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Part Thirteen: A Winter in Oregon
Just got another update done. I'll get a map up tomorrow. It's the beginning of the end for the Oregon War! 
Part Thirteen: A Winter in Oregon
Oregon War, Winter of 1846:
As the months went on and summer turned to winter, the British soldiers in Fort Nisqually were running low on supplies and surrendered. Fremont continued north along the coast while William Gilpin's men went upstream along the Columbia. Gilpin and his company quickly reached and captured Fort Colville. Gilpin continued up the Columbia River and in October, intercepted a supply train taking supplies from the Hudson Bay Company headquarters of York Factory to British settlements in Oregon. After the supply wagons surrendered, Gilpin's men hatched a plan where they would follow the supply train west to Fort Thompson and use it to capture the fort. The plan worked, and Fort Thompson fell at the beginning of November. The capture of the supply train would play a vital part in the success of the Americans during the winter campaigns in Oregon.
While Gilpin was heading for Fort Thompson, Fremont's men continued north along the coast and reached Fort Langley in mid-December. By then the fort was dangerously short on supplies after Gilpin had captued the supply train. After a week, the soldiers in Fort Langley laid down their arms and surrendered. Fremont and Gilpin remained in Fort Langley and Fort Thompson for the remainder of the winter.
Meanwhile, in Britain, Parliament was clamoring for negotitations to begin with the United States as they had other things to worry about. The winter of 1846-47 was a harsh one in Britain, and combined with the tensions and emigration of many Irishmen due to the ongoing famine on the island, many Parliamentarians felt that the protection of the Columbia Department was of low interest to the United Kingdom at the time. In early 1847, it was decided that negotiations with the United States would begin. President Polk was also eager to begin negotiations as support for the war was beginning to fall in the States as well.
Part Thirteen: A Winter in Oregon
Oregon War, Winter of 1846:
As the months went on and summer turned to winter, the British soldiers in Fort Nisqually were running low on supplies and surrendered. Fremont continued north along the coast while William Gilpin's men went upstream along the Columbia. Gilpin and his company quickly reached and captured Fort Colville. Gilpin continued up the Columbia River and in October, intercepted a supply train taking supplies from the Hudson Bay Company headquarters of York Factory to British settlements in Oregon. After the supply wagons surrendered, Gilpin's men hatched a plan where they would follow the supply train west to Fort Thompson and use it to capture the fort. The plan worked, and Fort Thompson fell at the beginning of November. The capture of the supply train would play a vital part in the success of the Americans during the winter campaigns in Oregon.
While Gilpin was heading for Fort Thompson, Fremont's men continued north along the coast and reached Fort Langley in mid-December. By then the fort was dangerously short on supplies after Gilpin had captued the supply train. After a week, the soldiers in Fort Langley laid down their arms and surrendered. Fremont and Gilpin remained in Fort Langley and Fort Thompson for the remainder of the winter.
Meanwhile, in Britain, Parliament was clamoring for negotitations to begin with the United States as they had other things to worry about. The winter of 1846-47 was a harsh one in Britain, and combined with the tensions and emigration of many Irishmen due to the ongoing famine on the island, many Parliamentarians felt that the protection of the Columbia Department was of low interest to the United Kingdom at the time. In early 1847, it was decided that negotiations with the United States would begin. President Polk was also eager to begin negotiations as support for the war was beginning to fall in the States as well.
- wilcoxchar
- Word Count: 350