John Wesley Ford, Jr. and family.

Republished from an older blog of mine (with permission =). Enjoy.

(Image from Boatwright's A History of Hokes Bluff)

We draw our strength from those who came before us, just as those we leave behind will look to us. Sadly, so many times the stories of the past have been lost and names are forgotten.

From time to time it is good to pull the old books from the shelf, blow off the dust and remember.

Through my research, I have found at minimum eight ancestors who fought for the Confederacy during the Late War that is a direct lineage.  Hailing from Alabama, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Louisiana, these men in many cases sacrificed it all to protect their homeland.  If any owned slaves it is not documented, or at least I have not found any.  These men fought, in the words of an unknown soldier, "because you [Northern soldiers] are down here."

One such soldier was John Wesley Ford Jr.  John's parents, John Wesley Ford Sr. and Sarah Ann Garrett were from Georgia, having, we believe winning land in the 1806 land lottery, and had a family of 9 children.  Before that, they hailed from South Carolina.  John and Sarah moved to the Hokes Bluff area of Alabama, near present-day Gadsden, in the 1840s as "Alabama Fever" took hold and Anglos flooded the lands recently opened for settlement by the Indian Removal Act.  They built their home in what would become known as Ford Valley, although they were not the wealthiest or even the largest landowners in the area.  They become some of the first members of the Liberty Baptist Church (Later First Baptist of Hokes Bluff)

John Wesley Jr. was born in 1832 and was young when the family settled in Alabama.  The whole family, like so many of the Southern folks in those days, were farmers.    The 1860 Census lists JW Ford as a grocery merchant as well with about $1000 in real estate.  By the outbreak of war, JW and his wife Martha Edge Ford had three children (Sarah, John Arnold, and James).

When war came to Alabama, JW and his brothers enlisted.  The whole family had pulled up stakes and moved en masse, and as such, they went to war together.  JW joined the 51st Alabama Partisan Rangers, and saw action under Captain John T. Morgan, and known locally as Morgan's Raiders.  The 51st was assigned to General Joseph Wheeler and later General Nathan Bedford Forrest and General Edmund Pettus.  At Chickamauga, JW was wounded, and according to the oral histories was unconscious for many days.  When he awoke sometime later he found his hand partially gone from the battlefield wound.  The injury troubled him the rest of his life.  He returned home sometime after that and discovered that Union troops had burned the house and barn.  All the livestock, chickens, and geese were carted off to feed the raiding soldiers. One mule named Beck could not be caught because he would have nothing to do with men.  It is said that for JW to catch the old mule he'd have to borrow his wife's dress or aprons.

Martha died in 1866.  JW married another Martha - Martha Wesson.  They had five children.  One child, Edmund Pettus, was named after his old commander.

Among the other children of JW and Martha Wesson was Dr. William Franklin Ford.  Born in 1868 Doc Ford was an old-time country doctor that expressed appreciation for this old horse and buggy even after he had a car.  Especially during hard times, Doc Ford would take payment in barter, such as a bushel of corn or eggs.   One particular story told of Doc Ford, or "Uncle William" as he was sometimes called, treating an elderly Black man who could not pay for treatment.  Being an honest sort, the elderly gentleman told him so. "You can fish, can't you?" replied Doc.  "Yes sir, I can."  "Well, you just bring me a nice mess of fish when you can, and that will be my fee."   Years later the elderly gentleman was rumored to say that "I ain't never seen the Lord, but he surely must look jest a little like Doc Ford."  William Franklin Ford died in 1948, still practicing until the end. His two sons became doctors as well.

John Wesley Ford had several brothers that also went off to war, and served faithfully with the Confederacy.  JW's next brother, Elijah Perrin joined the 2nd Alabama Cavalry was wounded at Kennesaw Mountain and died in a hospital in Atlanta.  He is buried in Oakwood Cemetary in that city.

James Ford joined Co. A of the 28th Alabama Regiment. He was wounded at Chattanooga and died as a prisoner of war in a POW camp there.

William Franklin Ford (of whom no doubt the above-mentioned Doc Ford was named) served in Co. E of the 30th Alabama Infantry, achieving the Rank of Corporal like his brother Elijah.  He was wounded near New Hope Church but survived the war and returned home to marry.

