A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. Before the extensive use of military vehicles, baggage trains followed an army with supplies and ammunition.
In the American West, settlers traveling across the plains and mountain passes in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance. Although wagon trains are associated with the Old West, the Trekboers of South Africa also traveled in caravans of covered wagons.
Although "wagon train" suggests a line of wagons, when terrain permitted, wagons would often fan out and travel abreast to minimize the amount of dust blown onto other wagons. Travel by wagon train occurred primarily between the 1840s–1880s, diminishing after completion of the first transcontinental railroad. Some remnants of wagon ruts along the well-travelled trails are still visible today.[1]
Organization
Originally, westward movement began in small groups, but well-funded travelers with a hundred or more wagons could employ professional wagon masters (or trail masters) and ostlers.
Overland emigrants discovered smaller groups of twenty to forty wagons were more manageable than larger ones, especially without professional wagon masters. Many operated under democratic principles, creating bylaws and electing a captain. In reality, a captain had limited authority. His role was largely confined to getting everyone moving in the morning and selecting when and where to camp at night.[3]
Membership in wagon trains was generally fluid and wagons frequently joined or left trains depending on the needs and wishes of their owners. An accident or illness, for instance, might force someone to fall behind and wait for the next train, or an emigrant might "whip up" to overtake a forward train after a quarrel. Some might break away to settle in Colorado Territory or other territories along the way.
At night, wagon trains were often formed into a circle or square for shelter from wind or weather, and to corral the emigrants' animals in the center to prevent them from running away or being stolen by Native Americans. While Native Americans might attempt to raid horses under cover of darkness, they rarely attacked a train. Contrary to popular belief, wagons were seldom circled defensively.[4]
Modern-day treks
Today, covered wagon trains are used to give an authentic experience for those desiring to explore the West as it was in the days of the pioneers and other groups traveling before modern vehicles were invented.
Native American teams hauling 60 miles to market the 1100 bushels of wheat raised by the school at Seger Colony,[5] Oklahoma Territory, circa 1900.
Baggage trains
The advent of gunpowder warfare meant that an army could no longer rely solely on foraging in the surrounding countryside, and required a regular supply of munitions.[6] In the 18th century, organized commissary and quartermaster departments were developed to centralize delivery of supplies.[6] The delivery took the form of "baggage trains", large groups of wagons that traveled at the rear of the main army.
^ abBillock, Jennifer (October 3, 2016). "Nine Places Where You Can Still See Wheel Tracks from the Oregon Trail". Smithsonian magazine. Retrieved May 18, 2019.
^Brown, Dee Alexander, and Martin Ferdinand Schmitt. The American West. New York: Scribner, 1994. Print.
^Gregory, Leland (Jun 15, 2009). Stupid History: Tales of Stupidity, Strangeness, and Mythconceptions Through the Ages. Andrews McMeel Publishing. p. 209. ISBN978-0-7407-9210-6. Retrieved 2 December 2013.
^Oklahoma Historical Society's Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History & Culture:Washita County
^ abHuston, James A. (1991). Logistics of Liberty: American Services of Supply in the Revolutionary War and After. Newark: University of Delaware Press. pp. 15–18. ISBN0-87413-381-5.
Further reading
Rutgers van der Loeff, A. (1961). Children on the Oregon Trail. London: University of London Press.
Stewart, George R. (1962). The California Trail: An Epic With Many Heroes. New York: McGraw-Hill. OCLC 479007.
