The Pony Express was a fast mail service crossing the North American continent from St. Joseph, Missouri, to Sacramento, California from April 1860 to October 1861. Mail, or post, is a method for transmitting information and tangible objects wherein written Documents typically enclosed in Envelopes and also Saint Joseph (informally St Joe) is the largest city in Northwest Missouri, serving as the County seat for Buchanan County. Messages were carried by horseback riders relay across the prairies, plains, deserts, and mountains of the Western United States. Mail delivery by animals has been utilised in many countries throughout history The Western United States &mdashcommonly referred to as the American West or simply the West &mdashtraditionally refers to the region comprising the westernmost It briefly reduced the time for mail to travel between the Atlantic and Pacific coasts to around ten days. The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth 's Oceanic divisions [1] By traveling an easier shorter route and using mounted riders rather than stagecoaches, the founders of the Pony Express hoped to establish their service as a faster and more reliable conduit for the mail and win away the exclusive government mail contract.
The Pony Express demonstrated that a unified transcontinental system could be built and operated continuously the year around — something not seen since the times of the Romans in Europe. Cursus publicus was the courier service of the Roman Empire. It was created by Emperor Augustus to transport messages officials and tax revenues from one province Since its replacement by the First Transcontinental Telegraph, the Pony Express became part of the romance of the American West. The First Transcontinental Telegraph was a milestone in the formation of the United States. Its reliance on the ability and endurance of the individual riders and horses over technological innovation is part of "American rugged individualism".
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Background
Founded by William Hepburn Russell, William B. Waddell, and Alexander Majors, the Pony Express officially opened on April 3, 1860. William Hepburn Russell ( January 31, 1812 – September 10, 1872) is often credited as one of the founders of the Pony Express. Alexander Majors (1814 - 1900 was a US businessman who along with William Hepburn Russell and William B Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting The first trip, westbound, was made in 10 days, 7 hours, and 45 minutes. The eastbound trip was made in 11 days and 12 hours. Every 24 hours they covered approximately 250 miles. The Pony Express, established a year before the beginning of the American Civil War, reflected the need to provide fast and reliable communication with the West. Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South
In 1845, it took President James K. Polk six months to deliver a message to the Far West. The President of the United States is the Head of state and Head of government of the United States and is the highest political official in United States by James Knox Polk ( November 2 1795&ndashJune 15 1849 was the eleventh President of the United States, serving from March 4 1845 to March 4 1849 Messages in those days had to travel around the tip of South America or across the isthmus of Panama. Tierra del Fuego ( Spanish for " Land of Fire " in English tiˈɛərə dɛl ˈfweɪgoʊ] Spanish ˈtjerað̞elˈfweɰo is an Archipelago South America is a Continent of the Americas, situated entirely in the Western Hemisphere and mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a An isthmus is a narrow strip of land connecting two larger land areas Panama, officially the Republic of Panama (República de Panamá) is the southernmost country of Central America.
By 1860, the fastest route was the Butterfield Stage line from St. Louis, Missouri, through El Paso, Texas, which took 25 days. The Butterfield Overland Mail, also known as the Oxbow Route, the Butterfield Overland Stage, or the Butterfield Stage, was a Stagecoach route It was almost 600 miles (950 km) shorter to deliver the mail over a central or northern route. The California Trail was a major overland Emigrant route across the Western United States from Missouri to California in the middle 19th There were concerns, however, whether these alternatives were viable during the winter snows.
