USA > Wyoming > The history of Wyoming from the earliest known discoveries > Part 21
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On the following day Father De Smet bade adieu to his traveling companions of the plains, and with his In- dian escort started northward towards the headwaters of the Snake River. Some eight days' journey through the mountain defiles brought them to the main body of the Flatheads. They were encamped in the Pierre Hole Valley, on the line that separates east Idaho from Wyoming, south of Pleasant Valley, having come that far, a distance of some 800 miles, to meet the priest. Their number had been increased from the start, and on the road by detached bands of other tribes-Nez Perces, Pend d'Oreilles and Kalispels, numbering, all told, some 1,600 souls. His entrance into
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the camp was a real triumph, in which all, men, women aud children, took part.
In the volume, "Indians and Whites of the Northwest," I find the following items regarding the journey of this re- markable missionary:
"'Immediately the whole village was in commotion,' wrote Father De Smet to his friend, Father Barbelin, 'men, women and children all came to meet me and shake hands, and I was conducted in triumph to the lodge of the great chief, who had the appearance of a patriarch.'
"Surrounded by the principal men of the two tribes and their warriors, the great chief, whose name was The Big Face, thus addressed Father De Smet:
" 'This day the Great Spirit has accomplished our wishes and our hearts are swelled with joy. Our desire to be instructed was so great that three times had we deputed our people to the Great Black Robe in St. Louis to obtain priests. Now, Father, speak, and we will comply with all that you will tell us. Show us the way we have to go to the home of the Great Spirit.' 'Then,' says Father De Smet, 'he resigned his authority to me, but I replied that he mis- took the object of my coming among them; that I had no other object in view but the salvation of their souls and that they were to remain as they were until circumstances should allow them to settle in a permanent spot.'
"After arranging on the hours proper for prayers and instructions, one of the chiefs brought Father De Smet a little bell, with which he might give the sign and call them together. 'The same evening,' continues Father De Smet, 'about 2,000 persons were assembled before my lodge to recite night prayers in common. The prayers having been said, a solemn canticle of praise, of their own composition, was sung by these children of the mountains to the Author of their being. It would be impossible for me,' he adds 'to describe the emotions I felt at this moment. I wept for and admired the wonderful ways of that kind Providence, which, in His infinite mercy, had deigned to depute me to these poor people, to announce to them the glad tidings of salvation.'
"Soon after the whole camp was on the move up Hen- ry's Fork of the Snake River to Henry's Lake, its source. Here Father De Smet, July 23rd, ascended one of the peaks on top of the main range and engraved on a soft stone the following inscription: 'Sanctus Ignatius Patronus Monti-
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um, die 23 Julii, 1840.' And here also, his soul brimful of emotion at the inspiring solemnity and grandeur of the scene before him, broke forth in the following rhyme, which is transcribed from his diary:
" 'Ye Rockies hail! majestic mounts! Of future bliss the favored shrine! For you God's Heart of gifts Divine Opens this day its precious founts.'
"Moving thence a short distance, they crossed what is now the Idaho line and camped in Montana, first at the headwaters of Beaverhead River, not far from Red Rock Lake; then along the banks of the same river and in the Big Hole Basin; finally on Jefferson Island, at the lower end of the Boulder Valley, near the three forks of the Mis- souri. Thus, the bank of the Beaverhead-Jefferson River is the spot where Christianity was first preached in Mon- tana.
"Father De Smet's missionary labors began with the day of his arrival, and never were there more docile pupils than these poor children of the forest. In the compara- tively short time he was with them, he prepared several hundred of them for baptism and instructed about 1,000 others.
"The following is a copy of a letter addressed by Father De Smet from his field of missionary labors to the Very Rev. F. N. Blanchet, V. G., (afterwards the first Archbishop of Portland, Oregon) who had crossed the Rocky Mountains two years previous and was at this time evangelizing the French Canadians and Indians in Oregon, near the coast: "'Fork of Jefferson River, August 10, 1840.
