The outbreak of the Civil War led to the reduction of garrisons at all outposts. This, coupled with a bloody uprising of the Sioux in Minnesota in 1862, inspired the Plains Indians, nursing many grievances, to go on the warpath. In the spring of 1862, many stage stations along the Platte route were raided and burned, To meet this threat, volunteer cavalry from Utah rushed east to the South Pass area, and the Eleventh Ohio Volunteer Cavalry under Col. Wm. O. Collins was ordered west to Fort Laramie. These raids also prompted the moving of the overland mail and stage route south to the Overland Trail and the establishment of Fort Halleck 120 miles to the southwest. During this period, troops at Fort Laramie continued to protect the vital telegraph line through South Pass and a still considerable volume of travelers, principally to Utah. In July of 1865 the 11th Ohio Volunteer Cavalry received orders to protect telegraph lines towards the South Pass. Hd Qrs Fort Laramie, D.T. July 3rd/65 Orders No 664 Lieut. Harlan, Co. I, 11th O.V.C., will proceed with 15 men of his company and 15 men Co. L, 11” O.V.C., + 10 men of a Co. I, 3 U.S. Inf., provided with (60) sixty days rations tomorrow morning to South Pass, D.T., for the Purpose of Protecting men Repairing Telegraph Line [and] will report to Mr. Creighton Superintendent of Telegraph Line at this Post. Lieut. Harlan will return with his Detachment from South Pass to this Post. By order of Thos. L. Mackey Comdg. Post Jas. W. Hanna Lt., 11 O.V.C., Post Adjt.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Jul 2014 14:30:00 +0000
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