Santa Fe Trail Josiah Gregg Summary

One of the main reasons why Josiah Gregg took the Santa Fe Trail was for the benefit of his health. People believed travelling across the Plains could cure all sorts of ailments, most of which related to the lungs because the clearer air and fresher environment improved respiratory function. Gregg explains the other complaints that could be eased: “Most chronic diseases, particularly live complains, dyspepsia, and similar affections, are often radically cured; owing no doubt, to the peculiarities of diet, and the regular exercise incident to prairie life, as well as the purity of the atmosphere to those elevated…regions.” This demonstrates the variety of ailments that plagued nineteenth century people and therefore the reasons people wanted …show more content…
I love dearly to spend half an hour in rambling over and among them in the evening when we stop, and before starting.” Gregg comments that he had bad health leading up to 1831 and it was suggested that he take a trip across the Prairies: “In the changes of air and habits which such an adventure would involve, to seek that health which their science had failed to bestow.” Therefore, regardless of the validity of travelling the trail as a physical solution to ill-health, it is clear there was some psychological relief for those that …show more content…
Joy Jeffrey states that “women, unsullied by material interests, were supposed to find fulfilment at home”. This is traditional view and one shared by many nineteenth century contemporaries. However Riley paints a different picture of these women. Isolation, despair and passivity are the assumed characteristics of the plainswomen’s lives. Women combined their domestic and external activities, often being engaged with their communities as well as their domestic roles. Thus the stereotypical images of a woman travellers on the trail is in need of re-evaluating and reconsidering, they worked alongside their men both on the Trail and in settlement in order to create an environment fortuitous to all. For example the records recalled by Brian Sandwich, relates to one woman called Sarah; dubbed the camp-follower “her duties included… washing clothes, cooking for the officers and helping to care for the sick and wounded”. This not only affirms the stereotype of women on the frontier as has been recorded earlier, it shows women’s roles on the Trail. Sarah has no last name or background of her own, there is little reference to her, other than as the Great Western and Heroine of Fort