The Pony Express was a swift mail service that wasonly active from April 1860 to October 1861. It was a crucial communicationlink between the East Coast and West Coast during a time when communicationbetween Washington, DC, and Sacramento was helping establish California as afree state, as well as helping the Union factions gain strength just prior tothe Civil War.
A series of relay stations was established with freshhorses so the rider could get fresh mounts all along the route. The riders simplychanged mounts and rode as fast as possiblerarely stopping even to sleep oreat. It took immense courage and perseverance on the part of the riders and therelay station personnel, and the journey took about ten days through roughterrain, Indian massacres, ambushes, and brutal weather conditions over theSierra.