By Mark Henderson and edited by Rachel Preston Prinz
Joseph Walker, Chief Walker and the
Uintah connection.
As Jackson and Spence (1970:694) note, the detail of Frémont’s narrative deteriorates after leaving Mountain Meadows. This is at the same time that Joseph Walker joins Frémont, apparently by chance, probably at Pinto Creek (Jackson and Spence 1970:694) and becomes the principle guide for the rest of the expedition to Bents Fort (Gilbert 1983:200). Though Frémont does not mention it, Walker was driving a herd of horses for sale (Gilbert 1983:208) which was core to his business since 1840(Hafen and Hafen 1993:242-247). Whether Frémont planned to depart from the Spanish Trail before engaging Walker as guide is unclear. In any event it is probable that Walker’s presence helped guarantee safe passage through Ute territory, including an exchange of gifts with Chief Walkara, Frémont giving up a blanket from Vancouver for what he considered an inferior “Mexican” blanket (Frémont 1845:272). Joseph Walker guided Frémont back to Bents Fort by a well known trail via Antoine Robideau’s trading Fort Uintah (Gilbert 1983:198-216).
As Jackson and Spence (1970:694) note, the detail of Frémont’s narrative deteriorates after leaving Mountain Meadows. This is at the same time that Joseph Walker joins Frémont, apparently by chance, probably at Pinto Creek (Jackson and Spence 1970:694) and becomes the principle guide for the rest of the expedition to Bents Fort (Gilbert 1983:200). Though Frémont does not mention it, Walker was driving a herd of horses for sale (Gilbert 1983:208) which was core to his business since 1840(Hafen and Hafen 1993:242-247). Whether Frémont planned to depart from the Spanish Trail before engaging Walker as guide is unclear. In any event it is probable that Walker’s presence helped guarantee safe passage through Ute territory, including an exchange of gifts with Chief Walkara, Frémont giving up a blanket from Vancouver for what he considered an inferior “Mexican” blanket (Frémont 1845:272). Joseph Walker guided Frémont back to Bents Fort by a well known trail via Antoine Robideau’s trading Fort Uintah (Gilbert 1983:198-216).