In 1845, when a number of posts had been built around Fort Laramie, cutting off the travelers before they reached the central and larger institution, they builded two other subsidiary posts. One was on the north bank of the Platte opposite the mouth of the Laramie river, that remained there until after the gold excitement in California, and the other was a little north of the present site of Wheatland, which was placed in charge of Bordeaux, of whom we will later speak.

In the winter of 1843-44, Marcus Whitman, in behalf of the people of Oregon, made a trip through the rigorous winter of the Rocky Mountains, and appeared in Washington. His feet were frozen in this terrible journey, but he appeared in the national capital and plead for Oregon.

Upon request, he presented a written statement in which he said he himself had piloted more than two hundred families, consisting of one thousand people, with 120 wagons, 694 oxen, and 773 loose cattle, across the mountains to homes in Oregon, in the previous two years.

He also recommended the establishment of government posts along the route. One suggested was where Fort Sedgewick was later established (near Big Springs), and another "on Horseshoe creek, about forty miles west of Fort Laramie in the Black Hills." At this time the mountains around Hartville and extending southwest, including Laramie Peak, were called the Black Hills.

Horseshoe creek was not Horse creek, as will be seen from the designated location, although from the numerous diaries published from time to time, many of the travelers must have had the two confused.