Born in Donegal, Ireland, James Brice immigrated to the United States in 1857 at age eighteen. In the following year, he arrived at Independence, Missouri where he was employed by the Hall and Porter Mail Company as a driver on its mail route to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Two years later, he was hired by Hall and Porter's successor, the Missouri Stage Company, to manage the Pawnee Fort Mail Station located near Fort Larned, Kansas. He remained in that position, employed by a series of mail companies, until 1867 when the mail station was closed. In the following year, he contracted with the Southern Overland Mail and Express Company to supply three of its mail stations in Colorado with hay. On September 12, 1868, Kiowa warriors under Chief Little Raven raided Brice's camp east of Fort Lyon driving off forty-five mules. Resultantly, Brice was only able to fulfill part of the contract and that after a delay of two and one half months. Brice appealed to the Indian Bureau of the Interior Department to be reimbursed for his losses totaling $18,150. He received only $9,000. of the claim.
Brice returned to Jackson County, Missouri in the 1880's where he served as Kansas City's street commissioner for a number of years. He published Reminiscences of the Years Experience on the Western Plains in 1905. For many years, he made his home in Kansas City at 618 Tracy Avenue. There, he died on December 8, 1908. He was buried next to his wife in St. Mary's Cemetery, Independence, Missouri.
The reader will be well served to remember that within the decade described by Brice, three major Indian engagements transpired: the 1864 attack upon the Cheyenne/Arapaho village at Sand Creek, the 1867 destruction of the Cheyenne/ Sioux village west of Fort Larned, and the 1868 decimation of the Cheyenne village on the Washita River. People on the frontier took a favorable view of these incidents, and it is from that milieu that Brice extrapolated his account. Such was the premise for his sensationalized, if not bogus, reports of Indian engagements. No effort has been made to edit his writing. For better or for worse, this is his story told in the way he intended.
The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter is pleased to reissue Brice's memoirs and to recommend them as an archetype of frontier experience written in the twentieth century with regard to a time long past.
David Clapsaddle, President
Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the
Santa Fe Trail
Larned, Kansas 2008
Wet/Dry Routes Chapter
Spring Meeting
April 13, 2008
Eighty-three members and guests attended the spring meeting of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter on April 13, 2008. Participating were families from Santa Fe, New Mexico, McPherson, Lehigh, Winfield and Spearville, Kansas. Following a fine meal catered by the ladies of Larned's Episcopal Church, the business meeting included reports on two books recently reproduced by the chapter and the approval of a summer day camp to be conducted for fourth graders at Larned's Little Red House. Subsequently, George Elmore and other Fort Larned staff presented a well received program on frontier artillery. The next meeting is scheduled for June 22, 2008 at Bob and Rosie Rein's lake home, rural Sylvia, Kansas. More information on the next meeting to come later.
Notes from Superintendent Kevin McMurry's welcome remarks to some 75-members of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the Santa Fe Trail, on their visit to Fort Larned NHS, on April 13th, 2008.
Welcome to Fort Larned and Western Kansas's National Park!
For Today's Meeting of the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter, Thanks to;
The great caterers
Esteemed Chapter President, Dr. Clapsaddle
Park Employees including Ranger George Elmore who will be leading the program on "artillery"
And the many Volunteers who helped with today's events
2007 was a very good year at Fort Larned!
To reduce the total cost of visiting all the areas attractions, Fort Larned National Historic Site has dropped it's admission fee so folks can better afford the other small entrance fees which are necessary at partner sites. Please tell your friends to visit the Fort and all other area attractions again soon.
For the year we hosted 60,710 Visitor Hours.
In a national Visitor Satisfaction survey conducted annually, Fort Larned was judged by its visitors to be 100% satisfactory. Few of the 388-national parks across the country ever achieve this rating. In the same survey, 96% of visitors said after their visit to Fort Larned, they understood its significance in settlement of the west. This too is an
unusually high ranking for parks nationwide.
Cash and In-Kind Donations to programs at the fort were up more than 50% from the year before.
The Guard Shack was reconstructed in a great partnership with the Larned State Juvenile Corrections Facility.
We began reconstruction of the forts second Blacksmith Forge.
We completely rehabilitated the interior of the Barracks and Hospital.
We began preparation of a long-range Interpretation Plan with assistance from many area partners.
A study by Indiana University will soon be accomplished to identify accessibility barriers and appropriate improvements.
A long needed, major update of the Public Water Supply was completed using both park staff and local contractors.
Restoration of the Sutlers Residence is underway to facilitate telling of the many cultural exchanges brought on by the Trail and Fort Larned.
The failed HVAC System at the Commanding Officers Quarters was replaced with a ground water-source heatpump, and we are currently developing plans for retrofitting some lighting with solar systems.
Rehabilitation of the Arsenal and commissary was successfully completed including restoration of the historic "lean-to".
Complete rehabilitation of the North Officers Quarters is underway and will allow the building to be historically furnished and open to the public. The park benefitted from 294 great "Volunteers" who donated a total of 9,997 hours, which is up from 5,285 hours in 2006.
The park had zero visitor accidents, and zero employee or volunteer accidents requiring medical treatment.
David and Alice Clapsaddle from The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter of the Santa Fe trail, developed and presented two, 2-day summer camps at Fort Larned and the Indian Village for local school children.
Santa Fe Trail leadership assisted the fort significantly in long range planning meetings, and through establishment of a pass-through donation account for contributions to the celebration of Fort Larned's 150th anniversary coming up in 2009. Watch for future information on the four major event dates in 2009 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the fort's establishment.
