The Dalles Military Road

by Shanna Hatfield

I've been doing a lot of research for my current work in progress, set in northern central Oregon. 

Grass Valley is the specific town I've been researching, although the history of the region has become an fascinating side study. The town was located on both the Barlow Road and The Dalles Military Road.

The Dalles Military Road has an interesting history.

Around the time prospectors struck gold in Canyon Creek in Oregon, the U.S. Congress toyed with the idea of stimulating private enterprise in the American West. They granted millions of acres of public domain to private companies as an incentive for them to borrow money, hire surveyors, and construct / operate railroads and wagon roads across the West. Through this "give away" of public lands, they hoped to encourage the private sector to create a transportation infrastructure to meet the needs of miners, settlers, and developers of town sites. 

Oregon was the target of a series of land grant wagon roads. These were supposed to get individuals to build roads that could be used for military purposes and were designated as "military wagon roads." 

One such road was The Dalles Military Road. It qualified for a government land grant and was supposed to create a wagon road from The Dalles, Oregon, to Fort Boise, Idaho. 

Investors in The Dalles-Fort Boise Military Road studied a route into the John Day region that followed the stream east to the Blue Mountains. A trace, established by mule teams and wagons, the existing Dalles to Canyon City Road would become part of the military road.

In October, 1868, legislature approved the franchise of The Dalles Military Wagon Road Company to construct the route. The terms of the grant provided that as soon as the company had constructed ten contiguous miles, it could seek up to thirty sections of land (more than 19,000 acres). In June 1869, Governor George L. Woods claimed he made a "careful examination" of the road and the certification process began. 

The road the company supposedly built (and spent about $6,000 on construction) consisted largely of existing trails and roads (some Indian trails). They took credit for building the well-traveled, pre-existing road between The Dalles and Canyon City.

The company also took credit for building a road from Canyon City to the Oregon-Idaho border near Vale, Oregon. The claims of a good wagon road were reportedly exaggerated.

The road was used to haul food and other supplies in wagons pulled by oxen and mules with forts and stations spaced every thirty miles or so along the route. 

In June 1874, Congress authorized the transfer of lands to the State of Oregon, and in December, the Commission of the General Land Office withdrew from public entry all odd-numbered sections within three miles of either side of The Dalles Military Road.  The road company selected its grant, then sold it for $125,000 to Edward Martin of San Francisco, California.

That single transaction made Edward Martin one of the largest landowners in the Pacific Northwest. At his death, Martin's Eastern Oregon and Company held a reported 450,000 acres of land in Oregon. 

Public outcry over the wagon roads grew. At best, they road companies had built rudimentary traces through rugged terrain, leaving travelers to deal with mud holes, washouts, fords rather than bridges, landslides, and multiple delays. 

The Grant County Express in March, 1876, printed a view of the road:

There are places on the Dalles Military Road where the bottom has dropped out. If the Road Company should follow their road to where it ought to go they would find a warmer climate than Grant County. Like a great serpent it has dragged itself through the John Day valley, poisoning the whole country. The road is an illegitimate child of one ex-Governor Woods — after a carpetbagger in Utah. It was and is a great swindle.

Public discontent eventually led to a lawsuit. The U.S. Attorney General argued the land had been privatized through fraud and should become public domain. The suit was dismissed in 1893 under the argument that the governor at the time had certified the road as complete and therefore the grants were valid and would not be reversed. 

Today, parts of the original road have merged with Highway 97 and Highway 26. There are still areas, though, where there are visible traces of the original road. Much of the road is used by ranchers, fishermen, and hunters.  

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Find out more about Grass Valley and the fictional residents that live there in my September release Grass Valley Brides.

USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes. When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | BookBub | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

A Cowboy's Spring Romance

by Shanna Hatfield

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, I thought I'd share a little piece of flash fiction I wrote to go with The Cowboy's Spring Romance.

“You are such an idiot.”

Trent Thompson ignored his younger brother’s commentary as they rode behind a few cows they’d just cut from the herd. He glanced at his watch, painfully aware of the looming approach of his date.

Maybe Travis was right. He shouldn’t have rashly asked Lindsay Pierce out when he spoke to her that morning. Who does that on Valentine’s Day?

“She’s probably picking out wedding invitations and calling a caterer as we speak.” Travis grinned and ducked when Trent took a playful punch at him. “I warned you Valentine’s Day comes with a truckload of expectations. Set the bar too high and she’ll expect those kinds of dates all the time. Set the bar too low and she won’t ever speak to you again. That’s why I avoid Valentine’s dates. It’s not worth the stress and hassle.”

“Cool it, Trav. It’s just a date, not an engagement party. Besides, I’ve only taken her out once. It’s not a big deal.” Trent thought he sounded calm and convincing even if panic had set in an hour ago. He had no idea where to take Lindsay and less than an hour to come up with something.