The youngest child was named Newton.  Born in 1847 he was only 14 or so when war came to Alabama.  He apparently lied about his age since the veterans roll had him listed as born in 1843.  Other records, however, do not bear this out.  Enlisting in 1862, he was 15.  He enlisted in the 30th Alabama Infantry, like his brother William, and like his brother returned home at war's end.

From here the family does what so many did - left.  Some, like Doc Ford, remained in the area and had children and did the best they could with what followed.  Others went to Texas or Oklahoma (then Indian Territory).  One of JW Ford's sons, John Arnold, is my connection to the family.  Moving west he opened a Mercantile store in Savannah, Oklahoma, called J.A. Ford and Sons (Apparently he took after his father, the grocer).  His son James Wesley later married Jennie Gooden of Eureka, Texas, and they settled down in Corsicana to raise two children.  James Wesley (JW also) ran "My Place" service station in Corsicana until the end of World War II, where he bought approximately 600 acres in Navarro County and took up farming.  To this day most of his descendants work in some compacity on the legacy of James Wesley.

We gather strength from those who come before, and when I question if the search for truth and the correcting of the falsehoods that some people in "academia" try to pass off as gospel is worth the heartache and frustration, I look at these families and remember.  They can no longer tell their story so I will have to do it for them.

Find-A-Grave for JW Ford Jr.


Sources:  Boatwright, Jill Braddy. The History of Hokes Bluff and Surrounding Areas.  AlanDavesPublishing; Virginia Beach. 2013

Unknown early history of Hokes Bluff, Alabama.  From a photocopy of the chapter relevant to the family was sent to me by a cousin long dead.  Bibliographical information was not included.

1860 United States Census.

Movie: A River Runs Through It.

I pulled from my collection the movie, "A River Runs Through It," tonight, and there are several reasons that I love this film. Based on the book by Norman Maclean,

1) It is a period piece that is well done and made at a time when movies did not rely on special effects, language, and gore.

2) It takes place in an area of the world that I have come to greatly love, and cannot return to often enough - the American West.

and

3) It is a fly-fishing movie, as well as good Americana.

I cannot say how long ago I first saw the film, but it has been a long time.  One of Brad Pitts's first movies, it tells the story of two brothers - sons of a stern Presbyterian minister coming of age in the early-20th century - and how they took two very different paths.  Yet in common was always fishing.

I have always loved fishing, yet I do not get to do it much.  For years up until just a few years ago, we traveled to Branson, Missouri, to fish Lake Taneycomo.  And always before we traveled, or while we were there, it was an annual tradition to revisit "A River Runs Through It."

Perhaps it is a marriage between history and nature that gives the movie its appeal to me.  If you have a few hours to spend in cinematic pursuits, check out this Robert Redford film.  It is not a happy, uplifting film, but it is a pretty one with a nostalgic flavor that in some ways confirms that I was born in the wrong era of history. 

Perhaps, before too many days pass, I will wet a line again.

Book Review! Journal of a Trapper, by Osborne Russell

One thing that most people know about me is that I cannot resist buying books.  It has gotten me into trouble more than once and my bookshelves have more than one book that I fully intend to read someday but just have not gotten to yet.

While on vacation this year we found a book that, out of hundreds of books at the Museum of the Fur Trade, caught our attention.  It just so happens that I got to read it first!  The book, titled in full is called Journal of a Trapper: Nine Years in the Rocky Mountains, 1834 - 1843.

There are many editions of this book.  This was just an image of one of them I was able to find

I have become increasingly drawn to memoirs, and my newfound interest in the early history of the West made this book a good fit.  Osborne Russell was born in Maine, planned to go to sea until he actually tried it, then went west to spend nine years in the Yellowstone region.  What made this book all the more interesting to me is that he described places that my family and I got to see last year on our own wanderings to Yellowstone and its vicinity.  I addition, my next reading selection, "Empire of Shadows: The Epic Story of Yellowstone" by George Black references Russell a great deal. (I am pretty sure that I will do a review of this one later).

Let me first say that "Nine Years" is not an action-packed work.  It is, for all intents and purposes, a travel journal.  Most of the text reads like an itinerary:  moved 25 miles to camp by "x" creek or "y" valley, for example.  But in the movements and tales, he gives great insight into the fur trade, trading companies, American Indian tribes and degrees of relations between them, and the very nature of the region.  

For a detailed analysis of the book, click here.

