RBC | There were several reasons that many military men and former military men became western frontier explorers, miners, cowboys, lawmen and outlaws. Veteran campaigners were familiar with traveling long distances, often without regular meals or water. Veterans of the Indian Wars had a healthy respect for the Native American warriors and customs.
The earliest explorers of Nebraska Territory (which included today’s Northwest Colorado) were mountain men: buckskin-clad trappers and traders who had learned much…
