Mules and Mountain Men
Those who enjoy learning about the American frontier will not be surprised to learn about the close relationship mountain men had with mules.
Mountain man Bill Burrows poses with what looks to be a pack mule for this painting. Although mules were widely used by mountain men the animals were not always the most treasured animal.
Mules have a bit of an inconsistent reputation. There are those who snub their noses at the long eared creatures and assign them stubbornness, meanness, and a quarreling nature that would put a politician to shame. One friend of mine has gone so far as to say, “if you’re too poor to ride a horse, and too proud to ride a cow, then ride a mule.” Like I said, some folks just don’t get along with mules.
Mule men on the other hand, would baulk at the statement. They claim the mule’s superiority over horses citing their sure-footedness, strong sense of self-preservation, and higher level of thinking. As an owner of both mules and horses, I’m not weighing in on where the truth lies, but the truth is mules have played a role in American history ever since George Washington first tried to promote them.
Mules were used by pioneers for hundreds of years as American settlement marched west. After the mountain men started traveling overland in the early 1820’s mules were an obvious candidate to be put to work. So what did mountain men have to say about their mules? Let’s go to the primary sources to find out.
Teachers may find this PDF useful to help their students analyze the primary sources.
Warren Ferris - 1830
In 1830, Warren Ferris describes his first encounter with the mules his party used while traveling west from St. Louis.
“The day was bright and fair, and this early part of our travel might have been pleasant, but for the unceasing annoyance of our mules, who seized every opportunity, and indeed when occasion was wanting, took the responsibility of making one, to give us trouble and vexation. Some were content to display the stupidity for which their sires are so proverbial, but the greater part amused themselves with the most provoking tricks of legerdemain, such as dexterously and by some cabalistic movement, tossing their packs, (which were lashed on,) into a mud-hole or turning them by a practised juggle from their backs to between their legs, which, having accomplished, they scampered off in high glee, or stopped a commenced kicking, floundering, pawing, and bellowing, as if they were any thing but delighted with the result of their merry humors. Job himself would have yielded to the luxury of prevailing, had his patience been tried by the management of a drove of packed mules…”
Not the most glowing recommendation. Later in his journal though, Ferris goes on to say:
“The river is confined, a short distance above us, by formidable walls or bluff mountains, forming in some places very high and perpendicular banks, impassable for even those sure footed animals, mules…”
Zenas Leonard - 1831
In 1831, Zenas Leonard also went west and became familiar with mules. Here are a few descriptions he gives of the animals.
“Mr. Hockday was a large muscular man, as hardy a mule and as resolute as a lion; yet kind and affectionate.”
Leonard seems to be paying a compliment here to a man named Mr. Hockday. He goes on to note the use of mules 23 times in his journal. Here is one entry that seems to attest to the “hardy” nature he mentioned in the preceding entry.
“The snow was still deep on the top of (the mountain); but by aid of the buffaloes trails, we were enabled to scale it without much difficulty, except that our mules suffered with hunger, having had nothing to eat but pine brush. As the foot of the mountain we found abundance of sweet cottonwood, and our mules being very fond of it, we detained two or three days to let them recruit from their suffering in crossing the mountains.”
Rufus Sage - 1841
In his journal, mountain man Rufus Sage notes that mules were often used in packing, while horses were preferred for riding:
“Selecting two pack-mules for the conveyance of provisions and camp equipage, the day following we mounted our horses and were under way.”
Later though, the same man notes the use of mules for riding.
“…and the beginning of August saw me again en route, accompanied by two experienced mountaineers - all of us mounted upon hardy mules and well provided for the journey before us.”
It is not the only case where Sage notes riding a mule. Also, awhile later in the journal Sage gives his advice to emigrants considering the trip across the mountain region.
“From my own experience and observation, I would advise the use of pack-mules or horses altogether, instead of wagons. One pack-horse, suitably laden, would convey an ample supply of provisions and other necessities for two individuals….Each individual should be furnished with a good riding horse or a mule…”
Charles Larpenteur - 1833
Charles Larpenteur gives an interesting insight to mules as well. Here is one entry he makes early in his book:
“A few days after our arrival mules were given to each of us — two to pack and one to ride. Mr. Campbell gave me his favorite mule Simon to ride; old Simon was not so kind that he would not buck me off his back when he took a notion to do so, but on the whole was a good fellow in comparison with many others. My two pack mules were very gentle, but would kick off their packs sometimes. My two loads consisted of beaver traps and a small top pack — a choice load, not likely to turn over like dry goods. As I was a green hand my mates assisted me a great deal, and I was always thankful to them for it.”
Larpenteur was bucked off, his packs were destroyed, yet he does not seem to hold a grudge against the animals.
George Ruxton - 1846
Although a few years out of the mountain man period, George Ruxton tells an entertaining story about the use of a good hunting mule. He wrote:
“Being entirely out of provisions, and my camp hungry, the next morning I mounted my hunting-mule, and crossed the river, which was partially frozen, to look for deer in the bottom. Thanks to my mule, as I was passing through a thicket I saw her prick her ears and look on one side, and, following her gaze, descried three deer standing under a tree with their heads turned towards me. My rifle was quickly up to my shoulder, and a fine large doe dropped to the report, shot through the heart. Being in a hurry, I did not wait to cut it up, but threw it on to my mule, which I drove before me to the river. Large blocks of ice were floating down, which rendered the passage difficult, but mounted behind the deer and pushed the mule into the stream. Just as we had got into the middle of the current a large piece of ice struck her, and, to prevent herself being carried down the stream, she threw herself on her haunches, and I slipped over the tail, and head over ears into the water. Rid of the extra load, the mule carried the deer safely over and trotted off to camp, where she quietly stood to be unpacked, leaving me, drenched to the skin, to follow after her.”
A good mule for sure. Not only does the mule initially locate the deer, but she saves the meat and waits for the rider after crossing the river.
James O’Pattie - 1824
Several of the journals note huge herds of mules and horses being used. James O’Pattie notes in his journal that:
“We had three hundred mules, and some (17) horses. A hundred of them were packed with goods and baggage.”
He later goes on to note that at one Spanish mission:
“The mission possessed three thousand head of domesticated and tamed horses and mules. From the droves which I saw in the plains, I should not think this an extravagant estimation.”
Other journals have similarly high numbers of mules out west in the 1820’s and 1830’s.
So, mules and mountain men went together hand in hand all across the vast lands of the west. It’s true that horses were used extensively, but we can’t overlook the preference some people seemed to have for mules. Whether used to ride or pack, whether loved or simply tolerated, whether handsome or ugly, the long-eared mule certainly earned a place in the history of the mountain men.