Media related to Wagon trains at Wikimedia Commons
Wagon Train at Spartacus Educational
Wagon train in britannica.com
January 10, 2023
wagon, train, this, article, about, group, animal, powered, vehicles, travelling, together, other, uses, disambiguation, baggage, train, redirects, here, military, term, train, military, this, article, includes, list, general, references, lacks, sufficient, co. This article is about the group of animal powered vehicles travelling together For other uses see Wagon train disambiguation Baggage train redirects here For the military use of the term see Train military This article includes a list of general references but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations May 2012 Learn how and when to remove this template message A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together Before the extensive use of military vehicles baggage trains followed an army with supplies and ammunition Pioneers Crossing the Plains of Nebraska 1912 Pioneer Day re enactment of a wagon train in Utah In the American West settlers traveling across the plains and mountain passes in covered wagons banded together for mutual assistance Although wagon trains are associated with the Old West the Trekboers of South Africa also traveled in caravans of covered wagons Contents 1 In migration 1 1 Transit traces and trails 1 2 Organization 1 3 Modern day treks 2 Baggage trains 3 In popular media 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksIn migration EditTransit traces and trails Edit Wagon trains followed several trails in the American West with virtually all originating at Independence Missouri 1 Perhaps the most famous wagon train trail was the Oregon Trail which had a span of over 2 000 mi 3 200 km 2 Other paths included the Santa Fe Trail the Chisholm Trail the California Trail which split southwestward from the Oregon Trail the Mormon Trail and the Old Spanish Trail Although wagon train suggests a line of wagons when terrain permitted wagons would often fan out and travel abreast to minimize the amount of dust blown onto other wagons Travel by wagon train occurred primarily between the 1840s 1880s diminishing after completion of the first transcontinental railroad Some remnants of wagon ruts along the well travelled trails are still visible today 1 Organization Edit Originally westward movement began in small groups but well funded travelers with a hundred or more wagons could employ professional wagon masters or trail masters and ostlers Overland emigrants discovered smaller groups of twenty to forty wagons were more manageable than larger ones especially without professional wagon masters Many operated under democratic principles creating bylaws and electing a captain In reality a captain had limited authority His role was largely confined to getting everyone moving in the morning and selecting when and where to camp at night 3 Membership in wagon trains was generally fluid and wagons frequently joined or left trains depending on the needs and wishes of their owners An accident or illness for instance might force someone to fall behind and wait for the next train or an emigrant might whip up to overtake a forward train after a quarrel Some might break away to settle in Colorado Territory or other territories along the way At night wagon trains were often formed into a circle or square for shelter from wind or weather and to corral the emigrants animals in the center to prevent them from running away or being stolen by Native Americans While Native Americans might attempt to raid horses under cover of darkness they rarely attacked a train Contrary to popular belief wagons were seldom circled defensively 4 Modern day treks Edit Today covered wagon trains are used to give an authentic experience for those desiring to explore the West as it was in the days of the pioneers and other groups traveling before modern vehicles were invented Native American teams hauling 60 miles to market the 1100 bushels of wheat raised by the school at Seger Colony 5 Oklahoma Territory circa 1900 Baggage trains EditThe advent of gunpowder warfare meant that an army could no longer rely solely on foraging in the surrounding countryside and required a regular supply of munitions 6 In the 18th century organized commissary and quartermaster departments were developed to centralize delivery of supplies 6 The delivery took the form of baggage trains large groups of wagons that traveled at the rear of the main army In popular media EditWestward bound collective treks are reflected in numerous books films and television programs about the journeys Examples include Emerson Hough s 1922 novel and James Cruze s silent film based on it The Covered Wagon 1923 Raoul Walsh s film The Big Trail 1930 Robert N Bradbury s film Westward Ho 1935 John Ford s Wagon Master 1950 and the television series it inspired Wagon Train 1957 1965 William Wellman s film Westward the Women 1951 A B Guthrie Jr s 1949 novel The Way West and Andrew V McLaglen s 1967 film based on it and the Wagons West series of 24 novels written by Noel Gerson under the pseudonym Dana Fuller Ross between 1979 and 1989 See also EditCavalcade Conestoga wagon Convoy Covered wagon Laager War wagonReferences Edit a b Billock Jennifer October 3 2016 Nine Places Where You Can Still See Wheel Tracks from the Oregon Trail Smithsonian magazine Retrieved May 18 2019 Brown Dee Alexander and Martin Ferdinand Schmitt The American West New York Scribner 1994 Print Life and Death on the Oregon Trail Provisions for births and lethal circumstances OCTA Oregon California Trails Association OCTA Oregon Trail History Oregon California Trails Association n d Web 4 Oct 2013 lt http www octa trails org learn people places articles life death php Archived 2013 10 05 at the Wayback Machine gt Gregory Leland Jun 15 2009 Stupid History Tales of Stupidity Strangeness and Mythconceptions Through the Ages Andrews McMeel Publishing p 209 ISBN 978 0 7407 9210 6 Retrieved 2 December 2013 Oklahoma Historical Society s Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History amp Culture Washita County a b Huston James A 1991 Logistics of Liberty American Services of Supply in the Revolutionary War and After Newark University of Delaware Press pp 15 18 ISBN 0 87413 381 5 Further reading EditRutgers van der Loeff A 1961 Children on the Oregon Trail London University of London Press Stewart George R 1962 The California Trail An Epic With Many Heroes New York McGraw Hill OCLC 479007 Unruh John D Jr 1993 The Plains Across The Overland Emigrants and the Trans Mississippi West 1840 60 Urbana University of Illinois Press ISBN 0 252 06360 0 External links Edit Media related to Wagon trains at Wikimedia Commons Wagon Train at Spartacus Educational Wagon train in britannica com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wagon train amp oldid 1121235107, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
