Copyright 2000 - 2003 - Janine M. Bork
This page is part of the
Union County, OR AGHP
CHAPTER XVI.
(1823 - 1836)
American Trade Enterprises in the Territory West of the Rocky Mountains - Expedition of William H. Ashley - Jackson, Sublette and Smith Form the Rocky Mountain Fur Company - American Trading Vessels in the Columbia River - Wagons Brought to the Rocky Mountains - South Pass - Pilcher's Expeditions - First Overland Expedition, Captain Wyeth, to Columbia River - First School West of the Rocky Mountains - Captain Bonneville's Expedition - Captain Wyeth's Second Enterprise - He Establishes Fort Hall and Williams.
THE dissolution of the Pacific Fur Company had been followed, in 1814, by the entire withdrawal of American trading vessels from the northwest coast, and also of American traders, trappers and hunters from the territory west of the Rocky Mountains. The urgent demands of western members secured the passage by Congress in April, 1816, of an act regulating the Indian trade. By its provisions, none but citizens of the United States were permitted to trade in the Indian country. This enactment occasioned the retirement of British traders from the United States territory east of the Rocky Mountains, and secured to the citizens of the United States the exclusive enjoyment of the fur and Indian trade in that immense area drained by the Mississippi and Missouri rivers.
John Jacob Astor had continued at the head of the North American Fur Company, whose main field of operations embraced the regions watered by the Upper Mississippi and Missouri rivers. American traders had ventured into the northern provinces of Mexico, and had established a trade between Santa Fé and St. Louis. In 1822, the Columbia Fur Company was projected by members of the North West Company dissatisfied with the coalition in 1821 of the Hudson's Bay and North West Companies. It was but short-lived, soon merging itself into the North American Fur Company.
William H. Ashley, of St. Louis, who had for many years successfully prosecuted the fur trade in the Upper Missouri country, determined upon establishing trading-posts west of the Rocky Mountains. In the spring of 1823, he left the Missouri frontier with a party of mounted men, a large quantity of trading goods and merchandise transported by pack-animals. He ascended the Platte river to its source, exploring its northern branch, to which he gave the name Sweetwater. He crossed the Rocky Mountains in latitude forty-two degrees, twenty minutes north, and summered upon Green river, a branch of the Colorado of the West. For many years this continued the rendezvous of the American Fur Company. IN 1824, he again crossed the Rocky Mountains by the South Pass and journeyed to Great Salt Lake. To a neighboring smaller lake to the southeast, discovered by Ashley, he gave his name. Having built a fort and established a trading-post upon Fort Ashley, he left one hundred men to winter, and returned to St. Louis. Hitherto, Ashley had transported his trading goods by pack-animals. In 1826, he fitted out
(111)
another expedition to Fort Ashley, accompanied by a six-pounder drawn by mules. Seven months were occupied in accomplishing the journey and return of the party to st. Louis. The safe transit of the Rocky Mountains with the gun was accepted as the demonstration of a feasible wagon road.
In three years, the collection of furs at Ashley's post realized, at St. Louis, one hundred and eighty thousand dollars. Having amassed a large fortune, Ashley sold out, in 1829, to the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, composed of David Jackson, William Sublette and Jedediah S. Smith. Captain William Sublette was the leading spirit. Each partner had been in charge of annual parties trapping and hunting in, and west of, the Rocky Mountains, returning at the time and to the rendezvous agreed upon before setting out. About the time of Ashley's retirement, independent of individual enterprises, several small fur-trading companies had been formed. The success of Fort Ashley stimulated renewed activity; at least six hundred trappers were employed in the Rocky Mountain trade. To such extent was the spirit of competition carried, that a man attached to one company risked his life, if he disposed of furs to a rival trader or company. The free trapper (1) could only deal for the season with the company who had secured his services, and by whom he had been furnished his outfit.
