History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 9

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1198

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The expedition continued its journey, tracing the Missouri River to its source and pushing on through the mountains, meeting with many thrilling as well as pleasant adventures ; surrounded by savage inhabitants, most of whom had never met a white man and with whom their intercourse was so wisely managed with the aid of Skagaweah that not only no serious difficulties occurred between them, but the assistance of these nations as guides and in supplying food was in trying times most timely and of great importance. Through all the band of heroes struggled, finally reaching their goal-the mouth of the great Columbia River- about the Ist of December, 1805, near the mouth of which, on a tributary stream called Netul, now Lewis and Clark River, they built their winter quarters, naming it Fort Clatsop from a tribe of Indians who had treated the party with great kindness and were uniformly friendly. The winter was industriously passed in explorations by land and water; in studying the character of the native inhabitants, who were numerous and interesting, and in hunting and fishing. Their outdoor employment was seriously hindered by almost continual rains, barely a day and night passing that did not bring its rainfall, and at times the rain would continue for days. It was discovered that these Indians had for a long series of years traded with white men who came in vessels, probably some of them from the north, though the natives, when asked the direction, would point to the southwest. Captain Lewis procured the names of a number of these traders, all of whom voyaged in three and four masted schooners and who came in the spring and fall. These names are Messrs. Haley, Yonens. Tallamen, Calalamet ( who had a wooden leg), Swipton, Moore, Machey, Washington. Mesship, Davidson, Jackson, Holch and Skelley, who had one eye only.

On Sunday, March 26, 1806, the expedition set out on its return journey. which was accomplished without the loss of a life. though the party was at times exposed to great perils, and Captain Lewis narrowly escaped death in a skirmish :01. 1-3

HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY

with Inchans who had been camping with them over night and had stolen their guns and horses before daylight. In the struggle to recover their effects Lewis was obliged to kill two Indians and another was mortally hit with a knife in the hands of one of the men. The guns and nearly all the horses were recovered. This was the only occasion when such extreme measures were demanded. and it was an occasion when self-preservation unquestionably justified the killing. The expedition made fair progress, each day bringing its interesting if not exciting incidents. About the last of August they passed the future site of Fort Randall. On the 31st they had reached Bon Homme Island, where they met a party of Yankton Indians, who represented about eighty lodges, that were encamped above on Emanuel Creek. Here a halt was made and the Yanktons invited to their camp where they were addressed by Lewis as good and faithful children. A piece of ribbon was tied in the hair of each Indian and some corn was given them and a pair of leggings to the chief. The party spent an hour hunting on the island. The bottom land on the north is described as very rich and so thickly overgrown with pea vines and grass, interwoven with grape vines, that some of the party who attempted to hunt there were compelled to leave it and ascend the plain, where they found the grass nearly as high as their heads. These plains were described as much richer below than above the Quicourt, and the whole country was there very beautiful. After making fifty-two miles they stopped for the night on a sandbar (near Yankton) opposite to the Calumet Bluff, where they had encamped on the Ist of September, 1804, and where their flag staff was still standing. They suffered very much from the mosquitoes. (This encampment was made on Monday evening, September 1, 1896, just two years to a day from the first visit when ascending the river.)

It is reported on what would seem to be good authority that Captain Clark was married to a Nez Perce Indian belle during the outward journey. The nuptial knot was tied according to the Indian custom. His bride accompanied him to the Pacific, remained at Fort Clatsop during the winter and returned with the expedi- tion in the spring to her own people, where the captain concluded to leave his dusky bride until he could arrange otherwise. In due time a son was born, this was in 1807, whom his mother named Tzi-kal-Tzac. When he grew up he called himself "Me-Clark," and could speak English, which had been taught him by his mother. He had sandy hair, which resembled that of the Explorer Clark. This son was killed at the age of seventy years in Bear Paw Mountains on Snake Creek in a battle with General Miles' command. "Me-Clark" was the father of a daughter born about 1855 named Mary Clark, who is now living in Montana. Hon. Joseph Dixon, who represents Montana in Congress, Judge Hiram Knowles and Judge F. Il. Moody of Montana are mentioned as authorities for this state- ment, Dixon having taken the pains to investigate the matter on behalf of Mary Clark. The preparation made to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition at Portland in 1905 brought to light this incident, which may appropriately find a place here.

