The establishing of Fort Robinson, in 1876, was practically contemporaneous with the adjustment of the Indians in their different agencies. It was nearer to Red Cloud because the Red Cloud Indians needed watching more than those under Spotted Tail. In 1876, Red Cloud was deposed by the whites, and he no longer ruled as chief. The "great red cloud" -- his warriors wore red blankets, and moved as a cloud -- ceased to be a menace of the prairie, and his descendants now live pursuing the arts of peace.

HISTORY OF WESTERN NEBRASKA

The trails leading from Fort Robinson to the Union Pacific made a veritable network at the time, and all converged in the vicinity of Fort Robinson, following one principal highway north to Deadwood.

From Cheyenne the mail road ran almost straight to Laramie, and was a stiff bad road, hard on oxen feet and lined with "poison weed." It ran via Chugwater creek. The part north of the Platte cut across the country west of the Raw Hide and finally dropped into that valley. The soil on this part of the road was too light for heavy freighting, and in places quite sandy, but it was used to some extent.

The Freighter's road ran direct from Cheyenne to Old Red Cloud on the Platte through the Goshen Holes. If having business at Laramie they would go up the river to Laramie ferry or bridge, then by the mail route to White river.

Freighters frequently forded the Platte at Old Red Cloud, and then struck down the Platte a number of miles, to avoid the sand ridges that lay directly north of the agency. From the old agency to the new, there seems to have been several roads, and they were all called the Freighter's road. There was a canoe at Old Red Cloud, which was used in crossing when the water was high.