In addition to the Rocky Mountain and North American Fur Companies, there were the St. Louis Company and a number of "lone traders" and "free trappers." Conspicuous among these were Robert Campbell, J.O. Pattie, Major Pilcher, Colonel Charles Bet, William Bent, Captain John Grant, Milton Sublette and others. Expeditions extended into Mexico, Sonora and California, but seldom entered within the recognized fields of the Hudson's Bay Company. St. Louis was the headquarters of the Rocky Mountain trade, except the North American Fur Company, whose headquarters were in New York. The Rocky Mountain Fur Company had existed since the spring of 1824. During that year Smith with five trappers, had crossed the Rocky Mountains and trapped until fall on the headwaters of Lewis' Fork or Snake river. They met a party of Hudson's Bay Company trappers returning to Flat Head post, whom they accompanied, and with whom they passed the winter, returning to rendezvous in the early spring of 1825. With a party numbering about forty, Smith crossed the Sierra Nevada Mountains and established a camp on the American Fork of the Sacramento river. He distributed small trapping parties on the tributaries of that river, who met with great success. Smith returned with several bales of beaver skins.
The Rocky Mountain Fur Company now resolved to prosecute the trade in the countries bordering on the Pacific. In the Snake river country, the number of men employed had been increased to between five and six hundred. Encouraged by the success of the previous year, Smith, with a larger party, set out for the country west of Great Salt Lake. Having gone too far west to feel sure of a safe return over the great desert with his reduced stock of provisions and exhausted animals, Smith pushed forward to the Pacific. He resolved to go to the Columbia and follow up that river and meet his partners in the Snake river country. To obtain horses and necessary supplies with which to execute his purpose, he went as far south as San Diego, thoroughly exploring the country as he journeyed. The native Californians regarded all strangers with jealousy, but those coming from the United States with especial suspicion. Smith was unable to purchase horses or supplies until he had procured from General Echandia, the military
(1) A free
trapper is one not indentured to any company, who hunts upon certain terms
of agreement concerning the prices of the furs he secures, and the cost
of his outfit.
commandant of the presidio, a passport allowing him to remain in the country, and to return to his camp. Several American shipmasters, then trading upon the coast of California, certified to his honesty and that his objects were perfectly harmless. That singular document reads:
"We the undersigned, having been requested by Jedediah S. Smith to state our opinion regarding his entering the province of California, do not hesitate to say that we have no doubt but that he was compelled to, for want of provisions and water, having entered far into the beaver country that lies between latitudes of forty-two degrees and forty-three degrees west; that he found it impossible to return by the route he came, as his horses had most of them perished for want of food and water. He was therefor under the necessity of pushing forward into California, it being the nearest place where he could procure supplies to enable him to return.
"We further state as our opinions that the account given by him is circumstantially correct, and that his sole object was the hunting and trapping of beaver and other furs.
"We also examined the passports produced by him from the superintendent of Indian affairs for the government of the United States of America, and do not hesitate to say that we believe them perfectly correct.
"We also state that, in our opinion, his motives for wishing to pass by a different route to the Columbia river, on his return, is solely because he feels convinced that he and his companions run great risks of perishing if they return by the route they came.
"In testimony whereof, we have hereunto set our hands and seals this 20th day of December, 1826. (Signed) William P. Dana, Captain of schooner Waverly; William H. Cunningham, Captain of the ship Courier; William Henderson, Captain of the brig Olive Branch; James Scott; Thomas Robbins, Mate of the schooner Waverly; Thomas Shaw, Supercargo of ship Courier."
Smith made several unsuccessful efforts to proceed to the Columbia river. It was equally impracticable to return eastward through the Sierra Nevada Mountains. He was informed by the Christian Indians from the Mission of San José that Father Duran, in charge, was very desirous of knowing who he was, and the purpose of his party being in the country. Smith thus satisfied the curiosity of the missionary:
"Reverend Father: I understand through the medium of one of your Christian Indians, that you are anxious to know who we are, as some of the Indians have been to the mission and informed you that there were certain white people in the country. We are Americans, on our journey to the Columbia river. We were in the mission San Gabriel in January last. I went to San Diego and saw the General and got a passport from him to pass on from that place. I have made several efforts to pass the mountains, but the snows being so keep I could not succeed in getting over. I returned to this place, it being the only point to kill meat, to wait a few weeks until the snows melt, so that I can go on. The Indians here also being friendly, I consider it the most safe point for me to remain until such time as I can cross the mountains, with my horses, having lost a great many in attempting to cross ten or fifteen days since. I am a long ways from home, and am anxious to get there as soon as the nature of the case will admit. Our situation is quite unpleasant, being destitute of clothing and most of the necessaries of life, wild meat being our principal subsistence. I am, Reverend Father, your strange, but real friend and christian brother.