One thing that struck me was just how many trappers there seem to be, and how many of the trappers and hunters had very positive relations with many (but not all) of the tribes.  

If you are interested in the American West prior to the War Between the States, this is one to check out!  

Summer Journeys, Pt. 5 - Rocky Mountain National Park and Capulin Volcano

I can honestly say that our little campsite in the Glacier Basin in Rocky Mountains National Park was a highlight of this trip.  My only regret is that we had not been able to plan for a longer stay.

Notice the bear safe in the foreground!

After reaching the park late in the day, we set camp up quickly and fixed supper.  Sadie and I walked the "C" loop where we were camped.  The air was cool at the high elevation.  After we ate, we stowed our cooler, stove, and food box in the bear safe and enjoyed the views that surrounded us.

Day 7 was an eventful one.  We got up early (5 am again) since none of us have fully gotten used to sleeping in a tent when the sun comes up at 4:30 and our biological clocks are still on central time.  I was up before everyone else and took some pictures of the surrounding mountains as the sun began to light them.  By the time the coffee was made everyone was up.  I fixed breakfast quickly, then we visited the park visitor center near Estes Park.  The ranger that we spoke with was from Texas, now living in Boulder, and she gave me some advice on summer internships and jobs with the National Park Service - something definitely to look into.  She also gave us some advice on hikes that we could do on our short visit here.

Rocky Mountain coffee!

Panorama 

Early morning visitor.

As mentioned, the visitor center is near Estes Park, and since we are low on supplies we went to Safeway, which was near the Stanley Hotel.  A tour of the historic inn would have to wait, however, as we decided to head into the park again and hike to Sprague Lake.  One of the trailheads was in our campground, so we drove to group camping and lit out through some beautifully forested walkways to the alpine lake.

Last year when in Yellowstone, Sadie kept referring to the rocky shoreline of Yellowstone Lake as a "beach," and Sprague Lake was no different.    It took us a while to circle the lake because Sadie kept wanting to wade in its cool waters.  The mountains which rose above the lake were the stuff of dreams. There were many people here, however, since one side of the lake was near a major road, but the area was large enough that no one got in each other's way.

Say "Family Christmas Card!"

 The Continental Divide from Sprague Lake

 We returned to camp the way we came, and the drove Trail Ridge Road, which takes the avid adventurer above 12,000 feet and provided some of the most majestic views of the park.  The elevation was hard on us low-landers, however.  The temperature also dropped at times into the low 40's and a dash of snow fell at one point as we walked to the overlooks near the top. We turned at the Alpine Visitor Center at the pass, then came back down again to hang out in camp.

Storm coming across the mountains while on Trail Ridge Road

Snow!

Another vista!

This little marmot was a camera hound!

While fixing supper in the evening we were visited by two elk who wandered through camp as if we were not there.  Stephanie ran for her camera, careful to keep the car in between her and the wildlife.  After eating, Sadie played with her horses in the dirt, making up stories that went on for hours.  This was her favorite pastime when in camp!

Oh, the imagination of a child!

We read a bit more of "Little House," and Sadie turned in.  Stephanie and I sat outside the tent and enjoyed the views, wishing we could have gotten another night, but the weekends were full and therefore, bookended our trip.

Day 8 was an early one again, but we had bought supplies to make breakfast in camp, so we fixed Canadian bacon and southwestern eggs with coffee and made plans for the day.  We knew we wanted to hike another trail, and Alberta Falls was by all accounts an easy one that didn't take much time but had good views.  The trailhead was between our campground and Bear Lake, a very congested area, and the park provided park-and-ride services, but we thought that being early we could find a parking spot; we were wrong.  All lots were full, so we returned to Glacier Basin to catch the bus.  We were among the first there, but by the time the bus came, there was quite the line.  It didn't take long to get to the trailhead, and us three offloaded with many others.  The trail was not a bad one, and at the falls Sadie and I climbed the rocks to near the top.  Stephanie stayed a bit lower with her camera.

Visitors to camp.

The beauty of the mountains

At Alberta Falls!

Once back down we caught the park-and-ride again, and the line at the bus stop where we got off was amazing.  Back in camp we broke down the tent and packed the car for the trip home.  The couple at the site next to us were breaking down as well, and we visited with them for a short time.  They come back each year or try to.  We had lunch and hit the road by noon, none too anxious to leave this beautiful place!  I know I mentioned more than once my desire to get back here again, perhaps before the end of summer.

