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Robert Stuart April 12, 1813 Campsite

Historic Campsite

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place:4041501

place:4041499

Continuing their journey down the Platte’s right bank Ramsay Crooks and André Valle caught up to the Astorians early that morning with news from the Otto Indians. From the “two families of Ottos” at their village, they learned of the War of 1812 between the Americans and English, and also that trader “Mr Francois Dorouin” was at another Indian village “not more than” 2 days travel from them. The travelers forded Skull Creek near present day Linwood, NE and followed the Indian trail “ along the foot of the Hills” and “when ascending the ridge” a heavy rain forced them to camp East of present day Morse Bluff, NE (Rollins 1935, 233, 241 notes 4-6).

Irving’s rendition of the Otto Indian meeting and news of the War of 1812 was:

They kept on, therefore, with renewed spirit, and at the end of three days met with an Otto Indian, by whom they were confirmed in their conjecture. They learnt at the same time another piece of information, of an uncomfortable nature. According to his account, there was war between the United States and England, and in fact it had existed for a whole year, during which time they had been beyond the reach of all knowledge of the affairs of the civilized world. (1836, 2: 183)

— Irving

Attribution of Source Material

The preceding summary for the approximated April 12, 1813 Robert Stuart Campsite location is used with thanks for the public domain source of Irving 1836. Additionally, appropriate parenthetical citations are used with thanks and credit in specific summary passages and quotes for sources that are not in the public domain Rollins 1935. Errors regarding unintended and improper copyright usage will be corrected immediately following notification.

Primary Sources

Irving, Washington. Astoria, Or Anecdotes of an Enterprise Beyond the Rocky Mountains. Vol. 2. Philadelphia: Carey, Lea, & Blanchard, 1836. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Astoria_Or_Anecdotes_of_an_Enterprise_Be/t6k-AQAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0.

Rollins, Phillip A., ed. 1935. The Discovery of the Oregon Trail: Robert Stuart’s Narrative of His Overland Trip Eastward from Astoria in 1812-1813. Bison Book Edition reprinted from the original 1935 edition by Edward Eberstadt and Sons. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1995.

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Classified As

Historic Campsite