Russell leaving for the Rocky Mountains

[Leifer]

Russell leaving for the Rocky Mountains and mouth of the Columbia River after joining up with the Columbia River Fishing and Trading Company.

"...On the morning of the 28th we were all equipped and mounted hunter like: about forty men leading two loaded horses each were marched out in double file with joyous hearts enlivened by anticipated prospects: led by Mr. Wyeth and persevering adventurer and lover of Enterprise whilst the remainder of the party with twenty head of extra horses and as many cattle to supply emergencies brot. up the rear under the direction of Capt. Joseph Thing and eminent navigator and fearless son of Neptune who had been employed by the Company in Boston to accompany the party and measure the route across the Rocky Mountains by Astronomical observation..." -- Journal of a Trapper


The way Russell describes this just makes me smile. "Persevering adventurer and lover of Enterprise" and "eminent navigator and fearless son of Neptune"

Something else that caught my eye was "and as many cattle to supply emergencies". I knew they'd take a goodly number of supplies with them on the trip out, but had never considered that they'd drive cattle with them. Maybe this is just evidence of the many things I'm going to continue to learn while I read, but that statement jumped out on me. From what you all have read, how common of a thing was this?

Leifer

[Rod]

Yes, cattle, and in at least one case, a herd of sheep. By the 1830s, the buffalo tended to be further out on the plains, and they needed something to eat until they got out that far. There's one account of driving a milk cow all the way out to rendezvous and back. When he headed to rendezvous at the forks of Horse Creek and Green River, Charles Larpeneur's job was driving a herd of cattle, although they weren't for eating, but to supply the planned Ft. William at the mouth of the Yellowstone---so those cows (the bull was bitten by the rabid wolf and died) went from Missouri to western Wyoming, then back through South Pass, up the Wind river/Big Horn River, down the Yellowstone, before arriving at their new home. Bet that was some stringy, lean beef!

Rod

[Duane]

makes me curious as to what breed of they were..

[Chuck Burrows]

Most likely one of he milk/meat shorthorn breeds such as Durhams or Milking Shorthorns which were popular amongst the settlers at the time...