The National tribune., 1898-11-17


all the waters of the Red River and the
Upper Mississippi and every year carried oil
to the posts of the company hundreds OF
thousands of dollars worth of valuable furs
taken within the territory of the United
States.
Naturally this invasion of our hunting
grounds created bad feeling between the
American Fur Company and its followers
and EMPLOYEES and the officers and en-
ployees of lis British rival, and quite serious
irays occurred between them. Moved by
these causes and by the petition of the
Americans in that region, the United States
Government determined when Territorial
Government was organized by Minnesota IN
1S49 to establish a military post somewhere
On the waters of the Red River OF the North,
| to protect oar citizens in their pursuits and
to prevent the wholesale inyasons OF our
! territory by the hunters of the Hudson's
Bav Company for tie purpose heretofore
/ indicated.
AN IMPORTANT MISSION.
With that view al expedition was ordered
to proceed from Fort Smelling. just above
St. Paul, to Pembina, 10 examine and select
q site fsr a military post ut some point on
the Red River OF the North within specified
limits, and to explore the country along that
river rs FIR north as tn, Britl5l line. 1t
was ordered also that the post on the west
bank Of the river, placed there by Maj. Long,
of the Engineers, in 1870, and winch was
understood TO have bean removed, should be
replaced as permanently as possible.
To this ex Expedition | was attached az Engi-
neer officer, charged with making all surveys
and maps and such reports OF the country
and its capacities AS might be desired by the
War Department
In May, 1S49, | reached Fort Smelling by
boat from st. Louis, and joined the command,
which was not yet fully organized. The
rainy season, too, was just s ttiDg in, and as
that means miry soil and heavy work for
wagons, we were compelled to provide more
liberal supplies of transportation than were
necessary at any other time of the year.
At length, on June 6, we moved out from
Fort Smelling on the road to the crossing OF
the Mississippi just at the point where
Minneapolis now stands Our party CON
sisted OF one company of Dragons, under
Capt. Gardner, Maj. Woods 9th Inf, in COM |
mand, Lieut.. Nelson, myself, and DIR. Sykes, |
whom we had brought from st. Louis As an |
assistant. Joe Rolette, young Frenchinan,
well known in those parts, was our guide,
kis knowledge Of the route to Red River and |
Pembina being derived from several trips |
with dog trains in the Winter, which brought |
peltries from Mr. Kittson, the American Fur |
Company's agent at Pembina, to Col. H. il. |
SIbley. their chief agent on the Mississippi |
just below Smelling
Col. Sibley lived in the only stone house |
in all that region. and this with the stere-
houses of the company and the cabins Of
their employees, constituted what was then, |
and | believe is still, called MENDOZA
In these days, when that whole region is I
almost as well known as the streets of Wash I
ington, it seems queer to talk OF military /
expeditions and skilled guides through it,
but in that day ST. Paul consisted OF only |
about ID or 20 frame shanties irregularly |
scattered along the river below Fort Smelling, |
and above that place there was scarcely a 7
white settlement, large or small
On our way up the river to where we
crossed by small fatboat TO the east side
we stopped TO admire the beautiful Mime
haha Falls, about three miles above Smelling.
One glace at them tells why hey were named I
" Laughing Water" As the small stream
PUSHES over the cliff and falls perhaps 40 or
80 feet iuto the basin below, the water APP
pears to separate and to fall not in con-
tinuous sheet OF water, but IN a shower Of
drops, which sparkle in the sunshine, and at
times exhibit all the colols of the rainbow.
Though not impressive in hight or grandeur
OF any kind, this beautiful fail of Minnehaha t
must always be admired.
At the point where we crossed the Mis-
sssippi there stood then a solitary cabin, |
the home OF the fcrryman, and there stands |
now great city of $50, 900 people.
One can scarcely trust his eyes when he /
remembers 80 years ago this country of
magical growth. The ferry was just above |
the falls OF ST. Anthony, which, by the way,
are no falls at all, bat only a succession OF |
rather swift rapids which were wearing away |
the sandstone foundation 50 fast that there
was sure prospect Of a speedy disappear
ancc Of the falls altogether
think this danger was soon observed by /
the owners OF this great watcr-power, which (
Is really the basis OF the marvellous growth |
of Minneapolis and has been aver;el for
some time at least by protecting the soft |
sandstone lciges with heavy timbers
10 lie continuedl
Al