well chosen route, but after he
presented his case to the Secretary of the Interior in 1866 (Sawyer’s
Diary of the 1865 Wagon Train Travel), he was exonerated. There is no mention
in his report that he performed any construction work on the “Branch Road
to Omaha” as requested by the Act of March 3rd, 1865, for
which he received $50,000. Only the portion where he intersected the Connor’s
Road (details provided in main document) from Laramie to Fort Connor and on to
Virginia City is considered to be the “Bozeman Trail.” This route
went from the Big Horn River
to a point across from where Billings
was later built (Sacrifice Cliff.) Note: Sawyers’
1865 Trail is marked #3, the 1866 trail is #4. Original Kimmel map is 4’
x 2’ in size.
The Military
Bozeman Trail was created in segments during the summers of 1865 & 1866:
1. General
Connor established the route from Fort Laramie to Fort Connor (later renamed
Fort Reno), picking up from where the Platte Road crossed the North Platte
River. Jim Bridger was the guide who laid out the route in 1865. [Connor Road]
2. James
A. Sawyer established a route continuing on from Fort Connor in 1865 after
being rescued from his funded ill-fated road-building attempt from Niobrara to
Fort Reno by Captain Williford and General Connor’s soldiers. [This is
not considered to be the Military Route that was created the following year]
3. Colonel
Carrington established the route from Fort Reno to Fort CF Smith in 1866. Jim
Bridger was the guide who laid out the route. Superintendent (Col.) James A.
Sawyer followed slightly behind this group with his wagon train. He then
established portions of the route from Fort CF Smith to Clark’s Fork
through the South Hills-Pryor Mountain valley in 1866. This was not a funded
road-building effort, but merely the creation of a trail that shortened his
previous pathway across the Big Horn area.
Jim Bridger followed just behind the Sawyer Train; but took a slightly
different route when he reached Pryor Creek. This is the Military Route. The
two routes are identical for about 90% of the distance across the valley. Not
shown are the various 1863-1865 Bozeman Trails that crisscross the Big Horn Valley area to the Yellowstone River.
[Bozeman & Sawyer Trails]
4. Nelson
Story and Perry McAdow, merchants from Gallatin Valley,
established a new wagon road in 1866-1867 across the South
Hills and on to Fort CF Smith for purposes of trade. This route is not
fully documented, but appears to consist of pathway across the southern edge of
the South Hills and the valley floor from Pryor Creek to Fort CF Smith. [Route is still under investigation]
5.
Jim Bridger
initially established the route from Clark’s Fork to Virginia City before
their existence earlier during his trapping days (1830-1831) and again in 1864.
John Bozeman established variants in the route (Bozeman Pass) during the 1863
and 1864 time frame leading to Bozeman City, so as to make the trail better
suited for wagons. [Bridger Trail] Not shown is the 1864 Bridger Trail that
passed through Pryor Gap, and its associated cutoffs.
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Date of Motion
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Author
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Content of Motion
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Resolution
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February 18, 1864
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Mr. A. W. Hubbard, House Journal
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Resolved, That the Committee on Roads and Canals be instructed to inquire
into the expediency of constructing a wagon-road from the
Missouri river, by the way of the Niobrara valley, to Virginia City,
in the Territory of Idaho.
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By unanimous consent, submitted the following resolution; which was read,
considered, and agreed to.
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March 21, 1864
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Congressman Wilson
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Presented joint resolutions of the legislature of the State
of Iowa, in relation to the location and construction of a wagon road
from a point at or near the mouth of the Niobrara, in Nebraska, to
Gallatin, in Idaho Territory in which were referred to the Committee on Roads
and Canals and ordered to be printed.
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So ordered
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February 4, 1865
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Senator Wade
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Ordered, That the Committee on Territories be discharged from the further
consideration of resolutions of the legislature of Iowa, in favor of the
construction of a military and wagon road from the west side of
the Missouri river, at or near the mouth of the Niobrara river, in
Nebraska Territory, to Gallatin, in Idaho Territory
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That it be referred to the Committee on Military Affairs and the Militia.
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February 9, 1865
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Mr. Arnold, from the Committee
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Requested that wagon roads (HR 752) be constructed: From Niobrara
to mouth of Turtle Hill River, and thence to Virginia City, with branch to
Omaha.
From Big Sioux River, via Yankton, &c.
From western boundary of Minnesota to Big Sheyenne River.
From Virginia City to Lewiston, in Idaho.
Appropriation, and apportionment thereof.
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Sent to House for Review
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February 24, 1865
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Mr. Wilkinson, Senator
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Introduced a bill (S472) to construct wagon roads:
From Niobrara to mouth of Turtle Hill River, and
thence to Virginia City, with branch to Omaha.
From Big Sioux River, via Yankton, &c.
From western boundary of Minnesota to Big Sheyenne River.
From Virginia City to Lewiston, in Idaho.
Appropriation, and apportionment thereof.
