Blackfoot Camp

The Cherokee Trail left the high country meadow surrounding Point of Rocks through tree-lined Neff’s Gulch, then climbed the high prairie toward Cherry Creek. Five miles northwest of Fagan’s Grave, and three-quarters of a mile to the left of the trail, was a natural spring that marked Blackfoot Camp. This spring was a favorite campsite of early travlers, but was usually bypassed by the gold seekers of 1858-59.

Blackfoot Spring

Philip St. George Cooke, 24 July 1845.

Cooke was maching down the old trail – then known as the Taos Trail – with Colonel Kearney and th 1st Dragoons. The troops had spent the night of 23 July encamped on Cherry Creek. The next day they crossed the dry plains to the cool spring waters of Blackfoot Camp.

“The camp is in a pleasant dale; very near it rises a great hill - a knob of the mountain - with grass, and granite rocks, and fir trees; the many springs send their crystal tribute to a little lake, as if to linger there before they wander forth together on the dull plains, and to be lost in the turbid Platte.”

Source:Scenes and Adventures in the Army, by Philip St. George Cooke. (Philadelphia, 1859).

Rufus B. Sage, 13-14 September 1842.

Sage and several companions were on thir way to Taos, when they were caught in the open by a late summer snowstorm. The men sought shelter under a spacious rock overhang, a mile southeast of Blackfoot Camp.

“Sept. 13th. Again under way; after a ride of fifteen miles, night finds us at Blackfoot-camp, snugly chambered in a spacious cave, to avoid the disagreeable effects of a snow-storm that comes upon the reluctant prairie with all the withering keenness of winter.

Sage's Cave

“The cave affording us shelter is formed in an abrupt embankment of limestone, that marks the eastern limits of a beautiful valley through which a small affluent of Cherry creek traces its way. The floor is of dry gravel and rock, about fifty feet long by fifteen wide, while upon one side a crystal spring presents its tempting draughts. Thus chambered, a small fire soon rendered us comfortable and happy, notwithstanding the dreary weather without ....
“Sept. 14th. Morning was ushered in with a pleasant sunshine, that soon caused the snow of the past night to yield beneath its melting influences.
When on the point of raising camp, an old grizzly bear made her appearance with three cubs. An effort to approach her proved futile, - she having snuffed the closeness of danger with the breeze, made a hasty retreat with her offspring.”

Source: Rocky Mountain Life, by Rufus B. Sage. (Lincoln: Univ. of Nebraska Press, 1982).

Colonel W.W. Loring, 4 May 1858

The great blizzard of 1858 had kept Colonel Loring’s reinforcements trapped at Point of Rocks for four days. Finally, on 4 May, the troops marched. Foot-deep mud, however, forced an early stop just five miles up the trail at Blackfoot Camp.

“May 4, 1858 - Black Foot - Still on the dividing ridge; grass good, water 3/4 of a mi to the left; in consequence of the snow the roads are very bad, almost impassable ....”

Source: "Colonel Loring's Itinerary," Secretary of War Report, 1858. Senate Doc. 2 seaa., 35th Congress, Vol.2, 1858-59, Serial No. 975 U.S.

Captain John Dubois, 5 May 1858

Captain Marcy’s supply train was still trying to catch up with Loring’s reinforcements. The supply train reached Blackfoot Camp on the night of 5 May only to find that the troops had already marched some twelve miles to the north.

“May 5th We broke up camp early this morning & started with the intention of joining Col. Loring on Cherry Creek. It was very cold & the mud wats a foot deep. At Bijou we halted and when the train came up changed all the mules, taking fresh ones from the herd... The mud became deeper & deeper...Since nooning we had not averaged a mile an hour. Evening was approaching & turning from the left we found Blackfoot Spring & went into camp. Every man I have is on guard. I fear they will break down but it cannot be avoided as we have 1,200 animals to herd & guard. Distance 19 miles.

Source: Campaigns in the West 1856-1861, by John Van Deusen Dubois, ed. by George P. Hammond. (Tucson: Arizona Pioneers West Society, 1949).

Luke Tierney, 21 June 1858.

Gold seeker with the Russell Party.

“We dined near a rivulet called Bijou's creek. Near the creek was a pond, about thirty feet in diameter, densely thronged with a singular fish known as the Torpedo. It is of a greyish color, has four feet like an alligator, four talons or fingers on the two fore feet, and five on the hinder ones, with one continued fin from tip to tip. Its bite is said to be incurable.”

Source: "Luke Tierney Guidebook," Pike's Peak Gold Rush Guidebooks of 1859, ed. by LeRoy R. Hafen. (Glendale, Calif.: The Arthur H. Clark Co., 1941)