 The routes from each eastern terminus met at Fort Smith, Arkansas, and then continued through Indian Territory (Oklahoma), Texas, and the future states of New Mexico, Arizona along the Gila River trail, across the Colorado River at the Yuma Crossing, and into California ending in San Francisco.With the prospects of the civil war looming the Butterfield stage contract was terminated and the stage route to California rerouted.An Act of Congress, approved March 2, 1861, discontinued this route and service ceased June 30, 1861.