"May 19, 1827.
(Signed) J.S. SMITH."
That certificate of Jedediah S. Smith's peaceable intentions towards the province of California, and his letter to Father Duran of San José mission, are preserved in the archives of the State of California as mementoes of the first crossing of the Sierra nevada Mountains by white men, - of the consummation of the first overland trip from the Atlantic States to the Bay of San Francisco.
Smith and his party reached the
coast at the mouth of Rogue river, from whence they followed the beach,
reaching the south bank of the Umpqua, where the Indians stole the only
axe the party possessed. It was a severe loss, for upon it the party had
depended to construct rafts to cross the rivers, and to supply fuel. The
chief having been taken prisoner, the axe was returned. Early next morning
Smith, accompanied by two white men and an Indian, was ascending the river
in a canoe to find a ford to cross the pack animals. Having reached the
middle of the stream, still in sight of the camp, the Indian snatched Smith's
gun and jumped into the river. Smith seized his companion's gun, shot the
Indian dead, and made for the opposite shore. Without provisions, with
one gun between them, Smith and his companion fled. Contrary to Smith's
orders, a large number of Indians had been allowed to come into camp. At
a concerted signal, each man was attacked by five or six savages armed
with knives and clubs. Of the nineteen constituting the party, fifteen
were killed. Of those remaining in camp, Black alone survived the massacre.
Black had just cleaned his rifle, when three Umpquas closed in upon him.
He succeeded in freeing himself, fired upon the crowd, and, amid the consternation,
effected his escape. Concealed in the woods until the Indians had retired,
he then swam the Umpqua river, and followed up the coast, aided by friendly
Indians, till he reached Cape Lookout. He then gave himself up to a party
of Tillamook Indians, who conveyed him in safety to Fort Vancouver, where
he arrived August, 1828. Dr. McLoughlin rewarded the Tillamooks for bringing
Black to the fort. On hearing Black's story, Dr. McLoughlin sent Indian
runners with presents to the Willamette chiefs, requesting that search
be instituted for Smith and his two companions. A liberal reward was offered
for their safe return; and the Indians were warned that if these men were
harmed severe punishment would follow. A party of forty armed men was immediately
equipped, to go to the Umpqua country. Just as the party was embarking,
Smith and the two men arrived at Fort Vancouver. The party was then dispatched
with sealed instructions to be opened by the officer in charge on arrival
at the Umpqua. These instructions were: "The Indians were to be invited
to bring their furs to trade, as though nothing had happened. The furs
were then to be counted; and, as the American trappers marked all their
skins, the stolen skins were to be kept separate, to be returned to Smith.
The Indians were not to be paid for those, but were to be told that they
got them by murdering Smith's party." The Indians denied the murder, but
admitted that they bought the skins from the murderers; they were ten told
to look to the murderers for payment. The murderers were requested to restore
the property received in exchange for the stolen skins. A war followed
among the Indians, and the murderers were severely punished by their own
people. Property of Smith's to the value of $3,200 was restored to him,
without any expense; and himself and the other refugees were treated with
the greatest kindness. Sir George Simpson, Governor of the Hudson's Bay
Territory, present at Fort Vancouver at the time, offered Smith a free
passage to London in the company's next returning vessel. The offer was
declined; and Smith sold his furs to Dr. McLoughlin. With the remnant of
his party, he set out, in the spring of 1829, for the Rocky Mountains,
meeting, at Pierre's Hole, Fitzpatrick, who had been sent in search. The
generous hospitality and liberality of Dr. McLoughlin to Smith and his unfortunate companions dispelled all spirit of competition; and, at Smith's solicitations, the Rocky Mountain Fur Company retired from the hunting and trapping fields of the Hudson's Bay Company.