Everyday Employees, Volunteers and active partners are working closely together to protect the fort and other historic places, while telling the stories of the people who made history in the area. We don't back off for anyone or anything because the mission is so important to us. We truly appreciate interest, support and efforts of all those who work with us to keep the history alive for our grandchildren and their grandchildren.
Superintendent Kevin McMurry
National Historic Site
Fort Larned, Kansas
Winter Minutes
The Wet/Dry Routes Chapter met January 20 at Kinsley, Kansas with 77 members and guests present. Following a covered dish dinner the Faye Anderson Award was presented to the Jerome Herrmann family on whose property some of the most profound ruts of the Santa Fe Trail remain on the Dry Route northwest of Kinsley. Also prizes were awarded to fifth grade students from Lewis, Kansas who participated in the 2007 Santa Fe Trail Poster Contest sponsored by our Chapter: first prize, Brad Newsom, second prize, Devon Lininger, third prize, Irving Navarro.
In the business session, reports were given on the placement of markers at Mulberry Creek, painting completed at Zebulon Pike Plaza in Larned, the field trip conducted to DAR markers in Pawnee, Edwards, and Ford Counties, and the Rules and Regulations by which to Conduct Wagon Trains Drawn by Oxen on the Plains handbook which has been reprinted by the chapter. In other business, a stated amount per month was approved for chapter telephone expenses. Newly-elected 2008 officers are President, David Clapsaddle, Vice-President, Rosetta Graff, Secretary-Treasurer, Merlene Baird, and Program Director, David Clapsaddle. The program was presented by Santa Fe Trail Manager Harry Myers on "The Santa Fe Trail Before Becknell."
Spring Meeting - April 13, 2008
The spring meeting is scheduled for April 13, 2008 at the Fort Larned National Historic Site barracks mess hall. Arrangements have been made for the good ladies of Larned's Episcopal Church to serve a meal: chicken and noodles over (real) mashed potatoes, vegetable, homemade bread, dessert, and drink. The cost is $8.00, RSVP by April 6. Please remit your check, payable to the chapter, to David Clapsaddle, 215 Mann, Larned Kansas 67550 at your earliest convenience. Your cooperation in this regard will be deeply appreciated. George Elmore, Park Ranger, will present the program on Frontier artillery. Included will be a demonstration of the Fort's cannon. This promises to be an excellent program. Hope to see you there.
Another Republication
The Chapter will vote on the proposal at the April 13 meeting to reissue Reminiscences of Ten Years Experience on the Western Plains. Published in 1905, the document contains the memoirs of James Brice who was employed as a mail wagon driver by the Hall and Porter Company in 1858. Subsequently, he managed the mail station near Fort Larned through 1867. In 1868, he contracted to supply hay to three mail stations in eastern Colorado, but found it difficult to fulfill the contract after Kiowa warriors under Chief Little River raided his camp on September 12, 1868 driving off forty-five mules.
During Brice's ten year tenure, three major Indian engagements occurred: the 1864 attack on the Cheyenne/Arapaho village at Sand Creek: the 1867 destruction of the Cheyenne Sioux village thirty miles west of Fort Larned: and the 1868 decimation of the Cheyenne village on the Washita River. People on the frontier, by and large, applauded these events, and it is from that milieu that Brice extrapolated some of his reports, sensationalized, if not bogus. No effort has been made to edit his writing. For better or worse, this is his story told in the way he intended.
Upon a vote of approval, the Chapter will initiate the printing of the document. Information as to the costs and places of purchase will be forthcoming.
Marker in Need of Attention
The marker at the southeast corner of the Larned Cemetery is sitting askew. Looks a little like the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Your editor will be contacting some of our strong backs to correct the situation in the near future. By the way, the marker identifies the ruts which remain from the second variant of the Dry Route which originated about one mile and a half north of the Larned Airport and ran southwest through the cemetery to cross the Pawnee River just west of the present Larned State Hospital and continues up the south bank to Fort Larned.
Rules and Regulations on Sale
The booklet reissued by the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter, Rules and Regulations by which to Conduct Wagon Trains Drawn by Oxen on the Plains, is now for sale at the following; Frontier Trails Center, Independence, Missouri: Barton County Historical Museum, Great Bend, Kansas Santa Fe Trail Center, Larned, Kansas. The booklet will also soon be available at the Fort Larned National Historic Site. It is also available at the Last Chance Store. They will retail at $2.00. This rare document, first published in 1866 would make a nice addition to any library. Chapter members are urged to purchase copies for their local libraries. They would make nice Christmas and birthday gifts. The booklet will be available at the Chapter's April 13 meeting or the Fort Larned National Historic Site. If all this smells like a commercial, will you're right!
New Members
We are pleased to announce and welcome new members Roy and Diane Connelly of Larned, Kansas.
Condolences
The chapter extends sympathy to Ross Marshall, long time member of the chapter, in the death of his wife Pat in February 2008. Although married three short years, Pat became active in local and national historical organizations and trail systems. She will be missed in many quarters for her smile and willingness to serve and as an advocate to Ross's interests and endeavors. She will be missed.
Past Dues
If you have not paid your chapter dues for 2008, this issue will be your last. Rosters will be distributed at the spring meeting.
Dues are always Due to the
Fastest Hand in the West
Chapter dues in the amount of $10.00 per family, are due at the Winter meeting or may be mailed to Alice Clapsaddle, 215 Mann, Larned, Kansas, 67550. Checks should be made out to the Wet/Dry Routes Chapter. Dues and email addresses are welcome.
"Printable Dues Form".
Do Not send our dues to the Santa Fe Trail Center
