Deep in the heart of Uinta County, Wyoming, lies the historic site of Fort Supply, a significant but often overlooked Mormon pioneer-era fort that once played a pivotal role in the expansion of the Utah Territory. Established in November 1853 under the visionary direction of Mormon Apostle Orson Hyde, Fort Supply, Wyoming, was more than just a military outpost; it was an ambitious agricultural and missionary settlement designed to solidify Mormon influence and provide crucial support for westward migration.
Situated approximately 12 miles southwest of the renowned Fort Bridger, the fort’s strategic location in the Bridger Valley (also known as the Green River Valley) placed it at the crossroads of early American frontier history, where various groups vied for control and resources.
The Bridger Valley: A Frontier Melting Pot
The Bridger Valley was a vibrant hub in the first half of the 19th century, a popular gathering place for Native American tribes and adventurous mountain men. It was here that legendary figures like Jim Bridger and his partner Louis Vasquez established Fort Bridger as a vital trading post in the early 1840s, facilitating commerce and interaction across the vast western landscape. However, the dynamics of the region began to shift with the establishment of Salt Lake City, approximately 120 miles southwest of Fort Bridger, by Mormon pioneers. Following the U.S. Congress’s establishment of the Utah Territory in 1850, Salt Lake City quickly emerged as the principal settlement, extending its influence eastward.
This growing Mormon presence soon led to contention. A Utah Territorial legislature act granted Mormons control over ferry operations on the Green River near the Bridger Valley, a business previously monopolized by mountain men. The mountain men strongly opposed relinquishing control, further exacerbated by the decline in Fort Bridger’s trading business as Salt Lake City’s economy flourished. These factors fueled animosity, with Mormons alleging that mountain men were inciting local Native Americans against them, creating a volatile atmosphere in the valley.
Escalating Tensions and the Walker War
Beyond the Bridger Valley, relations between Mormon settlers and Native Americans throughout the Utah Territory deteriorated significantly. By the summer of 1853, tensions had erupted into what became known as the Walker War, primarily involving the Ute Indians. In response, trade with all Native Americans across the Utah Territory, including the Bridger Valley, was officially outlawed. Despite this prohibition, illegal trade persisted at Fort Bridger.
In August 1853, a company of 150 men, led by Sheriff James Ferguson, was dispatched from Salt Lake City to enforce the law and halt illicit activities. Upon their arrival, Jim Bridger himself had fled, but his stores of whiskey and rum were discovered and promptly destroyed. The expedition then proceeded to the Green River, where they confronted and engaged mountain men unlawfully operating ferries, resulting in casualties and the seizure of their livestock.
Brigham Young’s Vision for a Strategic Outpost
Recognizing the strategic importance of the Bridger Valley, Church leader Brigham Young envisioned a permanent Mormon presence. He hoped that by building a fort in the area, Mormon influence and control would be solidified. This new settlement would serve a dual purpose: providing essential crops and supplies for Mormons journeying west and significantly reducing the costly and arduous overland journey of supplies from Salt Lake City to Fort Bridger, a distance of about 120 miles.
Mormon Apostle Orson Hyde was entrusted with the monumental task of organizing the