In 1854, Benjamin Franklin Ficklin, an employee of the firm of Russell, Majors and Waddell, is said to have first proposed a faster northern route to California. Benjamin Franklin Ficklin (1827-1871 was a graduate of the Virginia Military Institute, Class of 1849 Russell Majors and Waddell was a partnership that operated the Pony Express and other shipping businesses in the American West during the 1850s and early 1860s Senator William M. Gwin. William McKendree Gwin ( October 9, 1805 &ndash September 3, 1885) was an American medical doctor and politician Russell, Majors and Waddell, headquartered in Lexington, Missouri (the hometown of Russell and Waddell), was one of the biggest outfitters for travelers on the Santa Fe and Oregon trails. Lexington is a city in Lafayette County, Missouri, United States. The Santa Fe Trail was a Historic 19th century transportation route through southwestern North America connecting Missouri with Santa Fe Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the The firm operated a vast complex in the West Bottoms of Kansas City, Missouri, and also outfitted the army from its western base at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. The West Bottoms (official name Central Industrial District) is an industrial area immediately to the west of downtown Kansas City Missouri at the confluence of the Kansas City Missouri only Items for the metro area Kansas City Kansas or North Kansas City MO should go on their respective pages Fort Leavenworth is a United States Army facility located in Leavenworth County Kansas (just north of the city of Leavenworth) in the upper northeast
In October 1857, Russell, Majors and Waddell faced financial ruin when Lot Smith and his Nauvoo Legion destroyed 54 of their wagons during the Utah War. Lot Smith ( May 15, 1830 &ndash June 21, 1892) was a Mormon pioneer and frontiersman The Nauvoo Legion was a private Militia employed by Joseph Smith Jr The Utah War, also known as the Utah Expedition or Buchanan's Blunder, was an armed dispute between Latter-day Saint (" Mormon " The Army did not reimburse the firm, and the company began looking for other avenues for funds. In 1859, they bought from Ben Holladay the contract to deliver mail between Leavenworth and Salt Lake City, Utah. Benjamin "Ben" Holladay ( October 14, 1819 &ndash July 8, 1887) was an American transportation businessman known as the Salt Lake City is the Capital and the most populous city of the U
On January 27, 1860, William Hepburn Russell wired the firm from Leavenworth that Gwin was supporting a contract for California service on the central route provided that it be delivered in 10 days and be ready to debut by April. Events 98 - Trajan becomes Roman Emperor after the death of Nerva. Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting William Hepburn Russell ( January 31, 1812 – September 10, 1872) is often credited as one of the founders of the Pony Express. They renamed their Leavenworth & Pikes Peak Express to the Central Overland California and Pikes Peak Express Company to attempt the feat. The Central Overland California and Pike's Peak Express Company was the parent company of the Pony Express.
The Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad had just opened in 1859 and was the first railroad to cross Missouri. The Hannibal and St Joseph Railroad was the first Railroad to cross Missouri starting in Hannibal in the northeast and going to St Missouri ( or) is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee It was 30 miles (48 km) up the Missouri River from Leavenworth in St. Joseph. It was determined that this would be the starting point for a rapid central mail route to California.
Alexander Majors and Ficklin assembled 190 relay stations over 1,966 miles (3,106 km) from St. Alexander Majors (1814 - 1900 was a US businessman who along with William Hepburn Russell and William B Joseph to Sacramento, along with 50 riders and 500 horses. The horse ( Equus caballus) is a hoofed ( Ungulate) Mammal, one of eight living species of the family Equidae. They completed the task in time for the April 3, 1860, opening. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting Ficklin later clashed with Russell and quit the business in July 1860. He became one of the incorporators of the Pacific Telegraph Company. In 1860, the Pacific Telegraph Act of 1860 called for the facilitation of communication between the east and west coasts of the United States of America.
Operation
![Pony Express Stables in St. Joseph, Missouri [1]](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/52/Pony-express-joseph.jpg/180px-Pony-express-joseph.jpg)
Pony Express stations were placed at intervals of about 10 miles (16 km) along the route [2], roughly the maximum distance a horse can travel at full gallop. The rider changed to a fresh horse at each station, taking only the mail pouch (called a mochila, Spanish (from Basque) for "pouch") with him. Basque ( native name: euskara) is the Language spoken by the Basque people who inhabit the Pyrenees in North-Central Spain The Mochila was thrown over the saddle and held in place by the weight of the rider sitting on it. Each corner had a cantina, or pocket. Bundles of mail were placed in these cantinas, which were padlocked for safety. The mochila could hold 20 pounds (10 kg) of mail along with the 20 pounds of material carried on the horse, allowing for a total of 165 pounds (75 kg) on the horse's back. Riders, who could not weigh over 125 pounds, were changed about every 75–100 miles (120-160 km). Included in that 20 pounds were: a water sac, a Bible, a knife, a horn for alerting the relay station master to prepare the next horse, a revolver, and a choice of a rifle or another revolver. Eventually, they took away everything except one revolver and a water sac to cut down on the weight. The riders received $100 per month as pay.