We took Hwy 7 by the perimeter of the park and went through Nederland (I had to ask directions there) and Central City, bypassed Denver and headed south the Pueblo where we had our reservations for the night.  We were all tired, but the decision was made to go all the way home the next day.  

Up early with breakfast in the hotel, and on the road again!  The high point of our trip was Capulin Volcano National Monument, and we hiked into the vent, and then around the rim of the crater.  It was a tough walk, and we spent a little over an hour on our hikes.  Sadie got another ranger badge and got to wear the rangers "flat hat" as she took the oath.  Stephanie had stayed in the car to make sandwiches, and I had left my phone so much to my regret we didn't get a picture.

From the crater rim at Capulin.

The drive south from there into Texas was boring, and the south wind was strong and caused our gas mileage to drop tremendously.  Supper was a Taco Bell in Childress, the first fast-food we had on our trip since the first day at a McDonald's in Hillsboro.   Traffic was detoured in Ft. Worth, and it prevented us from getting home when we thought we would.  It was 12:30 before we got in the drive.

This was a great trip, but given it to do over again, I would like to have stayed a few more days in the Rocky Mountains.  There seem to be many great trails, and I have found a new favorite destination!  Our Annual Pass has definitely been worth it this year, with sixteen national parks, monuments, and sites visited this year. We will definately be going back to the west!

All of Sadie's Junior Ranger badges except Capulin, which she got on the last day.

Summer Journey Pt. 4 - Fort Laramie to Rocky Mountain National Park.

After an early departure from the Badlands, we stopped for gas and ice in Wall, the headed west again.  We did not realize it when we planned our trip that it was over 70 miles from Rapid City to the Badlands National Park, and there would be quite a bit of backtracking as we lit out for Colorado.  While the Badlands were awesome, we have seen it, and decided that we might see it while passing through again, but probably would not camp.

Stephanie found several sites that she wanted to see today.  Among them was Fort Laramie.  It was a little out of the way, but not by much.  I talked to dad on the phone and he asked if I remembered seeing Fort Laramie when I was a kid.  I vaguely did, but that was over 30 years ago.

The landscape as we passed into Wyoming was wide open grasslands and ranchlands, and there were many pickups on the road obviously meant for working the farms.  There is a stark beauty here that I am drawn to.

We arrived at Fort Laramie around lunchtime, and we unpacked our cooler and sandwich fixins at the little picnic area surrounded by cottonwood trees.  A large group was in the main part of the picnic area, so we chose a secluded little corner where we could eat in peace.

One view of the parade grounds.

Fort Laramie was much larger than I remembered, and the visitor's center was tucked away in one of the old buildings near the parade grounds.  We visited with one of the rangers, got Sadie her Junior Ranger book, watched the educational film (very good, by the way!) and set out to tour the fort.  The Junior Ranger book was, without a doubt, the most comprehensive one we have seen yet, and it took all of our effort to answer the questions on a scavenger hunt that took us to just about every building on site.  We had planned to stay no more than an hour, but we were there for two.  It was hot, but the fort was fascinating to see.  The ranger checked the answers in the Junior Ranger book (he laughed at Sadie's answer to the question, "Why would people choose to go West?" - her reply: "There are too many people back east!") and she took her Junior Ranger oath.  Sadie also got a nice collectible National Park Passport binder which can be added to as long as she cares to keep up with it.

Another view of the parade grounds

Recreated barracks, demonstrating how the troopers would have lodged

Graffiti on the wall of an officer's quarters.  This is original and painstakingly preserved by the Park Service.

Recreated camp store.  The ranger showed us a painting that had been done here by Currier and Ives, I believe, and they set it up to look just like the image.

One claim to fame for Fort Laramie was that it was a stop on the Oregon Trail.  The Trail continued west from here, and much of the roads that we traveled for a while followed the path taken by the pioneers.  At Guernsey, we turned off the road to find the wagon ruts cut by the thousands of Conestogas that carried families to the Willamette Valley.  We did not have time to hike to Register Cliff where settlers carved their names in the limestone as they went by.  That would be another stop on another trip.

There are several places where ruts can be seen, but this is one of the best preserved I am told.

The thousands of wagons that came through here certainly left their mark.