In 1831, Smith, in charge of a trading expedition en route to Santa Fé, was killed on the Cimmarron river in an encounter with Comanche Indians. For several years after Smith's death, the Rocky Mountain Fur Company, its parties led by Bridger, Fitzpatrick and the Sublette brothers, continued the prosecution of the fur trade. Under the auspices of this company, the wagon train reached the eastern base of the Rocky Mountains. In a letter to the Secretary of War, October, 1829, the company reported the successful accomplishment of the undertaking, bolding declaring the entire practicability of a good wagon road across the Rocky Mountains via South Pass to the great Falls of the Columbia. This letter, which accompanied the special message of President Jackson to Congress, January 25, 1831, said:
"The 18th of April last (1829), we set out from St. Louis, with eighty-one men mounted on mules, ten wagons, each drawn by five mules, and two dearborns (light carriages or carts), each drawn by one mule. Our route was nearly due west to the western limits of the State of Missouri, and thence along the Santa Fé trail, about forty miles from which the course was some degrees north of west, across the waters of the Kansas, and up the great Platte river to the Rocky Mountains, and to the head of the Wind river, where it issues from the mountains. This took us until July 16th, and was as far as we wished the wagons to go, as the furs to be brought were to be collected at this place, which is, or was this year, the great rendezvous of the persons engaged in that business. Here the wagons could easily have crossed the Rocky Mountains, it being what is called the Southern Pass, had it been desirable for them to do so, which it was not for the reason stated."
The success of the Missouri fur traders soon provoked the competition of the North American Fur Company. The latter dispatched trapping and trading parties west of the Rocky Mountains, but formed no permanent establishments. Private parties also inaugurated individual enterprises without important or permanent results.
In 1827, Mr. Pilcher left Council Bluffs with forty-five men and one hundred horses, crossed the South Pass, and wintered upon Green river. The next spring he proceeded to Snake river and followed the western base of the Rocky Mountains as far north as Flat Head Lake, where he remained during the winter of 1828-9. The next season he descended Clark's Fork of the Columbia to Fort Colvile, and recrossed the Rocky Mountains by the northern Columbia route on the Hudson's Bay Company trail to York Factory.
These expeditions of the American
fur-trading parties west of the Rocky Mountains were confined to the country
watered by the Snake river and its tributaries, and the region to the southward.
Inroad was not made into Oregon; and competition with the Hudson's Bay
Company was avoided. They were migratory parties without established posts,
- with temporary depots adopted as rendezvous, where the results of trade
were concentrated, from which supplies were distributed, and to which the
parties at a designated time would return. While these American fur-trading
operations were being prosecuted in and about the western base of the Rocky
Mountains, United States vessels were again attempting to renew trade in
the Columbia river. In February, 1821, the brig Owyhee of Boston,
Captain Dominis, entered the Columbia, followed a month later by the schooner
Convoy, Captain
Thomas, belonging to the same owner. As soon as it was learned at Fort Vancouver that two American vessels were trading at the mouth of the river, the sloop Multnomah, laden with trading goods, was sent to Fort George (Astoria) to trade. Captain Dominis having sailed up the coast, the Convoy went up the Willamette river to Clackamas Rapids, and there opened trade with the natives. On the recession of the summer high waters, the schooner grounded. The Indians, taking advantage of Captain Thomas misfortunes, became insolent and menaced both vessel and crew. On hearing of the Convoy's condition, Dr. McLoughlin sent assistance, and compelled the Indians to make restitution of the stolen property. After this relief, the Convoy sailed up the coast. The Owyhee returned to the Columbia, where she wintered. The Convoy wintered at the Sandwich Islands. She returned in the spring to the Columbia river, where both vessels remained during the summer.
The visit of the Owyhee and the Convoy aptly illustrates the policy of the Hudson's Bay Company to American traders, as also the humanity of Governor John McLoughlin to those who met with misfortune, - a broad humanity which never halted to inquire as to race, sect or nationality.
