Genesis of the Trail. Status of New Mexico society. Disposition of merchandise after arrival in Santa Fe. Indigenous Americans in the Province of New Mexico? Did they participate in Trail commerce? What did they offer in barter? If currency did not circulate in New Mexico, where did hundreds of thousands of silver pesos originate each year that crossed into Missouri? Where did livestock originate that returned to Missouri? What goods traded in Santa Fe and to whom?
Details of first expeditions to convey American goods that launched and set a new normal for all future caravans on the Santa Fe Trail.
This caravan introduced multiple wagons with an organizational structure of five discrete parties seeking trade outside Santa Fe. The sixth party, almost half of the expedition, sold out to wholesalers on arrival, returning one hundred thousand dollars in silver, beaver pelt and some mules to Franklin, Missouri in a little over four months round trip.
The remaining parties sought Indigenous American enclaves in the Province of New Mexico and states in Mexico returning with around fifteen hundred mules, breeding donkeys and pelts. Returns to Missouri for these parties began late in December 1824 and ended summer 1825. Parties’ lost members and thousands of livestock to freezing weather, stampedes, accidents and marauding Native Americans via return routes across Texas, Louisiana as well as the Trail.
The most documented early expedition in Trail history sourced as follows:
- More than thirty reports from Missouri Newspapers.
- ‘Answers’ from Augustus Storrs to Senator Benton of Missouri.
- Senator Benton’s speech to the United States Senate.
- Santa Fe Trail, First Reports, Storrs & Wetmore.
- Historical Societies of New Mexico & Missouri articles plus Santa Fe Trail journals.
Barter trade with Indigenous Americans during the Mexican period, 1821-1847, is underreported in American journals. This article presents primary and secondary sources confirming this trade and impact on residents of the Borderland in Mexico. Barter trade with Nations of Americans was the second largest channel for merchandise shipped down the Santa Fe Trail.
To gain true perspective of Wilson’s three-year presence in Apacheria requires exposing illicit, illegal barter trade with Chiricahua Apaches. Spring 1836 and 1837 on two treks across New Mexico from the Gila River to forty miles east of Santa Fe, Wilson herded mules intended to rendezvous Santa Fe Trail caravans heading for Missouri settlements.
Santa Fe Trail Expedition Results – Gold/silver, Mules, Pelts [1 page.]
Santa Fe Trail Transactional Data – Mules & Mustangs in MX & US [1 page.]
Santa Fe Trail Expeditions – Returns & Losses, Mules & Mustangs. [1 page.]
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