“Not a big deal?” Travis snorted and shook his head. “No doubt about it, you’re in deep trouble.”

Trent frowned at him. “Just shut it. Unless you can come up with something helpful, like a suggestion of where to take her this evening, be quiet.”

“I’m just saying…” Travis closed his mouth at Trent’s threatening glare.

After securing the cows in the calving barn, Trent’s long legs ate up the ground to the house. He jumped into the shower and shaved for a second time that day.

Overcome with nerves, he briefly considered texting Lindsay to cancel the date. For three long years, he’d pined after the woman. Now that she’d finally shown a little interest in him, he worried he’d mess up the opportunity to get to know her better.

Determined to do his best, he raced to get dressed, stomping his feet into his boots on the way to the kitchen. Trent slapped his black Stetson on his head and rushed out to his pickup.

On the drive to Lindsay’s place, he wondered how he’d gotten himself into this predicament. Visions of Lindsay’s long blond hair, alluring blue eyes, and beautiful face filled his thoughts. He knew exactly how it had happened.

Slowly pulling up in front of her house, he stared at the light on her porch and inhaled a deep, fortifying breath.

 Rose? Check.

Candy? Check.

Breath mint? Trent popped one in his mouth and slid out of the truck, sauntering down the walk and up the porch steps.

All his worry and anxiety melted away when she opened the door, enveloping him in the warmth of her smile.

“Happy Valentine’s Day, Trent.”

Read more about Trent and Lindsay and how they spend Valentine's Day in The Cowboy's Spring Romance.

One lonesome cowboy needs a few 

      lessons in romance...

     Trent Thompson doesn't have many secrets, except for the torch he's carried for the new schoolteacher since she moved to Grass Valley more than three years ago. Instead of asking her out, he’s dated every single female in a thirty-mile radius, giving her the impression he holds no interest in knowing her.

     Lindsay Pierce moved to Grass Valley to teach and quickly fell in love with the small community as well as the delightful people who live there. Everyone welcomes her warmly except for one obnoxious cowboy who goes out of his way to ignore her.

     Will Trent be able to maintain the pretense when he has to babysit his niece, who happens to be in Lindsay’s class?

     Romance is in the air as spring fever hits the Triple T Ranch!

Wishing you all a fabulous and very Happy Valentine's Day!

   After spending her formative years on a farm in eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky heroes.

   When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

   Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | BookBub | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

   Find Shanna’s books at:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple | Audible

Grass Valley

by Shanna Hatfield

I recently opened the door to my writing cave, packed a weekend bag, and went on an adventure with my favorite auntie and four cousins.

We met at a location in a central area for us all, which meant I had a five hour drive to reach the destination.

On my way there, and on my way home, I drove along a highway that rolls through several old towns.

Grass Valley was among them. I have a contemporary series,  Grass Valley Cowboys , set in the area, but the abandoned old buildings there capture my eye every time I drive past them.

Although it is assumed members of the Lewis and Clark party were among the first to see Sherman County where Grass Valley is located. 

Tall grass waved in the breezes, providing a wonderful cover for deer and made hunting them a challenging. Despite the hordes of Oregon Trail travelers who came West, none stayed in the area for more than a few days of rest.

Then Samuel Barlow marked the Barlow Trail across the Cascade Mountains. Oregon Legislature authorized the road in 1845, and by September 1846, the road provided an alternate route to the transporting wagons via raft down the Columbia River. Barlow Road started at The Dalles and headed south to Tygh Valley. It wasn't long until a shortcut was made from Tygh Valley that entered in Grass Valley canyon. The trail went through the canyon to where tall rye grass grew and the town of Grass Valley would eventually grow.

Grass Valley's settlement didn't happen overnight. A few stock ranches were established first, then settlers began to arrive in Sherman County. They plowed the rich grass that sustained cattle to make way for wheat fields.

The town was officially established in 1878 when Dr. Charles R. Rollins, a New Hampshire physician, settled in the area. He built a two-story hotel that included a clinic, and named the town after the rye grass that grew in the alkali soil.

Although the population has dwindled, I still find a wealth of inspiration in this town, taken from the tall waving grasses that once covered the area.

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♪ ♫ ♪  You're invited to the Ball! ♪ ♫ ♪ 

Please join me and twelve of my friends for four hours of fun on Facebook at the 3rd annual Petticoat Ball! 

It takes place this Thursday, April 6, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (Pacific Time).  Oodles of prizes, games, giveaways and opportunities to connect with authors will make for a lively event!

Hope to see you there!

https://www.facebook.com/events/329797340748812/

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USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple | Audible

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter