USA HISTORY

Detailed explanation-1: -A wagon train is a group of wagons traveling together. Before the extensive use of military vehicles, baggage trains followed an army with supplies and ammunition.

Detailed explanation-2: -What exactly was a wagon train? It was a group of covered wagons, usually around 100 of them. These carried people and their supplies to the West before there was a transcontinental railroad.

Detailed explanation-3: -The cover was usually made of canvas, cotton sailcloth, or homespun hemp. It cantilevered out slightly more than that of a typical emigrant wagon to help protect the cargo from the weather.

Detailed explanation-4: -There were two types of covered wagons that people generally used: the aforementioned covered wagon and the Conestoga wagon. The Conestoga wagon was a high-capacity freight wagon designed to haul large amounts of goods and items across rugged terrain.

Detailed explanation-5: -John Bartleson organized the Western Emigration Society and led the first wagon train of pioneers across the Rocky Mountains. On May 1, 1841 this group headed west out of Missouri.