Across the Great Divide: Robert Stuart and the Discovery of the Oregon Trail

by Laton McCartney

Resurrecting a pivotal moment in American history, "Across the Great Divide" tells the triumphant never-before-told story of the young Scottish fur trader and explorer who discovered the way West, changing the face of the country forever.In the heroic tradition of Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" comes the story of Robert Stuart and his trailblazing discovery of the Oregon Trail. Lewis and Clark had struggled across the high Rockies in present-day Montana and Idaho, but their route had been too perilous for wagon trains to follow. Then, six years after the Corps of Discovery returned from the Pacific, Stuart found the route that would make westward migration possible.

Setting out in 1812 on the return trip from establishing John Jacob Astor's fur trading post at Astoria on the Oregon Coast, Stuart and six companions traveled from west to east for more than 3,000 grueling miles by canoe, horseback, and ultimately by foot, following the mountains south until they came upon the one gap in the 3,000-mile-long Rocky Mountain chain that was passable by wagon.

Situated in southwest Wyoming between the southern extremes of the Wind River Range and the Antelope Hills, South Pass was a direct route with access to water leading from the Missouri River to the Rockies. Stuart and his traveling party were the first white men to traverse what would become the gateway to the Far West and the Oregon Trail. In the decades to come, an estimated 300,000 emigrants followed the corridor Stuart blazed on their way to the fertile farmlands of the Willamette Valley and the goldfields of California.

"Across the Great Divide" brings to life Stuart's ten-month journey and the remarkable courage, perseverance, and resourcefulness these seven men displayed in overcoming unimaginable hardships. Stuart had come to the Pacific Northwest to make his fortune in the fur trade, but during his stay in the wilderness he emerged as a pioneering western naturalist of the first rank, a perceptive student of Native American cultures, and one of America's most important, if least-known, explorers. Today Stuart's expedition has largely been forgotten, but it ranks as one of the great adventure odysseys of the nineteenth century.

A direct descendant of Stuart, award-winning journalist Laton McCartney has obtained unique access to Stuart's letters and diaries from the expedition, lending depth and unparalleled insight to a story that is at once an important account of a pivotal time in American history and a gripping, page-turning adventure.

Genres: History, American History, Nonfiction, Westerns

320 pages, Hardcover

First published August 26, 2003

Reviews

[Carole · Rating 3 out of 5]

I thought I knew a lot about American history and especially Oregon history, but I had never heard of Robert Stuart. This is more than just an account of Stuart's discovery of what would become the well-traveled Oregon Trail; it is also the story of the establishment of Astoria as a fur-trading post. Stuart had been a member of the party that came to the Columbia River by ship and established Fort Astoria in 1811. In 1812 he and a smaller party left to go back east to the United States across the continent. Looking for an easier route than that taken by Lewis and Clark, he was told by native Americans about the south pass through the Rockies. Stuart and his overland party were able to find it. No white man had ever been on this route before. His report of the trail over the mountains that was wide enough for wagons was important in the expansion of the United States even though the tidal wave of emigrants would not begin for several decades. A great deal is known of his expedition because he kept a detailed journal that was heavily drawn upon in the writing of this book, which, incidently was written by a descendant of his.

[Robert Davidson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great read with another Scot who managed an incredible journey through hostile country mostly on foot and discovered the Pass which would lead to the migration on the Oregon Trail. One can follow the journey using Google maps and anyone who has hiked parts of the high Rockies can appreciate the feat this was especially in the time of ball and powder rifles and steel and flint for lighting fires.

[Bob Lundquist · Rating 5 out of 5]

We are always looking for the best, fastest route between home and some destination whether it be known or unknown. It is the unknown places that explorers look for since people left eastern Africa after becoming human. They spread across the world for riches, fame, adventure. Most of these explorers are unknown but a few are famous such as Marco Polo, Columbus, and Magellan. In the United States, Lewis and Clark are well known for their effort to reach the Pacific Ocean after the Louisiana Purchase. The path they took was arduous and out of the way since they were the first. For colonization of the west coast, an easier and simpler path was discovered by Robert Stuart with the Oregon Trail. This after a torturous voyage around the American continents from New York. In 1812, traveling from a hard scrabble trade post that was only established a year before in Astoria, Stuart was sent overland with small band of men to bring messages to the owner of the trade post, John Astor back in New York. It was the Indians that pointed out an easy pass over the Rockies though the directions were very vague. Stuart had to find the way and suffered many near death experiences before finally getting to St. Louis and then New York.

The book is an excellent narrative of Stuart’s tribulations and a quick read. It shows how this human story developed over many years and was even affected by the War of 1812. Astor and Stuart had to contend with hostile and friendly Indians, rival traders, renegade whites, and treacherous weather. It is almost a miracle that such as small band of men made the discovery and the trip with minimal casualties. A good introduction to the exploration and settlement of the West. However, the maps are small and hard to read and there could have been more of them. Nevertheless, it explains well how this trail was critical when large numbers of settlers wanted to go west in the 1840s for gold and a better life.

[Anne Vandenbrink · Rating 2 out of 5]

Robert Stuart discovered a trail wide enough for wagon passage over the Rockies. Their trail also traversed the famous Independence Rock. The journey from west to east took 10 months and was fraught with many hardships. The book is confusing at times, going back and forth from one exploring group to another and also from one time period to another, but interesting, none the less.

[Kevin · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book gives a fascinating account of Robert Stuart's discovery of the Oregon Trail. It is a real adventure story. I especially enjoyed Mr. Stuart's descriptions of the land before it was settled by emigrants.

[Phillip · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 / 5.0

Fast Read. First Half of book relates to establishment of Astoria and the Fur Trade. Second half deals with crossing the Great Divide.

Nice descriptions of Indians and Fur Trade

Refreshingly asides giving current names for locations.

Wee Written

[Tom Baker · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I learned that Lewis and Clark were not the only heroes of this era. McCartney is an excellent writer and does not waste words. This on par and even better than Undaunted

[Trawets · Rating 3 out of 5]

Across the Great Divide by Leyton McCartney tells the story of Robert Stuart a Scot who was a junior partner in the Pacific Fur Company which set up the first American fur trading post on the Pacific coast of America in 1811. After a year Stuart led a small party back to St Louis to obtain relief supplies for the outpost.
This book tells of an epic journey through unmapped territory, at times near starvation, threatened by Indians and through the depths of winter.
The trail he found was later used by the wagon trains heading West with settlers.
Stuart's journey was a long haul, and at times this book felt like one too, but like Robert Stuart when I reached the end I felt it had been worth persevering.
My only real criticism was the lack of maps, most of the times like these pioneers I felt lost.

[John Sharp · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the book, but I was confused for at least half of the book. The confusion was due to my lack of knowledge about how tightly intertwined the stories of the founding of Astoria and the finding of the Oregon Trail were. So, if you were like me - wondering why the story of the founding of Astoria was going on and on - I would urge you to stay with the book, as these stories are actually one.

Good story, good writing. Thanks to the author - Laton McCartney - for researching and sharing this story about his ancestors.

[Doug · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy and enjoyable read. However, this book would be greatly improved by a new edition which features better maps and more illustrations, particularly of the native tribes and notable landmarks.

[Fred · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was written by a friend's father. Though, I am not a fan of books about American history, especially the 19th century expansion west, this a good book and great read.

[Russell King · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very interesting story about a slice of American history by a person most have never heard of but whose inadvertent discovery had a very big impact.

[Tuck · Rating 2 out of 5]

maps are horrible, a few good new insights, but pretty blah