As chief executive officer of the Hudson's Bay Company, intrusted with the entire management of its affairs and business west of the Rocky Mountains, he would not tolerate the presence of a rival trader within the company's fields of operations without the most bitter competition. But, when misfortune overtook any fellow being, he was ever ready to proffer sympathy, to extend assistance. With the utmost promptness, he punished with severity every depredation by Indians upon the white race, English or American. The wrong-doer was demanded; if not surrendered, the tribe or band were treated as accessories, and received merited punishment. Where thefts were committed, restitution must follow. Always justly severe when necessary, the Indians knew what they had to expect; and they universally loved Dr. McLoughlin as a man, and respected his authority as a chief. On March 10, 1829, the Hudson's Bay Company's ship William and Ann was wrecked on the north spit, in nearly a direct line between Cape Disappointment and Clatsop Point. Such of the crew as escaped by boats were murdered by the Indians at Clatsop. Suspicion was aroused that, after the ship had been disabled, the Indians had overpowered the crew, and stripped and plundered her. None had survived to tell the tale; and much of her cargo was in possession of the Indians. Dr. McLoughlin with a party, armed with a swivel, demanded restitution of the wrecked goods. The demand was met by the Indians firing upon the party. Upon the discharge of the swivel the Indians fled, except one, who raised his gun to fire and was shot dead. The wrecked property was then peaceably surrendered. The Indians were admonished that they could not profit by disasters to vessels, nor murder white men for plunder. The next year (May 2, 1830), the ship Isabella, from London struck on the northeast point of Sandy Island. Her officers and crew, demoralized at the fate of the William and Ann, at once deserted her, never landing from their boats until they reached Fort Vancouver. The cargo remained undisturbed by the Indians, and was entirely saved by a party from Fort George.
In 1831, Captain B. L. E. Bonneville,
United States Army, applied for two years leave of absence "to explore
the country to the Rocky Mountains and beyond, with a view of ascertaining
the nature and character of the several tribes of Indians inhabiting those
regions; the trade which might profitably be carried on with them; quality
of soil productions, minerals, natural history, climate, geography, topography,
as well as geology of the various parts of the country within the limits
of the territories of the United States
between our frontier and the Pacific." On the 3rd day of August of that year, Major-General Macomb, Commander-in-Chief, United States Army, granted the requested leave until October, 1833, instructing Bonneville that the government would be at no expense, but that he must provide suitable instruments and the best maps, especially of the interior; "and that he note particularly the number of warriors that may be in each tribe of natives that may be met with, their alliances with other tribes, and their relative position as to state of peace or war; and whether friendly or warlike positions towards each other are recent or of long standing; their manner of making war, mode of subsisting themselves during a state of war and a state of peace; the arms and the effect of them; whether they act on foot or on horseback; in short, every information useful to the government."
During the ensuing winter, an association was formed in New York from which Captain Bonneville received the necessary financial aid. On the 1st of May, 1832, the Bonneville party, numbering 110 men, with twenty wagons, started from Fort Osage, carrying a large quantity of trading goods destined for the regions watered by the Colorado and Columbia. He remained west of the Rocky Mountains over two years. The narrative of Bonneville's adventures is among the most fascinating of the works of Washington Irving; and upon such notable circumstance the historic claim of this expedition mainly depends. In that narrative, Irving, in his own inimitable style, has chronicled the vicissitudes and novelties of life in the Rocky Mountains, as experienced by trappers and adventurers. In language more thrilling and varied than romance, he has pictured the trapper's life, its dangers, its exciting pleasures, the bitter rivalry of competing traders, the hostility of savages; in short, a pen picture has been produced by a master hand, from which latest posterity can learn what constituted the fur trade and how it was prosecuted in the heart of the American continent and in Oregon within the first half of the nineteenth century. Bonneville went as far west as Fort Walla Walla. His parties penetrated the valleys of the Humboldt, Sacramento and Colorado. Competed with by the Hudson's Bay Company, encountering the most bitter and unceasing rivalry of the more experienced Missouri fur traders, Bonneville's venture was pecuniarily a failure.
In 1832, Captain Nathaniel J. Wyeth, of Massachusetts, crossed overland to Oregon with the purpose of establishing salmon fisheries on the Columbia river, in connection with prosecuting the Indian and fur trade. He dispatched a vessel via Cape Horn to the Columbia with trading goods. Captain Wyeth and party reached Fort Vancouver October 29th. It was calculated that such vessel would make the voyage to the Columbia in about the same time it occupied his party to prosecute the overland journey. But the vessel never reached the Columbia river. She was never heard from after sailing. John Ball, a member of Wyeth's party, opened a school at Fort Vancouver in January, 1833, but the attempt proved a failure. On the 1st of March following, Solomon H. Smith, another of Wyeth's company, accepted from chief factor Dr. McLoughlin an engagement to teach school for six months. The teacher was at first discouraged. Instead of an English school, he found a great confusion of tongues. Says he (1): "The scholars come in talking their respective languages, - Cree, Nez Perce, Chinook, Klickitat, etc. etc. I could not understand them, and when I called them to order there was but one who understood me. As I had come from a land where discipline was expected in school management, I could not persuade myself that I could accomplish anything without order.
