Plentywood herald. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1908-current, 1935-08-29
BLACKFEET TRIBE
FIRST FRIENDLY
COULTER WAS VISITING CROW IN
DAMS WHEN ATTACK WAS
MADE; TOOK PART IN FIGHT
Powerful Blackfeet Nation Resented
Part Lisa's Representative Took in
Battle, in Which They Were Defeat
ed; Feud Lasted for Many Years.

Early fur trade of the upper Mis-
souri, river region, including the
Great Falls district, has been various
ly described in historical literature
and, with few exceptions, mentions
friction between the Blackfeet and
white trappers as dating from the
time the explorer, Captain Lewis, kill
ed two Indians. Apparently this cpl
sOde has been misinterpreted and the
true cause Of the Blackfeet-trapper
feud forgotten, as a letter Of 126 years
ago tells
Thomas Biddle, who is remembered
for his early edition on the Lewis and
Clark expedition, in q letter from Camp
Missouri on the Missouri river Oct. q,
1918, comments regarding the fur trade
Of early Montana as follows:
1.-THE history Of this trade under
Spanish and French colonial govern
ments would be a recital of the 4
petitions Of vagrant hunters and trad
ers, who never ventured up the river
beyond a few miles of this place. The
return OF Captains Lewis and Clark
and the favorable account they brought
with them of the riches to be obtained
on the upper branches of the Missouri
and the reception which their admiral
department towards the natives had
gained for them, encouraged Manuel
Lisa, n OF the most enterprising Of
these traders, to venture up the Mis-
o with a small trading equipment
as far as the Yellow Stone river.
He passed the winter of 18O7-O8 at
the mouth of the Yellow Stone and Big
Horn rivers. 1t is an act of justice, due
to the memory Of the late Captain
Lewis, to state that the Blackfeet In
dlans Tin whose vicinity Lisa now lives)
were so convinced Of the propriety Of
his conduct in the encounter which
took place between him and a party
OF their people, in which two OF them
were killed, that they did not consider
1t as a caus of war or hostility on
their part: this is proved, inasmuch as
the first party of Lisa's men that was
met by the Blackfeet was treated civilly.
This circumstance induced Lisa to
dispatch one of his men Coulter to
the forks of the Missouri, to endeavor
to find the Blackfeet nation and bring
them to his establishment to trade. The
messenger unfortunately fell In with q
party OF the Grow nation, with whom
he stayed several days. While with
them they were attacked by their en-
emies, the Blackfeet. Coulter, in self
defense, took part with the Crows.
He distinguished himself very much
in the combat and the Blackfeet were
defeated, having plainly observed .
white man fighting in the ranks OF
their enemy. Coulter returned to the
trading house. In traversing the same
country a short time after, in COM
pany with another man, a party Of
the Blackfeet attempted to stop them
without, however, evincing any hostile
intentions; an encounter ensued, In
which the companion OF Coulter and
two Indians were killed, and Coulter
made his escape. The next time whites
were met by the Blackfeet the latter at
tackled without any parley. Thus orig
mated the hostility which has prevent
ed American traders from penetrating
the fur country Of the Missouri"