Majors had acquired over 400 horses for the project, and these averaged about 14½ hands (1. 47 m) high and weighed under 900 pounds (410 kg)[3], thus the name pony was appropriate, even if not strictly correct for all the horses. A pony is a small Horse with a specific conformation and temperament
Route
The route roughly followed the Oregon Trail, Mormon Trail and California Trail. Pioneers traveled across the Oregon Trail, one of the main overland migration routes on the North American Continent, in wagons in order to settle new parts of the The Mormon The California Trail was a major overland Emigrant route across the Western United States from Missouri to California in the middle 19th After crossing the Missouri River at St. Joseph to Kansas, it followed what is modern day US 36—the Pony Express Highway—to Marysville, Kansas, where it turned northwest following Little Blue River to Fort Kearney in Nebraska. US Route 36 is an east-west United States highway that runs for 1414 miles (2276 km from Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado to Uhrichsville Marysville is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. For the Jackson County Missouri river see Little Blue River (Missouri The Little Blue River is a 450-mile long river in southern Nebraska and northern Kansas that Fort Kearny was a historic outpost of the United States Army founded in 1848 in the western U Nebraska ( is a state located on the Great Plains of the Midwestern United States and Through Nebraska it followed the Great Platte River Road, cutting through Gothenburg, Nebraska and passing Courthouse Rock, Chimney Rock, and Scotts Bluff, clipping the edge of Colorado at Julesburg, Colorado, before arriving Fort Laramie in Wyoming. The Great Platte River Road was the convergence point for the Trapper's Trail, the Oregon Trail, the Mormon Trail, the California Trail, the Gothenburg is a city in Dawson County, Nebraska, United States. Courthouse and Jail Rocks are two rock formations located near Bridgeport Nebraska. Scotts Bluff National Monument in western Nebraska includes an important 19th century landmark on the Oregon Trail and Mormon Trail. The State of Colorado ( or chiefly by nonresidents) is a state located in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States of America. The historic Town of Julesburg is a Statutory Town that is the County seat and the most populous town of Sedgwick County, Colorado, Fort Laramie National Historic Site, located in present-day Goshen County, Wyoming The State of Wyoming ( is a sparsely populated state in the western region of the United States. From there it followed the Sweetwater River, passing Independence Rock, Devil's Gate, and Split Rock, to Fort Caspar, through South Pass to Fort Bridger and then down to Salt Lake City. The Sweetwater River is a tributary of the North Platte River, approximately 150 mi (241 km long in the U Fort Caspar was a military post of the United States Army located in present-day Casper Wyoming (which like the fort was named for Caspar Collins South Pass (elevation) is a Mountain pass on the Continental Divide in the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Wyoming. Fort Bridger was a 19th century fur trading outpost established in 1842 on Blacks Fork of the Green River It crossed the Great Basin, the Utah-Nevada Desert, and the Sierra Nevada near Lake Tahoe before arriving in Sacramento. The Great Basin is a large arid region of the western United States. The Sierra Nevada ( Spanish for "Snowy Range" is a Mountain range located in the U Lake Tahoe is a large freshwater Lake in the Sierra Nevada mountains of the United States. Mail was then sent via steamer down the Sacramento River to San Francisco. The Sacramento River is the longest River entirely within the U On a few instances when the steamer was missed, riders took the mail via horseback to Oakland, California. Oakland (ˈoʊklənd founded in 1852 is the eighth-largest city in the U
The first ride
The rides were scheduled to leave San Francisco and St. Joseph simultaneously on April 3, 1860 although the westbound route has gotten more publicity. Events 1043 - Edward the Confessor is crowned King of England. Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting No photographs of riders beginning in either direction are known and none are believed to exist.