(1) In a letter to the author.
I therefore issued my orders and, to my surprise, he who understood joined issue with me upon my government in the school. While endeavoring to impress upon him the necessity of discipline and order in the school, and through him making such necessity appreciated by his associates, Dr. McLoughlin, chief factor, entered. To the doctor I explained my difficulty. He investigated my complaint, found my statements correct, and at once made such an example of the refractory boy that I never afterwards experienced any trouble in governing. I continued in the school for over eighteen months, during which the scholars learned to speak English. Several could repeat Murray's grammar verbatim. Some had gone thro' arithmetic, and upon review copied it entire. These copies were afterwards used as school books, there having been only one printed copy at Fort Vancouver. The school numbered twenty-five pupils."
Captain Wyeth returned overland to Boston in 1833, most of his party remaining in the country, several making settlements in the Willamette valley. Not disheartened with the failure of the first attempt, Captain Wyeth renewed his efforts to establish direct trade between Boston and the Columbia river. Having dispatched the brig May Dacre, Captain Lambert, laden with trade goods and supplies, to the Columbia via Cape Horn, he crossed the continent with two hundred men. In that overland train were Dr. Nuttall and John K. Townsend, of Philadelphia, both well known to science, the latter being the author of a pleasing narrative of this journey. The pioneer party of the Oregon Methodist Mission consisted of Revs. Jason and Daniel Lee, and Messrs. P.L. Edwards and Cyrus Shepherd, lay members. Courtney M. Walker, employed by the mission for one year, also accompanied. They left Independence, Missouri, april 24, 1834, and reached the junction of Snake and Port Neuf rivers early in July. At this point, Wyeth built a trading-post called by him Fort Hall, in which he stored his trading goods. Having fitted out trapping parties, he proceeded to Fort Vancouver, reaching that place about the same time that the May Dacre arrived in the river. At the lower end of Wapato (now Sauvie's) Island, Wyeth established a salmon fishery and trading-house, which he named Fort William. The salmon fishery proved unsuccessful. His efforts to trade with the Indians and to purchase beaver skins were without profit. Competition of the Hudson's Bay Company, constant trouble with the Indians, the loss of several of his men killed by Indians or drowned, at length discouraged him. It is stated by competent authority (1), "that the island was thickly inhabited by Indians until 1830, when they were nearly exterminated by the congestive chills and fever. There were at the time three villages on the island. So fatal were the effects of the disease, that Dr. McLoughlin sent a party to rescue and bring away the few that were left, and to burn the village. The Indians attributed the introduction of the fever and ague to an American vessel that had visited the river a year or two previously. It is not therefore a matter of surprise to any who understand Indian character, and their views as to death resulting from such diseases, that Wyeth's attempted establishment on Wapato Island was subject to their continued hostility. He was of the race to whom they attributed the cause of the destruction of their people; and his employés were but the lawful compensation according to their code for the affliction they had suffered."
A half cargo of salmon having been obtained, the brig sailed in 1835, and never returned to Fort William. In 1835, Captain Wyeth broke up that establishment, disheartened, and returned to Massachusetts. The remnants of his property in Oregon he endeavored to sell in London to the directors of the Hudson's Bay Company. The
(1) George
B. Roberts, Esq., long Probate Judge of Wahkiakum county, who arrived in
Oregon, 1831, in service of the Hudson's Bay Company.
board of management referred him to the officers in charge at Fort Vancouver. In 1837, Dr. McLoughlin purchased Fort Hall from Captain Wyeth's agents. The employés and laboring men generally remained in the territory. The acquisition by the Hudson's Bay Company and its occupancy of Fort Hall was the end of the American fur trade west of the Rocky Mountains. After two or three years, it was finally abandoned.
The results of Wyeth's expedition,
though disastrous to him financially, were in the greatest degree valuable
to the United States and to the territory itself. His memoir printed by
order of Congress attracted the attention of American people to Oregon,
its value, its claim to colonization. The statement as to its resources,
its climate, soil, productions and accessibility stimulated immigration.
Oregon hereafter is to be settled and Americanized.