"'Very Reverend Sir: Your Reverence will be glad to learn that Mgr. Rosati, Bishop of St. Louis, in concert with my provincial superior of the Society of Jesus in Missouri, and in compliance with the desires often repeated of the Flatheads, Pend d'Oreilles and a great number of Nez Per- ces, has sent me to the Rocky Mountains to visit these mis- sions. I have found the two first in the most desirable dis- position, well resolved to stand by the true children of Jesus Christ. The few weeks I had the happiness to pass among them have been the happiest of my life and give me the firm hope, with the grace of God, to see soon in this country, so long forsaken, the fervor of the first Christians. Since I am among them I have three, four and five instructions daily. They cannot be tired; all come to my lodge at the first ring- ing of the bell. They are anxious to lose none of my words
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relating to these instructions on these heavenly subjects, and if I had the strength to speak to them, they would will- ingly listen to me whole days and nights. I have baptized about 200 of their little children and I expect to baptize in a short time 150 adults.'
"This letter was sent through Indians and Hudson Bay Company men to Colville, and thence brought to St. Paul, Oregon, and handed to the Very Rev. F. N. Blanchet by his missionary companion, Rev. Modest Demers.
"After two months of constant missionary work, Father De Smet bade farewell to his newly converted children of the mountains, with the promise to return in the spring with other black robes.
"From the Gallatin Valley, where he parted with the main body of the tribe August 27th, he now crossed over to the Yellowstone country, being escorted for a considerable distance by a number of Flathead warriors. His course lay through the land of the Crows, Blackfeet, Gros Ventres, Assiniboines and the Sioux, all hostile to the Flatheads and their friends.
"Passing an Assiniboine party in safety, he and his companions were surrounded by a fierce war party of Black- feet. The long black gown of the missionary, the crucifix which glittered on his bosom whenever he traveled through the Indian country, arrested the eyes of the Blackfeet chief. 'Who art thou?' asked he. 'He is a Black Robe,' said Father De Smet's companion, 'the man who speaks to the Great Spirit.' In a moment all was changed. Invited to eat with the missionary, the chief showed still greater re- spect when he saw him address the Great Spirit before the frugal meal. This ended, twelve Indians stretched a buffalo robe before the Father, with motions indicating their wish that he should be seated upon it. Supposing it was in- tended for a mat, he did so; but they raised it aloft, and so bore him in triumph to their village. There, too, he was received and treated with every honor. 'It is the happiest day of my life,' said the chief. 'It is the first time that we see among us the Black Robe, the man who speaks to the Great Spirit. These are the braves of my tribe. I have brought thee here that the memory of thy presence may be forever engraved on their memories.'
"Father De Smet arrived in St. Louis on the eve of the new year, and his safe return sent a thrill of joy through the souls of his brethren. On hearing from him of the good dispositions of the Flatheads, of the large and ripe field that
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was waiting for laborers, all burned with a desire to go and help him gather in the harvest."
Father De Smet returned to the mountains again in the early spring of 1841, following once more the North Platte, the Sweetwater, and was met at the south point of the Wind River Range (South Pass) by ten lodges of the Flathead Indians. He was conducted through Wyoming by a noted trapper and guide named John Gray, who will be remembered by many of our pioneers even to this day. His interpreter was another well known character, Gabriel Prudhomme, a half-breed, also two brothers, Charles and Francis Ignace. The priest spent some little time in south- western Wyoming and then went on to Fort Hall and finally to old Fort Owen in Montana. His services among the Flat- heads to all appearances were productive of great good. Lieutenant John Mullan of the United States army, who accompanied Isaac J. Stephens on an expedition into Mon- tana thirteen years afterwards, thus writes of the condi- tion of these Indians at that time, a condition brought about by the labors of Father De Smet.
"When I arrived at the camp, with my guide, three or four men came to meet me and we were invited to enter the lodge of the great chief. With much eagerness they took care of our horses and unsaddled them and led them to drink. As soon as all the camp had been informed of the arrival of the white man among them, the principal men of the tribe collected at the lodge of the chief. All being assembled, at a signal given by the chief they prayed aloud. I was struck with astonishment, for I had not the least ex- pectation of such conduct on their part. The whole assem- bly knelt in the most solemn manner and with the greatest reverence they adored the Lord. I asked myself, 'Am I among Indians? Am I among people whom all the world call savages?' I could scarcely believe my eyes. The thought that these men were penetrated with religious sen- timent so profound and beautiful overwhelmed me with amazement."