At & o'clock the next morning they passed the River Jacques ( James ) at ten miles and soon after were compelled to land on account of high northeast wind and remained until sunset when they went to a sandbar and camped, twenty-two miles from the encampment of last night. During the day they killed three buffalo, four prairie fowl, which were the first they had seen in descending, and two turkeys. The following day, at HI o'clock, they passed the Redstone ( Ver- million ) and made sixty miles before night, when they saw two boats and several men on shore. On landing they found a Mr. James Airs of a house at Prairie du Chien, who had come from Mackinaw by way of Prairie du Chien and St. Louis with a license to trade among the Sioux for one year. Most of the night was spent in making inquiries into what had occurred during their absence. After so long an interval the sight of anyone that could give information was delightful and they found Mr. Airs a very friendly and liberal gentleman. They proposed to him to purchase a small quantity of tobacco to be paid for in St.

HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY

Louis, when he readily furnished every man of the party with as much as he could use during the remainder of the voyage.

Thursday they left Mr. Airs and after passing the Big Sioux stopped at noon near Floyd's Bluff. On ascending the hill they found that the grave of Floyd had been opened and was now half uncovered. They filled it up and then con- tinued down to their old camp near the Maha villages. On the 6th they met a trading boat belonging to Mr. August Choteau of St. Louis, with several men. on the way to trade with the Yanktons at the River Jacques, and obtained from them a gallon of whiskey and gave each of the party a dram, which was the first spirituous liquor any of them had tasted since the 4th of July, 1805. For tobacco when there was none to be had in the upper river the men cut their long tomahawk pipe stems, which had become saturated with the tobacco juice, into small pieces and chewed it.

The party reached St. Louis in safety on Thursday, September 23d, at 12 o'clock, fired a salute and went ashore, where they received the heartiest and most hospitable welcome from the whole village.

The old French interpreter, Durion, who had been left with the Yanktons on the way up took a number of Yankton chiefs to Washington in the spring of IS05, where they were royally entertained and returned to their homes so favorably impressed that the tribe forever after remained on friendly terms with the whites. Durion had married a Yankton belle and had one son who became quite promi- nent as an interpreter and trader, and he may have had other children. He lived to a green okl age and died here in the Valley of Yankton and was buried according to the Indian custom on a scaffold which was erected on the summit of the bluff near the Sister's Ilospital and was a prominent landmark when the whites settled in Yankton. AArmstrong indulges in the following sentiment to the memory of the faithful guide :

There he has slumbered on his scaffold tomb Through fifty years of storm and summer moon ; There let him rest, for first was he to die Of all the white race beneath Dakota's sky. 1151083

Among the first Yankton pioneers it was maintained that the scaffold, with a portion of the skeleton, was visible when they first visited it, but the bones were soon carried away by those who discovered in them something of peculiar value as relics.

Captain Lewis was appointed governor of Louisiana, with his residence at St. Louis, in 1807, and Captain Clark was made general of its militia and agent of the United States for the Indian affairs in Louisiana. Captain Clark engaged in the fur trade in 1808 with Manuel Lisa and Sylvester Labbadie, who was related to the Choteaus by marriage and led an expedition of 150 men up the Missouri, founding Fort Clark at the Arickaras Village below Knife River, and then went on to the forks of the Missouri, built a fort and engaged in trapping with a large force of men. The implacable hostility of the Blackfeet Indians finally drove the whites out of the country, killing thirty of them, and Clark retired from the trade.

Regarding Captain Lewis, President Jefferson furnished a biographical sketch to be published in connection with the journal of the explorations. It was written at Monticello in 1813, and gives a history of the events leading up to the expedi- tion, the letter of instructions to Lewis and closes with the following account of his melancholy death :

Governor Lewis had from early life been subject to hypochondriac affections. It was a constitutional disposition in all the nearer branches of the family of his name and was more immediately inherited by him from his father. They had not, however, been so strong as to give uneasiness to his family. While he lived with me at Washington I observed at times sensible depressions of mind, but knowing their constitutional source I estimated their course by what I had seen in the family. During his western expedition the constant exertion which that required of all the faculties of body and mind suspended these distressing affec-

HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY

1 1. ut atter huis establishment at St Louis in sedentary occupation, they returned upon hlin with redoubled vigor and began seriously to alarm his friends. Ile was in a paroxysm : one ni these, when his affairs rendered it necessary for him to go to Washington. He proceeded to the Chickasaw Bluffs where he arrived on the 16th day of September, 1809, with a view of continuing his journey thence by water. Mr. Neely, agent of the United States with the Chickasaw Imhans, arriving there two days after, found him extremely indisposed and betraying at times some symptoms of derangement of mind. The rumors of a war with England and apprehension that he might lose the papers he was bringing on, among which were the vouchers di his public accounts and the journals and papers of his western expedi- non, induced hun here to change his mind and to take his course by land through the Chickasaw country. Although he appeared somewhat relieved, Mr. Neely kindly determined to accompany and watch over him. Unfortunately at their encampment after having lost two horses which obhging Mr. Neely to halt for their recovery the governor proceeded under a promise to wait for him at the house of the first white inhabitant on his road. He stopped at the house of a Mr. Gruider, who not being at home his wife alarmed at the symptoms of derangement she discovered gave him up the house and retired to rest herself in an out House, the governor's and Neely's servants lodging in another. About 3 o'clock in the night he did the deed which plunged his friends into affliction and deprived the country of one of her must valued citizens, whose valor and intelligence would have been now ( 1813) employed in avenging the wrongs of his country, and in emulating by land the splendid deeds which have honored her arms on the ocean. It lost, too, to the nation the benefit of receiving from luis own hand the narration now offered them of his sufferings and successes, in endeavoring to extend for them the boundaries of science and to present to their knowledge that vast and fertile country which their sons are destined to fill with art, science, with freedom and happiness.

To this melancholy close of the life of one whom posterity will declare not to have lived in vain i have only to add that all the facts I have stated are either known to myself or communicated by his family or others for whose truth I have no hesitation to make myself responsible ; and 1 conclude with tendering you the assurance of my respect and consideration. THOMAS JEFFERSON.

In Robinson's History of South Dakota (1904), it is stated that :

The first action of Congress regarding a government for the Territory of Louisiana was to attach it to the Territory of Indiana, of which William Henry Harrison was gover- nor at that time. The following year ( 1805), Congress created the Territory of Louisiana, with St Louis as the capital, and the President appointed James Wilkinson, governor; Fred- erick Bates, secretary ; and R. J. Meigs and J. B. C. Lucas, judges. [Capt. Merriwether Lewis was appointed governor in 1807.]

In 1812 Louisiana was admitted as a state with its present boundaries. Congress then created the Territory of Missouri. In 1820 Missouri was admitted into the Union, but no provision was made for a government north of the Missouri and west of the Mississippi until 1834, when the Territory of Michigan was extended to embrace the country west to the Missouri and north to the international boundary. In 1836 Wisconsin Territory was created, which included Wisconsin, lowa. Minnesota, and Dakota east of the Missouri. In 1838 Iowa was created a territory and included all the territory north of the Missouri to the Boundary, and all lying between the Mississippi and Missouri. Minnesota was made a terri- lory in 1849, and included all east of the Missouri as far north as White Earth River. That part of Dakota west of the Missouri was called Mandan until 1854, when it was included in the Territory of Nebraska.

LEWIS AND CLARK'S CAMP'S IN DAKOT.1

It may be interesting to Dakotaians generally if it could be known definitely where the various encampments by Lewis and Clark's party were made. A record was kept of the number of miles traversed each day and a brief descrip- tion of the camps, but there have been stich changes in the channel of the river and its banks during the century that has elapsed since the exploration that their record of distances and description will not now guide to all the points men- tioned in their journal. Out of a motive of curiosity more than of an expec- tation of giving the precise location, the writer has endeavored to point out approximately where these various camps were laid between the Big Sioux and the winter camp. This may lead to a closer examination by those now inhabit- ing the river lands and possibly a line of Lewis and Clark's landmarks may be established, fifty two or more in number, along the borders of the Missouri. The expedition passed the mouth of the Big Sioux River August 21st. The first

HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY

camp made after passing this point was on the Nebraska side, about three miles west of MeCook, Union County. The second camp was on the Dakota side, in Union County, in town go, range 49. The third camp was on the Nebraska shore, two or three miles from Elk Point; and the fourth 31/2 miles above the mouth of the Vermillion River on the Nebraska side. The fifth night was spent six miles farther upstream, on the south side of the river, probably about oppo- site section 22, town 92, range 52, Clay County. The sixth camp was in Clay County, near section 21, town 92, range 53. The seventh camp was on a sand- bar, near the Yankton County shore, 11/2 miles above the mouth of James River. Tuesday, August 28th, the expedition reached a point 872 miles by river from the camp of the night before, and went into camp for the eighth time "on the south, under Calumet Bluff" ( which bluff is on the north side ), and here the party remained until Saturday, September Ist, holding a council with the Yank- ton Indians. September Ist, the ninth camp was on the lower extremity of Bon Homme Island, fifteen miles from the Yankton Camp, and the next night, which was Sunday, the encampment was formed at the head of Bon Homme Island, where Captain Clark spent the day viewing and measuring the old forti- fication. The eleventh camp was on the Nebraska side, about opposite Spring- field, and the twelfth was just above Niobrara River in what was once Todd County, Dakota. The thirteenth camp was also in Todd County, about opposite section 19, town 94, range 62, on the Yankton Reservation. The fourteenth camp was very near Greenwood, on the Yankton Reserve; and the fifteenth in Gregory County, about 31/2 miles above Greenwood. Sunday, September 9th, the sixteenth camp was made on Boat Island, in Chas. Mix County, seven- teen miles above Greenwood. The seventeenth camp was on Mud Island, Charles Mix County, 1012 miles above Boat Island. Camp No. 18 was in Brule County, near section 14, town 101, range 71. No. 19 was in section 21, town 102 range 71 ; and No. 20 in section 24, town 102, range 72, all in Brule County. At camp twenty the expedition remained a day examining White River Valley. Camp twenty-one was six miles above White River on the north side, in Brule County. Sunday, the 16th of September, camp twenty-two, near Lower Brule Agency, on the west side. Camp twenty-three was on the west side, below Chamberlain ; and camp twenty-four was at American Island, opposite Chamber- lain. Camp twenty-five was near Crow Creek, Buffalo County. Camp twenty- six was on section 21, town 108, range 93. Hyde County, on a sandbar. Camp twenty-seven in Hughes County, section 4. town 108, range 74. The next camp. twenty-eight, was made Sunday, September 23d, near section 31, town 110 range 76, in Hughes County, and the following night camp twenty-nine was made on a sandbar at the mouth of Bad, or Teton River. because of the threat- ening attitude and large number of Indians at that point. The following three days were spent with these Indians who were apparently friendly, but who acted as though waiting an opportunity to be otherwise. Camp was changed cach night, moving up a mile or two along the bars, or anchoring the boats. . 1 grand council was held. On Friday, the 28th, the expedition left Bad River and moved up about six miles above Pierre to camp thirty-one, near section 6, town 110, range 81. No. 32 was in section 34, town 110, range 81. No. 33 was above and near Fort Sully; and thirty-four was on Devil's Island, Sully County, opposite section 19. town 113, range So. The expedition had passed the mouth of the Cheyenne River this day, which was the first of October. Camp thirty-five on sandbar near the north line of Sully County. No. 36 on sandbar eight miles from last camp and near latitude 44º 19' 36", about opposite section 29, town 118, range 70. No. 37 on sandbar near Forest City, Potter County, opposite section 7, town 118, range 78. No. 38 on the northeast shore, two miles below Le Beau, Walworth County, section 26, town 121, range 78. No. 39. passed the mouth of Moreau River on Sunday, October 7th, made twenty-two miles, camped below the mouth of Grand River about four miles, opposite town 124, range 76, Walworth County. Camp forty was

HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY

six miles above Grand River, which was passed on the 8th, and the altitude taken in latitude 45 39' 5". Camped in the southern part of Campbell County. section 10, town 124. range 79. Remained here until the 12th, counseling with the rickarees, who had a large village on the south, and on an island. Three days at this point. October 12th, camp forty-one, Campbell County, town 128. range 77. Camp forty-two was in Campbell County, near the boundary line between the two states. No. 43 in Emmons County. N. D., ten miles above the boundary, between the two states. No. 44. October 15th. Emmons County, nearly opposite Fort Yates. No. 45 on the north, about section 12, town 133, range 79. Camp forty-six. in the south or west, three miles below the mouth of Cannon Ball River. Camp forty-seven in Emmons County, above Fort Rice, in section 6, town 135. range 78, latitude 40 23' 57". Camp forty-eight, Burleigh County, N. D., four miles above the boundary, opposite section 18, town 137. range 78, camped on sandbar. No. 49, October 19, near Bismarck, on the west bank. No. 50, seven miles above Bismarck, on the east bank, Sunday, 21st. Camp fifty-one in Mercer County, N. D., five miles above southern boundary. Camp fifty-two near the north line of Burleigh County and south line of McLean. Monday. October 22. camp fifty-five; expedition reached Mandan and Ree villages, now McLean County, and spent a week looking for winter camping place, changing its camp occasionally, and finally, on the 20th of October, selecting a site for winter quarters near the present Town of Washburne, McLean County, in lati- tude 47º 21' 47", longitude 101 west from Greenwich.

