Freemont's Expeditions - Page 2

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They had been gradually and regularly ascending in their progress westward, and on the evening of the 14th were 265 miles by their traveling road from the mouth of the Kansas River. At this point the party was divided, and on the 16th, Fremont, with 15 men, proceeded in advance, bearing a little out from the river. That night he encamped on Solomon's Fork of the Smoky Hill River, along whose tributaries he continued to travel for several days. On the 19th he crossed the Pawnee Road to the Arkansas River, and on the afternoon of June 30th he found himself overlooking a valley, where, about 10 miles distant, "the south fork of the Platte River was rolling magnificently along, swollen with the waters of the melting snows."

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Smoky Hill River today, April, 2009, Kathy Weiser.

Kit Carson

This image available for photographic prints  and downloads HERE!

On the night of September 2nd, it reached the remote headwaters of the Arkansas River. Two days later Fremont passed across the divide into the valley of the Grand River, and camped on Piney River, where a goodly supply of fish was caught. The marvelous beauty of the surroundings were specially noted by the scientists accompanying the party. Continuing westward without noteworthy incident, the party reached Great Salt Lake early in October, and after great hardships, Sutter's Fort in California was reached in December. The following year Fremont assisted the Californians in gaining their independence.

A fourth expedition, commenced in 1848, was taken at Freemont’s own expense, and ended in finding a passage to California from the east along the headwaters of the Rio Grande River. This was later followed by the Southern Pacific Railroad. He also fitted out upon his account a fifth expedition (1853), designed to perfect the results of the fourth, by fixing upon the best route for a national highway from the valley of the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean.

These expeditions involved great hardships, but every suffering was rewarded by marvelous disclosures of the geographical variety and wealth of the country through which they passed. Kansas and the regions to the west were almost unknown up to this time.

His report of the resources found attracted the attention of the people of the East, and from the time of these explorations may he dated the rapid influx of immigrants into Kansas and the speedy settlement of the territory. Traversing the state as he did, from its eastern to its western boundary, his complete reports turned the tide of home-seekers in that direction.

Compiled and edited by Kathy Weiser/Legends of Kansas, updated April, 2010.