Father De Smet was in and out of Wyoming for many years. He paid a number of visits to the Crows and passed over all that country lying north of Big Wind River on both sides of the Big Horn River. He visited the Powder River
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country and many times passed over the ground where Buf- falo now stands. Ten miles north of Buffalo is a beautiful lake which is named after him. The Crows at first received him as the other Indians had done, with courtesy and kind- ness, but after a time the awe and veneration inspired by his black gown and large gold cross, which hung on his breast, wore off and they became slightly sceptical in regard to his being a direct representative of the Great Spirit. One day a prominent chief of the tribe showed his scepticism to the good father, in a marked manner, by saying to him that if he would go out on the prairie where an old buffalo bull was grazing and put his hands on the animal's head, it would be proof to the tribe that he was the Great Spirit, but if the buffalo should kill him they would know that he was not protected by supernatural power. The priest saw that he must run the risk of attempting to perform what seemed very near a miracle. He boldly advanced toward the old bull, who as he approached continued to graze. Nearer and nearer to the animal he advanced, and finally when only a few yards distant the huge creature raised his head and gazed intently at the black gown and flashing cross, and finally the priest placed his hand on the bull's head, the animal the while seeming to be transfixed to the spot. Having accomplished his mission, Father De Smet turned and walked back to the group of Indians, who were awaiting the test. The savages received him as they would one possessing Divine power. They verily believed from that moment that he was under the protection of the Great Spirit, and quickly the incident spread through the entire Crow nation and even to adjoining tribes. Many Indians in the northwest, I am told, still relate this story in proof of the God-given power of Father De Smet.
Many old residents of Wyoming today remember this good priest and are ever anxious to testify to his worthy deeds. During his travels in this state he investigated and became acquainted with the geological formation of the country. He visited extensively in Montana, Idaho, and even to the mouth of the Columbia, but he seemed to find
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much more in Wyoming to interest him than in any other place. His name is inseparably connected with the Big Horn country. Reverend Father Meaphlie, a chaplain in the United States army, is authority for a story which has often been related, in which the Father told of the In- dians showing him handfuls of nuggets which they pro- posed manufacturing into bullets for an old pistol which the Father had given to a prominent chief. De Smet was really taken to the spot from whence the nuggets were obtained, and found it to be immensely rich. But he taught the sav- ages the value of it, told them their beautiful country would soon be desecrated by white miners if the facts became known, and in return was compelled to promise never to reveal the secret of its location. To the question once asked him by the Bishop of his church at Omaha, "Are those mines on the Pacific coast the ones you have told about?" the Father answered in the negative, and then sorrowfully added, "but I fear it will not be many years until they are discovered, and then what will become of my poor Indians?" To army officers and others he has often admitted his know- ledge of those mines in the northwest, when closely pressed to do so, and many persons are now living who have tried in various ways to extract more definite knowledge from him. Most of these believe that a careful prospecting of the Big Horn and Wind River regions will certainly reveal the terra incognito, because it is understood that the old Montana mines were not meant, and that no spot yet discovered in the Black Hills answers to his glowing description.
Says Strayhorn in his "Handbook of Wyoming": "On Father De Smet's return from one of his long trips, just as the discovery of gold in California was made known, he heard some acquaintances expressing doubt as to the won- derful stories from the west. Turing to them, he said: 'I do not doubt it. I am sure there is gold in California;' and after a moment's pause he quietly added: 'I know where gold exists in the Rocky Mountains in such abundance that, if made known, it would astonish the world. It is even richer than California" Among those who knew him best
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his statements were taken for literal truth, and when asked to corroborate the assertion quoted he would make no ex- planation, merely adhering to it and saying that he had promised the Indians never to describe the location of this wealth."
In 1868 Father De Smet visited Cheyenne and remained for some days, and while there gave an interesting account of northern Wyoming. Said he: "There are many lovely valleys in that section, capable of sustaining a large popu- lation. The mountain scenery is truly grand, and the vast forests of timber wonderful and invaluable. Often have I seen evidences of mineral wealth in this wonderful country at different places. The whole range of the Rocky Moun- tains, from New Mexico to British America, is mineral bear- ing. In many places the streams are stocked with trout, and game was abundant wherever I went. The climate is delightful, often reminding me of the climate of the south of France, near the Pyrenees. I have ridden through some of these rich valleys where the grass was so rank and tall that my head was not visible above its top when seated on horseback."
