A Letter from the Texas Forts Trail
Hello Everyone,
A group of us had quite an adventure yesterday. Thanks to the graciousness of Harold and Cindy Lemley, we were able to visit the Buffalo Springs Ranch and see a portion of the Butterfield Trail just before it reached the Grape Creek Station. We looked down at the trail through Butterfield Canyon and stood at the bottom of the hill that the mule refused to climb on that first trip, early morning, September 24, 1858. From Ormsby’s book:
…about 2 A.M. we came to a steep and stony hill, obstinately jutting from the prairie, right in our path and impossible of avoidance. One mule could neither be coaxed or driven up, so we had to camp until morning, when, after much difficulty, we ascended the hill and discovered the station fire, miles distant—a mere speck among the trees. We soon reached it and found it to be a corral, or yard, for the mules, and tents erected inside for the men, under charge of Mr. Henry Roylan. They had seen us coming and were herding the mules as we drove up. Their corral was built of upright rough timber, planted in the ground. They had pitched their tents inside, for fear of the Indians, and took turns standing guard, two hours on and two hours off.
The station was near Grape Creek, a fine stream, and also near some fine timber—two desirable things not to be found everywhere in Texas…
My husband has often referred to me as being as stubborn as a mule, and standing at the bottom of that hill, after just climbing up out of the canyon, I wouldn’t have gone up it either! I’m attaching a few photos of our intrepid group, which included JoAn and Tom Earnest, their son Tommy, Gordon Sparks, Larry Taylor, Doug and Eva O’Connor, and Harold and Cindy Lemley. We didn’t reach the Grape Creek station, or where we think it is…all that for another day.
Eva O'Connor
