Historic Fort Bridger is considered one of the most haunted places in Wyoming. Wait; that sounds like a good reason NOT to go! So maybe a good ghost story about “man’s best friend” instead?
Well, pardner, in addition to the spirits of several humans, witnesses claim Fort Bridger’s cemetery is patrolled at night by the ghost of an old dog—once decorated with a medal for heroism—who now stands guard over the grave of his owner. Ghost or not, who is this dog and what were his feats of heroism?
The consensus is the ghost is that of Thornburgh, a dog who followed soldiers to Fort Bridger after surviving a wagon train burned during a battle with the Ute Indians on 29 September 1879, near White River Agency. The dog was named after Major T.T. Thornburgh who was killed in the fight, and took up residence at the fort.
According to historical accounts, Thornburgh and a freighter, “Buck” Buchanan became inseparable, though he was loved by all with good reason! He was a regular Lassie in frontier service. Thornburgh is credited with saving a young boy from drowning, for which he received a new collar decorated with a silver plate recognizing his gallantry; capturing a commissary thief, during which he received a stab wound; and saving a soldier by biting down on the wrist of another soldier who was attempting to stab him. He also saved a unit of soldiers by warning the sentinel of the impending attack with sufficient time to save themselves as well as keep their mules and horses from stampeding.
In 1888, Thornburgh the dog died after being kicked by an Army ‘shavetail’ mule while rounding up Buck’s team of mules. He was honored with a full military burial right there on the fort. Buck was so distraught that he purchased a marble headstone and had the following inscription carved on it:
Man never had a better, truer, braver
Friend.
Sleep on old fellow,
We’ll meet “Across the Range”
If you would like to visit the grave of Thornburgh, swing by Fort Bridger the next time you’re driving through Wyoming. His grave is one of the most popular attractions. To learn more about him, pick up a book in the museum gift shop.