Stephanie drove for a while as we headed south for Colorado.  South of Cheyenne I took over, and the traffic picked up heavily north of Fort Collins, and remained so until we got on the road to Estes Park.  The canyon that we traveled through was deep and the road was crooked, and Stephanie commented that she was glad that she was no longer driving.  

The visitor's center that we passed by in Rocky Mountain National Park was closed by the time we go there so we decided to check that out tomorrow.  We found out campground at Glacier Basin fairly quickly, and the ranger at the entrance booth was very kind.  When we asked when the visitor's center opened so Sadie could get her Junior Ranger book, he offered to bring one to camp in just a while.  Fishing was good near the camp, he said, and he told us a story about a mountain lion that had been in the area just before the season began.  He also explained the use of the bear boxes in camp and promised to come by later.

Camp was set up quickly, and we admired the beautiful vistas from our site.  This was the loveliest place that we visited on our entire trip.  The continental divide rose above our campground, and at one point the sunset made the clouds over the mountains look like they were on fire.  

Ranger Trout came by soon after, got Sadie her book, and flipped through it with her and worked a few of the activities with her as well.  After a few minutes, he bid us a good night and rode off on his golf cart.  We settled into a cool evening, had a camp-stove supper, and turned in for more adventures the following day.

Our little camp in Glacier Basin!

Summer Journey Continued, Pt. 3 - The Badlands, South Dakota.

From the time our trip began we had, for the most part, played much by ear other than our campgrounds and destinations.  The points in between and the routes taken, however, were left to change.  

When we left out from Fort Robinson we decided to go straight north through the Oglala National Grasslands.  There was a lot of empty, barren land (but many cattle) between Crawford and the South Dakota state line.  After about an hour we stopped for gas in Hot Springs, decided against stopping at the Mammoth Site due to time constraints. Our next stop was Wind Cave National Monument, and Sadie became fascinated by the prairie dogs that built their towns along the sides of the road.  At the visitor center Sadie got her Junior Ranger book to complete on the "fairgrounds tour," and we bought her a plush prairie dog that she named Prairie Flower.  We spent several hours here, and the tour was very good, and much less scary than our trip into Cosmic Cavern some year ago.  

Prairie dogs were everywhere!

One of several large rooms in the Wind Cave tour. 

After leaving, we bypassed Rapid City and Mount Rushmore since we stopped there last year, and headed east towards The Badlands National Park.  A year ago, as we passed through the area from Omaha heading towards Rapid City we saw the mountains of The Badlands from a distance, and it had been on Stephanie's mind to get back here since.

Typical landscapes in the badlands.

Stephanie and Sadie on one of the trails

Last year in Yellowstone we hoped and hunted to get to see a Bighorn sheep.  We finally got to see one here!

Our reservations for the next two nights was at the Cedar Pass campground, near Interior, South Dakota.  To get there, you have to pass through the park, and so we stopped briefly at the visitor's center, but it was very crowded so we decided to visit it later.

The campground was different than others, in that there were no real "sites" or tent pads, so we set up as we could among the RVs there as well.  

Our view from camp towards the Pinnacles and Cedar Pass.

The RV next to us was from Alaska, and the family had two daughters.  Sadie wanted to play with them so bad but being shy, did not want to introduce herself.  Finally, one of the girls approached her, and they had a good time for a while.  At dark, the campground and the park hosted a ranger presentation on the bats of the area and their importance, as well as star-gazing, so we all went to hear it. It was fascinating, and the sky in the Badlands was so dark that the stars were extra bright.  At home, Dallas to the north and other small towns around cloud out much of the brilliance of the sky, so this was a special thing!

Day 5 was set aside for seeing the park.  We restocked the ice in our cooler at the Cedar Pass Lodge, and visited the visitor center to get Sadie's Junior Ranger workbook and our hiking stick medallions and souvenirs.  Then we hiked the Notch Trail.  This is listed as one of the most strenuous hikes, and it soon became clear why.  The trail involved a climb up a steep cliff on a wood-and-cable ladder and several steep cliffs along the path.  But the view at the end was worth it!

The ladder on Notch Trail

The next trail was Window Trail.  It was short, and there was no "window" in the rock which we expected.   The Window is the break in the mountain wall for a view of the badlands beyond.  Door Trail was next, and it was a meandering trek through the badlands following guideposts.  Many hikers were here, but it was a great look at the diversity of the area.

