Oregon Trail

Immediately west of here, Oregon Trail emigrants crossed a small canyon they regarded as their most dangerous exposure to Indians. After 1854, wagon traffic had ruined important traditional Indian trails, and uncounted thousands of oxen, horses, sheep, and cattle had overgrazed a broad zone along the trail, leading to Indian resentment. A few emigrants had also shot enough Indians to provoke great bitterness. On Aug. 9, 1862, Pocatello's Shoshoni band resisted further wagon traffic here by trapping a small emigrant party in a deep gully.

Idaho · United States