In June, 1812, war broke out with England, and Astoria became threatened with capture by the English.

It was decided by Astor's agent to abandon the post; but Astoria had taught the United States the value of Oregon.
The Oregon trail from St.Louis, by the way of the great rivers, the Missouri, the Yellowstone, and the Columbia, followed the fall of Astoria, and began the highway of emigration to the Pacific coast and to Asia.

Over it the trapper and the missionary began to go.

The Methodist missionaries, under the leadership of Revs.

Jason and Daniel Lee, were among the first in the field, and laid the foundations of the early cities of Oregon.