Timeline...
1700 - 1799
The
World
1783: The United States of America gain independence from Britain after
a long military struggle.
Canada
1759: The Battle of the Plains of Abraham effectively gives Britain
control of the territory of New France. A treaty in 1763 formally cedes
the territory.
|
|
Manitoba
In 1738 French Explorer, LaVerendrye, built Fort La Reine on the
Assiniboine River (near present day Portage La Prairie.)
In the 1760’s exploration of southern Manitoba was undertaken by both
the Hudson Bay Co. and the Northwest Co. with the establishment of fur
trade posts near Souris Mouth and Hartney beginning in the 1770’s.
|
Turtle Mountain
& the Souris Plains
In 1738
a group of Nakota (Assiniboine) guided La Verendrye, through the Turtle
Mountain – Souris Plains area toward the Mandan Villages of southern
North Dakota.
David Thompson travelled along the Souris River on his visit to the
Mandan Village in North Dakota in 1897 – 98 and left a good account of
his trip in his diary.
The Assiniboines gained mobility on the plains when they obtained
horses.
1738
La Verendrye passed through the region:
“On October 18, 1738 he left Fort La Reine traveling southwest along
the Souris River. When he reached the Turtle Mountains, on the
insistence of his Indian guides he turned northwest until he reached
the Souris River. Here he met 102 lodges of Assiniboines.
From this point he followed the Souris River southwest until he reached
the Mandan Indian villages on the Missouri River.”
* The Souris Plains
1743
La Verendrye brought a priest, Father Coquart, to the Souris
River. He taught the Assiniboines to say prayers. Forty
years later French and English traders were astounded to hear the
Assiniboine Indians reciting prayers they had memorized years before.
1748
The Dakota travelled up the Souris River to attack Fort La Reine.
1770
From 1770 to 1778 the Assiniboines often carried corn and furs from the
Mandan Country up the Souris River to Fort La Reine, although they had
been expressly warned by the Sioux not to traffic with the White Man.
1780
A trading alliance between the Mandans and the Assiniboines came to an
end. Spurred on by the Sioux, the Mandan war parties moved
northward and fought several battles with the Assiniboines just south
of present day Melita.
1781
In the last half of the 18th century the Sioux, armed with Hudson Bay
Company muskets roamed the Souris River attacking Assiniboines and
traders alike. In 1781 they combined with the Mandans to attack
the Assiniboine villages in the Turtle Mountains and continued these
attacks along the Souris in 1786 and 1793.
1782
Assiniboines living along the Souris River suffered a great smallpox
epidemic, but by 1784 they had recovered enough to resume trading
operations.
1793
David Monin, acting for the Northwest Company led an expedition down
the river. He established a fort in the Dakotas but on the return
trip in the spring of 1794, with a load of furs, they were all killed
by the Sioux. The Sioux continued to be active on the Souris and
elsewhere in Manitoba. From 1785 to 1860 they made a determined
effort to stop traders from entering the Souris-Missouri country
1795
The Northwest Company built Fort Ash on the Souris about two miles
south west of Hartney. It was evidently in operation for only two
years. In the winter of 1797 the explorer David Thompson noted,
“We find ourselves about three miles below Ash House where people
resided two years ago”.
The Sioux attack McDonnell’s House and Brandon House near the mouth of
the Souris. One year later they advanced up the river to attack
the Assiniboines who had established a village near present day
Lauder.
1797
On November 26, 1797, David Thompson, the great explorer, began his
journey down the Souris River.
“Leaving McDonnell’s House near the Souris mouth, he headed southwest,
skirting the Moose Head or Brandon Hills on the south. On
November 29 it became so cold and stormy they made camp, probably along
the river south of Nesbitt, Manitoba. On December 4, Thompson
continued his journey crossing to the south side of the river and
pitching camp near the present day town of Souris. The next day,
December 5, he turned south following the Elgin Creek and then turned
south west reaching a point somewhat to the west of Regent. He
then turned north west back to the river which he reached near present
day Hartney and continued up stream. His guide, Jursomme, now led
him south west along the river and shortly after they were joined by
two Canadian trappers. It began to storm at this point but they
kept on walking along the south bank of the river, reaching a wooded
area at 7:00 p.m. This gave them some protection from the storm
and they made camp. The next day, December 6, they rested as it
was still storming, and hunted for provisions. An entry in
Thompson’s diary at this point reads, “We find ourselves about three
miles below the Old House”. They were obviously referring to Fort
Ash (or Ash House) which by this time was abandoned, and this would put
their camp about one mile north east of Hartney, Manitoba. On
December 7, Thompson continued south west along the river. At a
point south west of Lauder, Manitoba, he crossed the river and turned
toward the Turtle Mountains, which he reached on December 12. He
now hired an Assiniboine Indian to guide him to the Mandan villages on
the Missouri River, where he spent about three weeks.”
* The Souris Plains
|
|
