Early history of North Dakota: essential outlines of American history

• Format: Text
• Language: unknown
• Published: Cornell University Library
• Subjects: Indian; Lookout; Mouse River; assiniboine
• Online Access: http://cdm16921.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/ndsl-books/id/52918

EARLY HISTORY OF NORTH DAKOTA 81 and water. At night the mosquitoes were intolerable, the horses breaking away from their fetters on several occasions. July nth they reached old Fort de Tremble, on the Assiniboine River, where in 1781 the Crees and Assiniboines and other Indians of that region undertook to inaugurate a massacre of the whites then in the Indian country. Three men were killed at the fort. The Indian loss was fifteen killed, and fifteen more died of wounds. The fort was thfen abandoned. July nth Henry reached a North-West trading post on the Mouse River (at Brandon). The Hudson's Bay and X. Y. companies also had trading posts there at that time. F. A. Larocque was in charge of the North- West Company post. Charles Chaboillez, Jr., Allen McDonald and Hugh McCracken were also there, and they accompanied Mr. Henry to the Mandan villages. After crossing the Mouse River they kept a lookout for the Sioux. Mr. Henry writes: "We must be on our guard against the Sioux, the natural ene-mies of all tribes in these parts. They perpetually wander about in search of straggling Mandans or Ores Ventres (Hidatsas) and sometimes cross the River la Souris in hope of falling in with Assiniboines and Crees, who frequently hunt along this river.'' July 19th they reached the Mandan villages. The women were hoeing com some distance from their village with well armed Indians on the lookout for fear of the Sioux. Mr. Henry speaks of the large quantity of corn, beans, squashes, tobacco and sunflowers raised by these Indians, and of their manner of caching (secreting) their produce where it would not be likely to be disturbed by their enemies in case of an attack. Mr. Henry's party met Jean Baptiste Lafrance with a small stock of goods, which he brought from the Brandon House for the purpose of trade at the Mandan villages. As soon as Black Cat, their Indian host, learned who Mr. Henry was, he produced the flag given him by Lewis and Clark, October 29, 1804, and kept that flying as long as they remained. Mr. Henry relates that he saw the remains of an excellent large corn milH which Lewis and Clark had given the Indians. They had broken it and used the / iron to barb their arrows; the largest piece, which they could not work into any] weapon, was used to break marrow bones of the animals killed in hunting. Henry's party crossed the Missouri in boats, made of willows and buffalo skins, called bull-boats. Six Arikat-as came into the village while Mr. Henry was there to treat for peace. Some of their people had accompanied a Sioux war party the fall before and killed five Mandans. The Mandans had made a return visit, killing two Arikaras and had sent them word that they intended to exterminate the whole tribe. These emissaries had accordingly come up to make peace. The Hidatsa were called into council, about thirty arriving on horse back at full speed. The Arikaras were directed to return at once to their village and tell their chief. Red Tail, that if he really desired peace he must come in person and then they would settle matters; and if he did not come they would find him as soon as their corn was gathered, and show him what the Hidatsa and Mandans could do when exasperated by Ankara treachery. About 100 Mandans came in with their horses loaded with meat from a Vol. 1—6 Internet Archive