Vista from Door Trail

Our next destination was Wall Drug.  Last year we saw signs for 400 miles advertising Wall Drug Store.  It was huge, and we got root beer malts.  Sadie had a strawberry malt.  Then we bought some cards to play games in the camp along with a camp skillet.  Then, we drove back, hoping to stop at the Minute Men Missile Site National Monument nearby, but it closed at 4 pm, and we pulled in just as it was closing.  It would have to wait for a future trip.

Back in camp, we had new neighbors, but we did not meet them. They were older and did not come out of their camper.  We fixed supper, played a hand of Phase 10 at the picnic table, had showers at the bathhouse, read a chapter or two from "Little House on the Prairie," then went to bed.  The wind picked up in the night, and around 3:30 I was outside trying to shore up the tent wall which collapsed.  Stephanie soon joined me to help, but Sadie slept through it.  We used paracord and tied the tent to the edging posts along the road, and tried to get some sleep.  By morning, the wind had passed, but since there was the prediction of another storm early we packed up quickly and was in the car heading to our next destination before 6 am.  

Day 6 would be a long one, but a good one with many adventures.  More than I have time to tell tonight.

Summer Journeys Pt. 2 - Adventures in Fort Robinsion and surrounds

The trip to Fort Robinson, Nebraska, was a long one, but western Nebraska is much prettier than the middle part in my opinion.

The region around Crawford, where Fort Robinson is, is surrounded by bluffs and grasslands.  The Fort was built after the War Between The States as a part of the United States Indian Policy and replaced Fort Laramie as a major point of operations.  It is a sprawling place with various barracks and stables.  The main building was a troop barracks which currently houses a restaurant, gift shop, and guest rooms.  After passing a good first night in our tent, we got up early (Mountain Time Zone), had breakfast cooked in camp and sat outside awhile with our coffee.  

Our plan was to travel to Chadron about 20 miles away to visit the Museum of the Fur Trade.  Our current historical interest (mine perhaps more so than Stephanie or Sadie) is the fur trade and mountain man-era of early American History.  The museum was a great one with a large firearms collection and many exhibits, such as a reconstructed trading post and various tools and clothing common among the trappers.  We spent most of the morning there, and we bought a copy of a buckskinner's cookbook and Osbourne Russell's memoir of his time in the Rocky Mountains. We could have easily spent longer, but since we only had today and a bit of time the next day at Fort Robinson, we returned to check out what else there was to do.

The reconstructed trading post.  It was shut down by the 7th Cavalry when the proprietor was found to be selling ammunition to the Sioux and Cheyenne after the Battle of Little Bighorn.

Sadie by the entrance to the trading post.  The inside was recreated as it might have appeared in the early 1870s.

Since last summer in Yellowstone Sadie was interested in another buffalo burger, so we all decided to eat at the Fort Robinson restaurant. Stephanie and I both ordered the hot buffalo sandwiches, which were open-faced and served on Texas toast with mashed potatoes and brown gravy.  The sandwiches were delicious (and huge!) and were far beyond our expectations.  Then we checked out the various activities available at the fort.  We set our reservations for an evening jeep ride into the bluffs, then walked to the stables to see the horses.  There were so many of them, and the stables were impressive.  In one of the old stables (no longer used as such) there were rooms for activities for children, so Sadie painted ceramic figures.  Stephanie was excited to have her do this since she remembered her grandparents taking her to paint them as a kid at some other state parks in Nebraska.  This was also cottonwood season, apparently, because the falling blossoms looked like snow.

Not snow, but it looked like it!

Busted!

So why do I always get my picture made wearing blue?

Reconstructed barracks displayed to look as it would have when the cavalry was stationed here

A storm came up in the evening, and we worried that the jeep ride would be canceled, but the skies cleared and we were a bit early to catch the excursion.  We shared the ride with another couple, and the gentleman loaned Stephanie his long-distance Nikon lens since she had left hers back at camp and they both used the same model of camera.  The pictures were breathtaking, and the weather was cool and clear.  Our driver pointed out several interesting sights and told several fascinating stories, such as some details of the Cheyenne Breakout and how the Indians had fought and died on some of these same bluffs.  

A view from the bluffs.