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Requested that $140,000 be committed
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March 3, 1865
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Public Acts 38th Congress, Session II
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Additional pay to come from unexpended balances.
Certain wagon-roads authorized in Idaho, Montana, Dakota, and
Nebraska.
From Niobrara to mouth of Turtle Hill River, and thence to Virginia
City, with branch to Omaha.
From Big Sioux River, via Yankton, &c.
From western boundary of Minnesota to Big Sheyenne River.
From Virginia City to Lewiston, in Idaho.
Appropriation, and apportionment thereof.
Note: Dakota Territory History 1861-1875 by Weston
Goodspeed, 1904:
Col. James A. Sawyer was
appointed Superintendent of the Niobrara Road and awarded $50,000.
W. W. Brookings
was appointed Superintendent to construct the route from Minnesota to
intersect with the Sawyer route, and was granted $30,000.
($20,000 was initially awarded)
Col. Gideon C. Moody was
placed in charge of the Sioux City to Big Cheyenne, and awarded $25,000.
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Appropriation, and apportionment to roads thereof. (Page
1, Page
2, from 38th Congress, Session II, Chapters 99 & 100, 1865
Published Acts)
$50k Virginia City to Lewiston
$50k Niobrara to Omaha branch and Virginia
City
$20k Big Cheyenne to Niobrara
$10k Bridge on Big Sioux River
$Balance as available to improvements to Sioux City and MN to MT roads
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January 8, 1866
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Mr. A. W. Hubbard, Representative
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Introduced
a bill (H. R. 107) to provide for the improvement of the wagon road
from Niobrara to Virginia City, to the Committee on Roads and Canals.
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Bills were further introduced, read a first and second time, and referred.
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February 16, 1866
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Congressman A W Hubbard
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Submitted the following resolution (SR27):
Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be directed to communicate to
the House of Representatives the report of Colonel James A. Sawyers,
superintendent of the wagon road from Niobrara to
Virginia City, (made in 1865,) of his explorations, survey, and location of
said road;
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By unanimous consent which was read, considered, and agreed to.
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March 5, 1866
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Speaker of the House
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A letter from the Secretary of the Interior, in answer to a resolution of
the 16th ultimo, in regard to the report of Colonel Sawyers, superintendent
of the wagon road from Niobrara to Virginia City; which
was laid on the table
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So ordered to be printed.
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April 30, 1866
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Mr. Hitchcock, Representative
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Introduced a bill (HR 539) to provide $50,000 for the survey and
construction of a road from Columbus, Nebraska to Virginia City via the
most practicable route.
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Issued to Committee on the Public Lands
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May 4, 1866
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Mr Burleigh, House Journal
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Submitted the following preamble and resolution;
Whereas an act of Congress was passed March 3, 1865, entitled "An act
to provide for the construction of certain wagon roads in the
Territories of Idaho, Montana, Dakota, and Nebraska;" and whereas by
said act the sum of $20,000 was appropriated for the construction of a wagon
road from a point at or near the mouth of the Big Sioux river, via
Yancton, Dakota Territory, to a point at or near the mouth of the Big
Cheyenne river, thence up said river to its main fork, thence up the north
fork to a point of intersection with the road from Niobrara;
and whereas the work on said wagon road is reported to have
been commenced and far advanced in 1865 by orders from the Secretary of the
Interior, during the prosecution of which work treaties are claimed to have
been made with the Indian tribes occupying the country through which said road
is located, by which the right of way was secured to the United States; and
whereas the Secretary of the Interior is represented to have ordered a
suspension of work upon said Cheyenne road, and required the
superintendent having charge of the construction of the same to turn over all
the stock, implements, and money appropriated and purchased for the said road
to the superintendent of the Niobrara road, whereby the opening
and construction of the Cheyenne road are prevented, to the great
injury of the Territory of Dakota.
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Therefore, Resolved, That the Secretary of the Interior be requested to
inform this house whether the work on the said road has been arrested
or interrupted by his orders, and if so, for what reason the same has been
done; whether any of the moneys appropriated thereto have been diverted to
the uses of the Niobrara or any other road mentioned in said
act, with the authority, if any, in that case for said diversion
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June 22, 1866
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Congressman Defrees
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From the Committee on Roads and Canals, to whom was referred the bill of
the House (H. R. 107) to provide for the improvement of the wagon-road
from Niobrara to Virginia City.
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By unanimous consent reported with a recommendation that it do not pass.
So ordered and bill be laid on the table.
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February 28, 1870
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Mr. Spink, House Journal
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A bill (H. R. 1394) to amend the act of the 3d of March, 1865, providing for
the construction of certain wagon roads in the Territory of Dakota, to
the Committee on Railways and Canals and ordered to be printed.
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So printed.
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February 12, 1872
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Mr. Jones, Congressman
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Introduced a bill (HR 1512) to construct a road from Laramie to Fort
Fetterman, Cost not exceed $10,000.
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Sent to Committee on Territories.
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