Father Peter De Smet died at St. Louis, May 23, 1873, in which city his remains were interred. This pious priest possessed many qualities which go to make up the man, and his memory will long be cherished not only in Wyo- ming but in the adjoining state of Montana and along the full length of the Columbia River. Let no one have the idea that Father De Smet was not fond of telling of his experi- ences among the Indians and of describing the country through which he traveled. He rode on horseback thous- ands of miles, and the whole territory of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington was clearly mapped out in his mind. He wrote many letters which were published in Belgium. In 1843 these letters were re-edited and appeared in book form under the title of "Letters and Sketches." In 1847 another volume appeared under the title "Oregon Mis- sions." He published at least two volumes in America which are said to contain much valuable information. I
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have met many people who were intimately acquainted with this remarkable man, and they one and all speak of him as possessing generous and genial qualities. Some re- gret that he gave himself up to the missionary cause, claim- ing that in other walks of life he would have become a giant among men.
CHAPTER XIX.
FREMONT'S EXPLORATIONS IN WYOMING.
THE FIRST MILITARY EXPEDITION TO VISIT OUR STATE-THE MAIN DE- TACHMENT FOLLOWS THE NORTH PLATTE TO FORT LARAMIE-FRE- MONT WITH A SMALL PARTY VISITS FORT ST. VRAIN AND PASSES NORTH TO FORT LARAMIE-DESCRIPTION OF THE FORT AS IT APPEARED IN 1842-INDIANS INVITE THEM TO PARTAKE OF A DOG FEAST-INDIAN CHIEFS WARN THE PARTY THAT IF THEY GO FURTHER WEST, WILL BE KILLED-FREMONT'S SPEECH OF DEFIANCE-EXPEDITION GOES FORWARD-OBSERVATIONS REGARDING FORMATIONS, SOIL, CLIMATE, ETC.
The exploring expedition of Lieutenant John C. Fre- mont into Wyoming in 1842 was an important event in our early history. The commander of the expedition, though only twenty-nine years old, was a ripe scholar, a keen ob- server, and withal possessed the genius of an explorer. He left throughout Wyoming and the Rocky Mountains in- delible footprints and gave to the world a comprehensive knowledge of things as they were in our country at that time. Not only did he bring to his task full and complete preparation for the great work which was to make his name imperishable and give him a place on the brightest pages of the western half of the Republic, but with his superior ability charmed the masses by his written reports published by the government in 1845. The cloud of mystery which had covered mountain and plain in Wyoming was cleared away by this intrepid explorer, and the locality was given its proper place on the map of the west.
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Fremont's Explorations in Wyoming.
John Charles Fremont was born January 21, 1813, at Savannah, Georgia, while his mother was on a visit to that city, the residence of the family being at Charleston, South Carolina. He was a graduate of the Charleston College and excelled in Greek, Latin and Mathematics. An act of Congress passed April 30, 1824, authorized the President of the United States "to employ two or more skillful civil engineers, and such officers of the corps of engineers, or who may be detailed to do duty with that corps, as he may think proper, to cause the necessary surveys, plans and estimates to be made of the routes of such roads and canals as he may deem of national importance, in a commercial or military point of view, or for the transportation of the public mail." Under this act, Fremont received his first appointment in that branch of the public service. He was selected by President Jackson as an associate engineer to serve with Captain Williams of the Topographical Corps, and he served in this capacity in a survey of the Cherokee country in the winter of 1837 and 1838. Under the act passed July 5, 1838, to increase the military establishment, the fourth section of that act required that the corps of topographical engineers should be organized and increased, by regular promotion in the same, so that the said corps should consist of one colonel, one lieutenant-colonel, four majors, ten cap- tains, ten first lieutenants and ten second lieutenants; and the fifth section ordained that the vacancies created by said organization, over and above those which could be filled by the corps itself, should be taken from the army, and from such as it may be deemed advisable of the civil engineers employed under the act of April 30th, 1824.
