This week in 1855

[Don McDowell]

The post commander at Ft. Laramie was reporting having a lot of trouble with Ogallala and Brule Souix camping south of the Platte River. They were supposed to stay north of the Platte and in the Powder River country. The chiefs all reported that they could find no buffalo there, and as such they were starving. Along with the starving the tribes that were trying to hang on there were pummeling the Sioux's horse herds and making life miserable in general...
No Buff in the Powder River in 1855,, sort of throws dirt on some of the "historical" facts we've been force fed..

[Mike]

Hey Ranch, Do you think that was because of a "low cycle" for the buffalo or was it just because grass was better elsewhere and the buffalo didn't need to move to find it? Maybe the buffalo herds were staying just one day ahead of the hunting parties. Shoot sharp, Mike

[Don McDowell]

I think the numbers were pretty low. Remember by 1855 the Platte River Road and neighboring county had been traveled pretty hard. There were trading posts about every 10 miles along the river.

[Mike]

Yes, those herds had been picked on just a little bit... Shoot sharp, Mike

[laowho]

sort of throws dirt on some of the "historical" facts we've been force fed..

History is written by the victors mon ami, except for the occasional erascible Zinns of the world. Used to say that my only regret was ever having taken other people's words for truth, but I've since added a lotta better regrets than just that.