Westbound
The messenger delivering the mochila from New York and Washington missed a connection in Detroit and arrived in Hannibal, Missouri, two hours late. The City of New York Washington DC ( formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, the District, or simply D Hannibal is a city in Marion and Ralls counties in the US state of Missouri. The railroad cleared the track and dispatched a special locomotive called the "Missouri" with a one-car train to make the 206-mile (332 km) trek across the state in a record 4 hours, 51 minutes — an average of 40 miles per hour (64 km/h). [2] It arrived at Olive and 8th Street — a few blocks from the company's new headquarters in a hotel at Patee House at 12th Street and Pennsylvania and the company's nearby stables on Pennsylvania. The John Patee House, also known as Patee House, was a hotel at 12th Street and Penn in St The first pouch contained 49 letters, five private telegrams, and some papers for San Francisco and intermediate points. [3]
St. Joseph Mayor M. Jeff Thompson, William Russell and Alexander Majors gave speeches before the mochila was handed off. A mayor (from the Latin māior, meaning "greater" is a modern title used in many countries for the highest ranking officer in a municipal government Meriwether Jeff Thompson ( January 22, 1826 &ndash September 5, 1876) was a Brigadier general in the Missouri State Guard There is debate over who actually was the first rider. The ride began at about 7:15 p. m.
The first horse-ridden leg of the Express was only about a half mile (800 m) from the Express stables/railroad area to the Missouri River ferry at the foot of Jules Street. Johnny Fry is credited as the first westbound rider who carried the pouch across the Missouri River ferry to Elwood, Kansas. Johnny Fry (1840&ndash October 6, 1863) was the first "official" westbound rider of the Pony Express. Elwood is a city in Doniphan County, Kansas, United States. The population was 1145 at the 2000 census. Reports indicated that horse and rider crossed the river; however, subsequently, the courier crossed the river without a horse, getting the mount at a stable on the other side.
However, the identity of the first rider has long been in dispute. The Weekly West (April 4, 1860) reported Johnson William Richardson was the first rider (see Footnote 358 [4]). The Weekly West was started by Frances Marion Posegate in St Joseph Missouri at the age of 22 Events 1581 - Francis Drake completes a circumnavigation of the world and is knighted by Elizabeth I. Year 1860 ( MDCCLX) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar (or a Leap year starting Johnson William "Billy" Richardson (1834 - 1862 ( Virginia &ndash Fort Laramie) is believed by many to have been the first westbound rider for the
Nevertheless, the first westbound mochila reached its destination, San Francisco, on April 14, at 1:00 a. Events 43 BC - Battle of Forum Gallorum: Mark Antony, besieging Julius Caesar 's assassin Decimus Junius Brutus in m. [4]
Eastbound
James Randall is credited as the first rider from the San Francisco Alta telegraph office since he was on the steamship Antelope to go to Sacramento. At 2:45 a. m. , William (Sam) Hamilton was the first rider to begin the journey from Sacramento.
Closing
Although the Pony Express proved that the central/northern route was viable, Russell, Majors, and Waddell did not get the contract to deliver mail over the route. Wells Fargo & Co ( is a diversified Financial services company headquartered in San Francisco California, United States with operations around the The contract was instead awarded to Jeremy Dehut in March 1861, who had taken over the Butterfield Stage. Holladay took over the Russell, Majors and Waddell stations for his stagecoaches. From March 1861, the Pony Express only ran mail between Salt Lake City and Sacramento. The Pony Express announced its closure on October 26, 1861, two days after the Transcontinental Telegraph reached Salt Lake City. Events 740 - An Earthquake strikes Constantinople, causing much damage and death Year 1861 ( MDCCCLXI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar (or a Common The First Transcontinental Telegraph was a milestone in the formation of the United States. [5]
The Pony Express had grossed $90,000 and lost $200,000. [6] In 1866, after the American Civil War was over, Holladay sold the Pony Express assets along with the remnants of the Butterfield Stage to Wells Fargo for $1. Wells Fargo & Co ( is a diversified Financial services company headquartered in San Francisco California, United States with operations around the 5 million.