CHAPTER VI THE FUR TRADE

FUR TRADE THE PIONEER INDUSTRY OF NORTH AMERICA-JOHN JACOB ASTOR AND IIIS ENTERPRISES-THE CHOTEAUS, LISA AND OTHERS-FORT PIERRE CHOTEAU -ASTOR EXPEDITIONS BY SEA AND LAND-WASHIINGTON HUNT'S PERILOUS AND TRAGIC JOURNEY-THE WAR OF 1812-ASTOR SELLS TO CHOTEAU.

The Upper Missouri Valley was the theater of a very large and profitable industry generations before the country was opened to settlement. and pros- perity, measured in the profits realized from the fur trade, possibly equalled, if it did not exceed, our boasted per capita of the present day. We do not realize how much was accomplished in the exploration of this great Northwest by the pioneers who bartered with the savages during the eighteenth and nine- teenth centuries, nor do we realize the comparatively large number of civilized people who lived sumptuously on its bounty. The forests, plains and streams furnished the raw material in immense quantities ; the natives found it a source of profitable industry and congenial employment. The traders were the middle- men and accumulated princely fortunes, while the product in its unfinished condition formed the staple of our foreign outgoing commerce. It found an eager and profitable market in Europe, and one of still greater pecuniary value with the opulent classes, the mandarins and royal princes of China, and Astor's Pacific coast enterprise with the China trades led to the founding of a trading port at Astoria. It will seem somewhat singular that during all these decades. when the fur trade flourished so vigorously, that the adventurous pioneers made no effort to discover the gold which lay hidden in the very gulches and river banks trod by the enterprising traders and trappers. There seems to be no record of gold discoveries nor of any attempt at prospecting for minerals until the discovery of gold in California in 1849. The fur trade was civilization's pioneer industry in the northern half of the United States as well as Canada : and the Dakotas, with their savage races, contributed as largely and possibly a greater volume to this profitable traffic than any other similar area in North AAmerica.

From almost the earliest settlement of North America by white people, the fur trade was the only important industry to engage their enterprise. It had its beginning with the French occupation of Canada in the sixteenth century. and by the year 1800 had grown to immense proportions, and had, by its alluring prizes in the immense profits accruing from it, led its working forces across the continent of North America to the shores of the Pacific. Fur com- panies had been formed in the Canadian provinces on a scale of great magni- tude and their enterprising projectors had become monarchs of wealth. Early in the last century the leading merchants of Philadelphia and New York were largely engaged in this trade, but the major portion of it was controlled by British subjects.

John Jacob Astor, who was born in Germany some time about 1760, had made his way to the United States and had been engaged exclusively in buying and exporting furs for a number of years. He had succeeded in accumulating what was then considered a large fortune. He had become an American citizen

HISTORY OF DAKOTA TERRITORY

And was a resident of the State and City of New York. He was a man of high and laudable ambition, of great executive ability, a sincere and active American patriot : in fact, a type of the best and most intelligent citizenship. When Louisiana was purchased he saw the way opened for the establishment of a fur trade on a magnitude equal to that of Canada and exclusively within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States. After the return of the Lewis and Clark exploring expedition he set about the practical execution of the most daring and costly business undertaking that had up to that day engaged the attention of this country's business men. He planned to open up and develop a fur trade that would embrace the entire country drained by the Missouri and Columbia rivers, reaching to the shores of the Pacific, and for this purpose secured a charter from the Legislature of the State of New York, in 1808, incorporating the American Fur Company with a capital of $1,000,000, prac- tically all of it furnished by himself. Because of his high character as a citizen and probity in all his affairs, he was also enabled to secure the favor of the President and Congress, who extended to him every privilege that could be consistently given in support of a private enterprise. Prior to this time, how- ever, there had been a profitable trade carried on with the Indian population of the Missouri country by way of the British-American provinces controlled by the Hudson Bay Company of Great Britain, the Northwest Fur Company of Canada, and by a number of traders licensed by the Spanish governors of Louisiana-all foreigners-all inimical to the young Republic of the United States-and all, apparently, judged by subsequent developments, made it a large part of their business to prejudice the minds of the Indian population all along the Missouri against the new government that had come into possession of the Territory of Louisiana by purchase from France.

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History of Dakota Territory, volume I, Part 9

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920 Publication date: 1915 Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company Number of Pages: 1198

Author: Kingsbury, George Washington, 1837-; Smith, George Martin, 1847-1920
Publication date: 1915
Publisher: Chicago, Ill. : S.J. Clarke Publishing Company
Number of Pages: 1198