Travelling light on the upper Missouri
Jun 24, 2013 9:29:07 GMT -7
Post by Rod on Jun 24, 2013 9:29:07 GMT -7
I've been reading the very recently published letters of Andrew Dawson, who was on the Upper Missouri from the 1840s-1860s. He eventually became the last manager of the UMO, closing down the fur trade for the Chouteau empire. I'm about halfway through the book, and heartily recommend it.
www.oupress.com/ECommerce/Book/Detail/1760/this%20far%20off%20wild%20land
Anyway, during the winter of 1847-48, Dawson runs the express between Ft. Pierre, Ft. Clark, Ft. Berthold, and Ft. Union, making the trip several times. He details some of what he carried on the way...
"Thus you see I have had a good Winters work, having traveled 2700 miles entirely on foot, through deep Snow all the time, and most part of the way with my bedding clothing 10 days meat &c &c on my back, weighing from 25 @ 65 lbs. according to the quantity of meat mocassins and other things perishable that I had at the time."
Food could be a little scarce...
"On the 4th day we found a poor frozen Skunk which we roasted whole and it proved to me the sweetest morsel I think I ever eat."
And camping at night a little cold...
"At Sun set I would choose a place to camp (if possible amongst thick brushwood it being warmest there and freest from observation) shovel away the Snow with my feet to make a hole to sleep in, then cook and eat my little meats, consisting of dried Buffalo meat generally and then far as I was from human being and surrounded by many dangers, after offering up my sincere and fervent prayers to him who knows the heart, would I lay down and sleep most soundly. My bed when I had to carry it consisted only of a Buffo Robe my Overcoat and some Brushwood, when I had a horse to carry my bedding I added a pair of Blankets."
Elsewhere in the letter, Dawson makes it clear that when he has a horse, it's for packing supplies, and he's on foot leading it, not riding. On one leg of his journies, he has two horses, each pulling sleighs or sledges of some sort (maybe toboggans?) loaded with supplies---but one of the horses freezes to death. If possible, he travels on the ice on the river, where it's easier going and he can't get lost.
This is altogether a fascinating look at the later fur trade, as I said before, I really recommend this book.
Rod
www.oupress.com/ECommerce/Book/Detail/1760/this%20far%20off%20wild%20land
Anyway, during the winter of 1847-48, Dawson runs the express between Ft. Pierre, Ft. Clark, Ft. Berthold, and Ft. Union, making the trip several times. He details some of what he carried on the way...
"Thus you see I have had a good Winters work, having traveled 2700 miles entirely on foot, through deep Snow all the time, and most part of the way with my bedding clothing 10 days meat &c &c on my back, weighing from 25 @ 65 lbs. according to the quantity of meat mocassins and other things perishable that I had at the time."
Food could be a little scarce...
"On the 4th day we found a poor frozen Skunk which we roasted whole and it proved to me the sweetest morsel I think I ever eat."
And camping at night a little cold...
"At Sun set I would choose a place to camp (if possible amongst thick brushwood it being warmest there and freest from observation) shovel away the Snow with my feet to make a hole to sleep in, then cook and eat my little meats, consisting of dried Buffalo meat generally and then far as I was from human being and surrounded by many dangers, after offering up my sincere and fervent prayers to him who knows the heart, would I lay down and sleep most soundly. My bed when I had to carry it consisted only of a Buffo Robe my Overcoat and some Brushwood, when I had a horse to carry my bedding I added a pair of Blankets."
Elsewhere in the letter, Dawson makes it clear that when he has a horse, it's for packing supplies, and he's on foot leading it, not riding. On one leg of his journies, he has two horses, each pulling sleighs or sledges of some sort (maybe toboggans?) loaded with supplies---but one of the horses freezes to death. If possible, he travels on the ice on the river, where it's easier going and he can't get lost.
This is altogether a fascinating look at the later fur trade, as I said before, I really recommend this book.
Rod