Old Fort Snelling

private traders led to their abolition in 1822. Thereafter, whatever attention the government directed toward the trade was influenced by the desire to prevent tampering with

ingle individual would meet. The American Fur Company, so long guided by John Jacob Astor, had a practical monopoly of the trade during the time that Old Fort Snelling was in existence. Mendota was the headquarters of a vast region which extended from the Missi

at forty or fifty dollars in payment for which he pledged the spoils of his winter's hunt. If the trader did not go with his band, he visited them occasionally or sent his engagés to see that they were hunting and that no other trader was tampering with them to secure their furs. In the spring t

an an enemy.365 Care in respect to the character of the men engaged and supervision of the method of carrying on trade were the two things necessary. According to the act of March 30, 1802, which was supplemented by

ican citizen. He was not allowed to carry with him any insignia of a foreign power. An invoice of his goods was presented to the agent, who had to certify to its correctness. Liquor was prohibited, and th

twenty-five licenses were granted; in 1827, eleven; in 1830, thirteen; and in 1831, fourteen.368 The amount of this trade was very large, as is indicated by the case of Mr. Faribault who traded o

erpreters or boatmen, who upon entering the wilderness took active charge of the crew and all operations.371 As far as Fort Snelling was concerned there was little call for the ejection of foreigners by force. In

rmer employees of the English companies, in 1822 organized the Columbia Fur Company, and obtained a license from Major Taliaferro. In five years they had posts from Green Bay to the M

both parties. The most notable disagreement is that which existed between Alexis Bailly, the chief factor at Mendota, and Major Taliaferro. This disagreement continued until September 15, 1834, when the agent reported that he had refused to allow Bailly to hold further intercourse with the natives, not only in Consequence of his bad tongue, but on accou

ent consistent. When Pike ascended the Mississippi he spoke of the evil effects of rum to the chiefs who ceded to the United States the military reservation; but the explorer closed with the words: before my departure I will give you some liquor to clear your throats.377 Ev

merican Indians.379 Governor Cass, thinking it would be worse to lose the trade than admit the liquor, allowed its introduction, in limited quantities, by those engaged in business along the boundary.380 But the act of July 9, 1832, provided, that no ardent spirits shall be hereafter introduced, under any pretence, into the Indian country.381 This put an end to the stock excuse. At the same time Americans suffered to such an extent that M

rawn together by the fascinations of whisky, and they exhibit the most degraded picture of human nature I ever witnessed.384 The drunken Indian did not molest the trader; his peaceful fellow-tribesman suffered more. An Indian killed at Al [?] Faribault's Trading house-whiskey was given the Indian for his furs-by Mr. F.-The deceased then invited one o

cured more. Sometimes the disease was more desirable than the cure. I have thus far seen but few of the indians of this place and I am in hopes of passing on North with

7 and the current rate at which it sold is indicated by the complaint which a Chippewa chief poured into the ears of the agent: My Father-Is it right for our traders to make us pay 200 Musk Rats, and

the military and civil agents, on the number of soldiers stationed at the fort, and on the wiliness of the culprits. On o

n below Lake Pepin in quest of whiskey Smuglers-as our Indians even entering the country with it from Prairie du Chiens and the Traders of the Am Fur Cpy are geting whiskey over the country by land and water.392 During May, 1827, the agent called the attention of Colonel Josiah Snelling to the fact t

om the boat of Hazen Moores by Captain J. Vail. The value of this liquor was $330. In October of the same year, five kegs of high wines and one keg of whiskey were found by Lieutenant I. K. Greenough in the boat of Louis Provencalle. These confiscated kegs were stored in the fort, and an interesting side-light on their ultimate fate is contained in the report of Major Taliaf

hose goods had been seized. These traders commenced a suit in the courts at Prairie du Chien against the commanding officer at Fort Snelling, arguing that while the law prohib

he head the whiskey barrels.398 But it was probably true, as the missionary S. R. Riggs wrote from Lac qui Parle on June 15, 1847, to the Indian ag

the employees actually saw only one-third, and this they paid for at the rate of from eight to sixteen dollars per gallon.400 Accordingly, Major Taliaferro issued a circular letter in which he stated that high wines and whiskey would be allowed to be brought in in no case whatever.401 Actions such as these

re successful in evading the authorities the second time.403 Accordingly prevention as well as cure was tried, and Captain Eastman, Mr. Sibley, and others sought, with some success, to persuade the Indians to refuse to accept liquor.404 Two years later the Indian agent, R.