After the ride, we bid farewell to our companions and returned to camp for a quick bite to eat, then Sadie played for a short while with a family from Omaha camped nearby.  Before long, however, another storm came up with thunder, lightning and rain.  Sadie wanted to go the bed so badly, but the storm made it impossible to walk to the bathhouse, so when it was clear the storm would not pass anytime soon, we drove to the restrooms then returned so everyone could sleep.

Day Four started early, and coffee seemed to take forever to brew in our little percolator on the cook stove. It was in the lower 40's this morning, and coffee was much needed.  After it was done, however, and since it was still before 6:30, we drove the Smiley Canyon Road to hopefully see some bison and other wildlife, but they were far off the road.  We returned, broke down the tent, and drove to see the Red Cloud Agency, walked the grounds of the old trading post, and also walked around what had been the World War II German POW camp.  My father-in-law had an interesting story that he told when he had suggested Fort Robinson to us months before: it seems that the only escape from the camp was when the Germans were told they were being sent back to Germany, and a number of POW chose then to flee.  I am not sure I would have wanted to return to post-war Germany either.

With a packed car, we set out once more about mid-morning.  Sadie loves Fort Robinson and has many times in the passing days since asked when we can return.  It will most likely be sooner than later.

Summer Journeys, part 1 - To Fort Robinson, Nebraska.

This summer has been a busy one already.  As a school teacher, the bulk of my wanderings fall within the hot, humid Texas summer months, and as such our trips tend to be out of state.

In June, my family and I traveled over 3000 miles from Texas to Nebraska (Fort Robinson) to South Dakota (Badlands National Park) and to Colorado (the Rocky Mountains National Park).  Throughout the trip we tented it.  Overall, the trip took nine days.  (I may post reviews of these campgrounds and musings later).

We are an active family and our interests are many.  History, nature, culture, and outdoor sports all fall within the realm of our enjoyments, so we travel quite a bit.  This tradition goes back to my childhood when every summer my mother and father, brother, and maternal grandparents traveled the country in a 3/4 ton van and 30-foot camper.  In the intervening years, the family vacations have continued from Tennessee to Idaho, and many other points both within and without those bounds.

This year, however, our little family of three struck out on our own since a coordinated vacation amongst several families was not possible.  We had also planned to attend the Santa Fe Trail Rendezvous in Raton, New Mexico, but since dry conditions and wildfires made a mountain man gathering too dangerous, the 'vous was canceled, so we quickly cobbled together other plans.

So, on June 6 we left home early with our Subaru Outback packed with cabin tent, bed mats, and camping gear for three.  We took a westerly route through Fort Worth and through Oklahoma and Kansas.  At Corker City, we stopped to see "the world's largest ball of twine," at Sadie's request.

We stayed our first night in Kearny, Nebraska, and had supper at a Runza restaurant, which we enjoyed very much. The Day's Inn that we stayed at was newly opened and was very nice.  We slept well in preparation for our next day's journeying.

Day Two took us to several historically-significant locations.  We took a look at a sod house at Ash Hollow and read the historical marker at the site of the Battle of Blue Water.  Chimney Rock National Historic Site was on the way, and it was neat to see a landmark used to navigate the Oregon Trail westward over 150 years ago.  Scott's Bluff, another landmark, was just north of there, so we spent some time driving to the top of cliffs to view the surrounding plains.  We spent two hours, and Sadie got the first of her Junior Ranger badges this trip.  She also got a copy of Laura Ingalls Wilder's "Little House on the Prairie."

Historical marker near the battle site.

Chimney Rock from the visitor's center.  We wished we could get closer, but it was not to be.

A view of the bluffs from an overlook

Our trusty workhorse taking a break as we enjoyed a late picnic lunch

The Bluffs from the picnic area

Mitchell Pass, where the Oregon Trail passed beneath the shadow of the bluff.  Scott's Bluff was named for an unfortunate fur trader who was left behind and died, and later buried, somewhere near the cliffs.

Day two was a long day but would prove to set a theme for our adventures.  Throughout the trip the Oregon Trail would continue to be a topic of conversation as several of our stops would be related.  At the end of the day, we arrived at Fort Robinson, Nebraska.  We pitched our tent at the Soldier's Creek campground which would be our home for the next two nights.  The night was cool and the cottonwood trees made it look like snow.  Stephanie cooked in camp and then we settled into some much-deserved rest.