Jim Bridger

Engl 2010

February 21, 2008

Jim Bridger

Jim Bridger was a great mountain man, but unknown to most he was also an explorer. James (Jim) Bridger was born on March 17, 1804. The year 1812 is when the Bridger's moved from Virginia to St. Louis.

Mrs. Bridger worked at the family owned "Highway Inn".Mrs. Bridger being a mother of three: a ever-on the move baby boy; an inquisitive school girl; and a young man, turning eight, Jim Bridger. She had her hands full while Jim's dad was gone most of the time working as a surveyor, which left him almost no time to spend with his family. From all of the stress Jim's mom had with the hotel and raising children .She had health problems causing her to be come very sick, and passed away when he was only eight years old. Mr. Bridger having to be pulled away for work to support his family at home.It was that winter of 1812 when the youngest son got a sever cold and passed away.Mr. Bridger was heart broken and could not get rid a of a awful cough and became seriously ill in the summer of 1814.He soon passed on, in the following winter. So Jim was only fourteen and had to be on his own raising his eight year old sister. Jim took some of the extra money they had to buy a canoe. He ferried people across the river for extra money to make a living for him and his sister. The cold winter months he was an apprentice to James Beard as a blacksmith. He made himself useful, turning grindstones, handling tools to workman, holding and smoothing horses be shod, pumping the furnace bellows, assisting with wagon tires, and the most enjoyable part for him was the gun repair section. This is when he strapped on a gun and felt that it was his own personal jacket. Jim Bridger more then once as people that came through the blacksmiths door said "that your gun should fit and feel at one with the person".

While spending time on the river he went to Chouteau's to buy traps and traded the first few mink and muskrat. While spending time at the trading post, is where he met one of his best friends that he will know and love for the rest of his life Pierre Chouteau Jr. Pierre had helped Jim learn to trap and hunt more effectively . Jim would sale his fur for money to help his family; While Pierre would give him the things he trapped too. The reason Pierre Chouteau did this is because his family was already wealthy and didn't need the money. Jim was grateful to have such a wonderful friend to help him out with this.

In March, of 1822 Jim read a newspaper article in a St. Lewis paper which read:

To enterprising young men, The subscriber wishes to engage one hundred young men to ascend the Missouri River to its source, there to be employed one, two, or three years. For particulars inquire of major Andrew Henry, near the lead mines, in the county of Washington, who will ascend with and command the party; or the subscriber, near St. Louis. -William H. Ashley(Alter).

The notice seemed to be addressed to James Bridger personally. He needed no time to think it over, having already done that many times. Jim applied for the position and they knew instantly that he would be perfect for the job. The end of March two keelboats fresh from the Pittsburgh builders where delivered to the Ashley-Henry companies. The keelboat was amazingly long at 65 feet long and 15 feet wide could hold close to twenty-five tons it was a sight to see. They left on April 3, 1822. The main part of the job description was trapping and hunting. They were traveling around Yellowstone where Jim had is first run-in with a war party of Blackfeet Indians. General Ashley's crew was going west to the Mandan villages in two groups , one on land and one stayed aboard the keelboat.The group on land was attacked, Four of the eleven men on their crew were shot and killed and few were wounded. The Blackfeet Indians were able to take off with thirty-five horses. After this incident many of the members of the crew decided they were ready to go back home. But at noon the next day, word of another group of trappers were in a gun battle with the same Blackfeet Indians. General Ashley sent all possible men to aid the other trappers. Jim without hesitation grabbed his gun and took off on his horse to aid the trappers. When they arrived to the gun battle only twenty men where left John H. Weber, D.T. Potts, Mike Fink, and a few of Jim's close friends. When word went out that help was needed nearly 100 men came to the aid. The Blackfeet saw how many men came to help and they scattered soon after Jim's group came to help.

General Ashley was not about to leave until the score was settled and got his horses back. General Ashley and 70 men with about 300