Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Railroad Survey Crew Killed...!

Doing railroad surveys, especially across Indian lands, was a dangerous undertaking. Attacks were not uncommon, and the surveyors were seen as intruders most of the time.

Regardless of the precautions that were taken, many on the survey teams lost their lives while trying to accomplish their task. In the end, the survey was finished, the mapping done, and the Transcontinental Railroad was built.

1853
Indians attack transcontinental railroad survey crew in Utah

On this day in 1853, Paiute Indians attack U.S. Army Captain John W. Gunnison and his party of 37 soldiers and railroad surveyors near Sevier Lake, Utah. Gunnison and seven other men were killed, but the survey party continued with its work and eventually reported its findings to the United States Congress.

Gunnison was a West Point graduate who had led several previous topographical surveys before being assigned to conduct this survey of potential railroad routes across central Colorado and Utah. Gunnison’s mission was only one of four surveys dispatched by the U.S. Congress in an attempt to break a sectional deadlock over which route the proposed transcontinental railroad should follow. The whole idea of a transcontinental railroad was jeopardized by a bitter dispute between northern and southern politicians, with both factions stubbornly insisting that the line should have its terminus in their respective regions. Congress hoped that by turning the question over to the impartial and scientific surveyors of the topographical corps, a clearly superior route would emerge and break the deadlock.

Following Gunnison’s death at the hands of the Paiute, his lieutenant, E.G. Beckwith, assumed command. Beckwith eventually found a potential railroad route through Weber Canyon in the Unita Mountains and discovered two feasible passes over the northern Sierra Nevada. The survey also provided valuable information on the geology, flora, and fauna of the West and set a high standard for subsequent explorers to follow. However, the results of neither the Gunnison/Beckwith survey nor any of the others succeeded in breaking the deadlock in Congress. Since no clearly superior route emerged from the volumes of maps and data gathered, the decision remained a political rather than scientific one. The issue would only be settled after the southern states seceded from the Union, leaving the matter in the hands of northern politicians.

I got this info from the History website, where you can find out more about this major undertaking, if you wish.

Coffee out on the patio this morning, but you better bring a sweater or jacket.

7 comments:

Momlady said...

And they still can't agree on anything.

linda m said...

Funny how things haven't changed in all these years. Don't think politicians will ever agree on anything. Cold here this morning also. Good to be home after our vacation.

HermitJim said...

Hey Momlady...
I wonder just why that is? Another mystery.
Thanks for stopping by today!


Hey Linda...
Hope you are all rested up after the vacation! It's always good to get back home.
Thanks for coming over today!


JO said...

No things never change. Lets all fight and act like fools.

It's so windy here it can peel the hide off a steer. See you on the patio

Sixbears said...

I've been tempted to shoot a survey guy or two on my land myself. :)

HermitJim said...

Hey Jo...
Interesting way to describe the wind.Wouldn't be a pleasant sight, I think!
Thanks, sweetie, for dropping by today!


Hey Sixbears...
That's when having a dog could come in handy. They don't like intruders on their territory.
Thanks for the visit today!

Rob said...

The idea of a transcontinental railroad just sat there for all those years... I guess neither side was willing to flip a coin!