Wells Fargo used the Pony Express logo for its guard and armored car service. A common meaning of armored car is as an armored Van or Truck, used in Transporting valuables such as large quantities of money (especially for banks The logo continued to be used when other companies took over the security business into the 1990s. Effective 2001, the Pony Express logo was no longer used for security businesses since the business has been sold. [7]
In June 2006, the United States Postal Service announced it had trademarked "Pony Express" along with Air Mail. A trademark or trade mark, represented by the symbols ™ and ®, or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual Airmail (or air mail) is Mail that is transported by Aircraft. [8]
"Pony Express" is a trademarked name used by Freight Link international courier services company in Russia; their logo is also similar to the one trademarked by United States Postal Service with "Since 1860" written under the image. A trademark or trade mark, represented by the symbols ™ and ®, or mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual [9]
Legacy
Pony Express statues are in Sacramento; Stateline, Nevada; Reno, Nevada; Salt Lake City; Casper, Wyoming; Julesburg, Colorado; Marysville, Kansas; North Kansas City, Missouri; and St. Stateline is a Census-designated place (CDP on the east shore of Lake Tahoe in Douglas County, Nevada, United States. Casper is the only City in and the County seat of Natrona County, Wyoming, United States, although the county is home to a number Marysville is a city in Marshall County, Kansas, United States. North Kansas City is a city in Clay County, Missouri, United States. Joseph. The original and most famous is the one dedicated on April 20, 1940, in St. Events 1303 - The University of Rome La Sapienza is instituted by Pope Boniface VIII. Year 1940 ( MCMXL) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display the full 1940 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Joseph. It was sculpted by Hermon Atkins MacNeil. Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866-1947 was an American sculptor born at Chelsea Massachusetts. It is at City Hall Park. The city has rejected proposals to move it to the park opposite the stables.
McGraw Hill and AMERIKIDS USA produced the educational game PONY EXPRESS RIDER in 1996 to teach the value of the Pony Express in helping the Union win the Civil War. The McGraw-Hill Companies Inc, ( is a Publicly traded corporation headquartered in Rockefeller Center in New York City. The Pony Express helped the Union uncover the plans of the Knights of the Golden Circle. The Knights of the Golden Circle ( KGC) was a Secret society originally founded to promote the interests of the Southern United States.
Publication
- Century Magazine, volume xxxiv (New York, 1898)
See also
References
- ^ Bradley, Glenn D. The Story of the Pony Express: An Account of the Most Remarkable Mail Service Ever in Existence, and Its Place in History. Project Gutenberg Release #4671
- ^ Hannibal & Joseph Railroad at xphomestation.com
- ^ The Great Race Against Time: Birth of the Pony Express - National Park Service
- ^ First Rider - Westbound at xhomestation.com
- ^ The History stjosephmuseum.org
- ^ Financial Problems at xhomestation.com
- ^ WELLS FARGO REACQUIRES NAME RIGHTS FROM BORG-WARNER May 4, 1999 Press Release
- ^ U.S. POSTAL SERVICE EXPANDS LICENSING PROGRAM News Release #06-043 June 20, 2006
- ^ Pony Express Russia (Freight Link)
External links
- Pony Express on Oregon Trail
- Kansas Historical Quarterly
- National Historic Trail - Pony Express Stables
- Detailed history of the Pony Express
- History Buff Primary Source
- Pony Express Territory in Nevada provides visitors an opportunity to experience the history of the Pony Express
- St. Joseph Museum Inc., Pony Express History
- Hollenberg Pony Express Station
- Pony Express home station
- "The Story Of The Pony Express" from the National Postal Museum
- The Pony Express for Kids
- Pony Express Postal History
- Advertisement for riders
- List of Pony Express resources for further reading
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