This latter clause let in Mr. Fremont. It was probably designed to do so, as his friend and patron, Mr. Poinsett, was then Secretary of War. He was accordingly commis- sioned two days afterwards, on the 7th of July, 1838, as a second lieutenant of the topographical engineers. About this time he had been transferred to the theater of his fame, the field where his great work in life was to be done. The same year that Fremont was appointed, the work of sur-
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veying the northwest and west was commenced and Lieu- tenant Fremont, under Mr. Nicholet, a learned and distin- guished astronomer and a man of science, entered the field and the whole country was explored up to the British line. In the course of these surveys there were seventy thousand meteorological observations, and the topography was mi- nutely determined by the proper calculations at innumera- ble points. The map thus constructed has been the source from which all subsequent ones relating to that region have been derived. On October 19, 1841, Lieutenant Fremont was married to Jessie Benton, the daughter of Thomas H. Benton, a United States Senator from the State of Missouri. The young lady's parents raised a storm of objections and the newspapers of the time were full of the affair, but Miss Benton was the daughter of her father and it was not strange that she should have a will of her own. It was a happy marriage and Senator Benton early was reconciled to his daughter's choice, and that distinguished statesman in after years became very proud of his son-in-law.
On May 2, 1842, Lieutenant Fremont left Washington with his instructions to explore the country lying between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains and along the lines of the Kansas and Platte Rivers. He reached St. Louis May 22nd and there outfitted the expedition and pro- ceeded by steamboat to the mouth of the Kansas River and made his final preparations at the trading post of Cyprian Chouteau, which was located twelve miles up the stream last mentioned. He brought with him twenty-one men recruited at St. Louis. These men were required to enter the service of the United States for the purposes of the ex- pedition. He also engaged Charles Preuss as assistant to- pographical engineer, L. Maxwell as hunter and Christopher Carson as guide. The twenty-one men recruited at St. Louis were Clement Lambert, J. B. L'Esperance, J. B. Leferve, Benjamin Potra, Louis Gouin, J. B. Dumes, Basil Lajeu- nesse, Francois Tessier, Benjamin Cadotte, Joseph Clement, Daniel Simonds, Leonard Benoit, Michel Morly, Baptiste Bernier, Honore Ayot, Francois Latulippe, Francois Ba-
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deau, Louis Menard, Joseph Ruelle, Moise Chardonnais, Auguste Janisse, Raphael Prone. In addition to those named were Henry Brant of St. Louis, aged 19, and Ran- dolph, the twelve-year-old son of Senator Benton. The party was well mounted and armed with the exception of eight men who conducted as many carts containing stores, baggage and instruments. The carts were drawn by two mules each. There were a few loose horses and four oxen. The expedition left Chouteau's trading post on the morning of June 10th and proceeded west on the south bank of the Kansas River for a distance of 100 miles, where they crossed that stream and taking a northwesterly course reached the Platte twenty miles below Grand Island on June 26th. Go- ing up the river, they arrived at the forks of the North and South Platte on July 2nd. A major part of the force in charge of Clement Lambert, was sent up the North Fork, with instructions to proceed as far as the Laramie Fork and there await Fremont, who, accompanied by Mr. Preuss, Maxwell, Bernier, Ayot and Basil Lajeunesse, went up the South Platte as far as St. Vrain Fort, for the purpose of se- curing some extra mules and at the same time informing himself as to the feasibility of connecting the South Platte country with the settlements by a line of posts from the Arkansas River. On the second day out Mr. Preuss was sent back to join the main division, his horse being in no condition to stand the journey. From St. Vrain they pro- ceeded down the South Platte a short distance, then struck across the country and made direct for the Black Hills, crossing the Cache la Poudre, then continuing north to Crow Creek, entering Wyoming about thirty miles south- east of Cheyenne, proceeding thence north to Lodge Pole Creek, Horse Creek and through Goshen's Hole, reaching the North Platte thirteen miles below Fort Laramie, and on July 15th they reached that post. An extract from Fre- mont's official report will show the condition of things at the mouth of the Laramie at that early day. From this on I shall use this report freely, as it is a most valuable official document and pertains exclusively to the history of Wyo- -(16)
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