Historic Posts Columbia District

This drawing of Fort Nisqually was done by Steve A. Anderson and is used with his kind permission

So, in this post we are looking at the Historic Posts found in the Columbia District. Vancouver’s Island is considered a part of the Columbia District, although it was separate from it, beginning from the time that James Douglas moved north to take charge of Fort Victoria. In 1853, the split was formalized, with Fort Vancouver becoming the headquarters of the Oregon District Department of the HBC, and Fort Victoria being called the Western Department headquarters. In some of his letters from Fort Vancouver, John Ballenden refers to the Colony on Vancouver’s Island as ‘the Northern District of the Columbia.’ 

So here’s the historic posts that we find on Vancouver’s Island — the ‘northern district of the Columbia.’

From north to south, Vancouver’s Island:

Fort Rupert: Hudson’s Bay Co. fort at the north end of Vancouver Island near present Port Hardy. Built 1849.

Fort Nanaimo: Hudson’s Bay Co. fort on east coast of Vancouver Island, built 1850 to protect the coal interests of local mines. The bastion of the original fort is still preserved.

The mines actually weren’t locally owned, but were claimed, owned, and managed by James Douglas and the men of the Hudson’s Bay Company.

There are three of four other posts that apparently sprang up on Vancouver’s Island; however they all seem to be the farms that belonged to Fort Victoria. 

Uplands Farm: A Hudson’s Bay Co. farm and post on Vancouver Island near Fort Victoria. It was included in the lists of 1869 and 1872, and shown on Map No. 21.

North Dairy Farm: Hudson’s Bay Co. post and farm on Vancouver Island, near Fort Victoria…

Fort Victoria: Hudson’s Bay Co. fort on Vancouver Island. Built in 1843 by James Douglas under direction of Dr. John McLoughlin. In 1849 it was headquarters of the Western Department. In 1846 about 160 acres were cultivated in wheat, etc., and in 1847 about 300 acres. The first name given officially after the fort was built was Fort Camosun. Shortly after the name was again changed unofficlally to Fort Albert in honor of the Prince Consort and about December 1843 the fort received its official name of Fort Victoria. 

Fort Esquimalt: Hudson’s Bay Co. fort on Vancouver Island built about 1850 and shown on Watson Map No. 21…soon superseded by the Esquimault Naval Station. 

Well, none of this is true. The three farms were owned and managed the employees of Fort Victoria, and all were within walking distance of the post: long walking distance, perhaps, but walking distance nevertheless. Fort Esquimalt was not a fort: although it might have been called a port. Nor was Fort Esquimalt ever superseded by the Esquimalt Naval Station. The British ships anchored in Esquimalt Harbour for the most part, and there was a grist mill and a sawmill at the very end of the harbour — but none of these things were forts. 

Fort Victoria was constructed in 1843, but its first official name was not Fort Camosun. Yes, sea captains referred to it as Fort Camosun because it was built on what they called Camosun Harbour, but that changed within months, when it got its official name of Fort Victoria. Fort Albert? Yes, I know that name was around, too. It appears in many of the fur trade journals, including Thomas Lowe’s. But it was never the official name of the new post. When the incoming York Factory Express of 1843 arrived at Fort Vancouver, it bore a letter from the Governor and Council that told the HBC men that “the new establishment to be formed on the Straits [of Juan] de Fuca to be named Fort Victoria be erected on a scale sufficiently extensive…” 

So, Vancouver Island is complete. Let’s see what Ernest Voorhis, author of “Historic Forts and Trading Posts of the French regime and of the English Fur Trading Companies,” has to say of the posts in the Pacific Northwest, west of the Rocky Mountains. There are a few listed here that I am not familiar with. And I have lots of questions, too. I’ll add them all in. 

Fort Bellingham. Hudson’s Bay Co. post, site of present town Bellingham, state of Washington, at outlet Lake Whatcom, tributary of Strait of Georgia, about 34 miles south of New Westminster. Shown on map “The Company’s Territory,” No. 6. Small post. 

So, have you ever heard of this post? I haven’t. 

Fort Nisqually. Hudson’s Bay Co. fort at south end of Puget Sound, shown on maps No. 8 and 100. This post was probably closed before 1865 as the Company made no claim from the United States for it at that time.

Is this true? When was the property purchased (or taken over) by Edward Huggins? 

Fort Cowlitz. Hudson’s Bay Co. fort on left bank of Cowlitz River about 25 miles upstream and about 35 miles from Fort Vancouver. Built by James Douglas, 1837. It was a small establishment of one house. Was one of the posts for which the Hudson’s Bay Co. claimed indemnity from the United States, 1865. Shown on Arrowsmith map 1857 (No. 8). 

Fort Cape Disappointment. A small establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Co. on the cape at mouth of Columbia River for which the Company claimed indemnity from the United States in 1865.

Fort Cowlitz? I’ve only heard it called the Cowlitz Farms. Did James Douglas build the Cowlitz Farm in 1837? And surely it wasn’t as small as just one house? They had extensive farmlands there, part of the Puget Sound Agricultural Company, which might be why Voorhis does not include more information about those farmlands.

Fort Cape Disappointment: until recently I would have claimed, mistakenly, that it didn’t exist — but it did! On the urgings of Henry James Warre, Peter Skene Ogden set up the post in 1846, on land already claimed by an American citizen. In 1852, John Ballenden closed it down. “I can see no reason why the Posts of Chinook Point & Cape Disappointment are kept up,” he said. Their sales did not pay expenses, and at Cape Disappointment, the HBC’s building still stood on land claimed by an American citizen. For more information on Cape Disappointment, see here: https://nancymargueriteanderson.com/cape-disappointment/

Fort Astoria. Originally built by Pacific Fur Co.. in 1811 at mouth of Columbia River, site of present Astoria. Was purchased by North West Co. in October 1812 from Pacific Fur Co., and the name changed to Fort George. It was restored to the United States by the Treaty of Ghent, 1818. Was one of the forts for which the Hudson’s Bay Co. claimed indemnity in 1865… The site was changed by McLoughlin in 1824 to north side of Columbia River, 7 miles above mouth of Willamette River, where a fort was erected 1825 and called Fort Vancouver. Five years later, 1830, another site was selected one mile west of the first fort and nearer the river. This was McLoughlin’s headquarters. By the convention between the United States and Great Britain, October 2, 181, the Oregon Country was to be free and open to all for ten years joint occupancy. In 1827, the occupancy was made indefinite, but was terminated by the Treaty [of] 1846 which defined the boundary as 49th parallel. During the time of joint occupancy, the Hudson’s Bay Co. established a new site for Fort Astoria as above, acquired from the North West Co. Officers of the US army took possession of the fort in 1849-50. It was sometimes called Fort Clatsap [Clatsop]. 

At first I thought that Voorhis meant to say that Fort Vancouver was McLoughlin’s headquarters, but jammed another sentence in between the two statements, making it sound as if the “second” Fort George became McLoughlin’s headquarters. Now I see what he’s saying: the two Fort Vancouvers (the first, and the second) were McLoughlin’s headquarters. 

And the military: I know the US Army did arrive in 1849, and some were at what was then called Astoria. However, they were not at the current Fort George. Did they build a new quarters at Astoria?   

Chinook House. A small establishment of the Hudson’s Bay Co. near mouth Columbia River. It was a station for salmon. Called also Pillar Rock. The Hudson’s Bay Co. claimed indemnity from the United States for this post, 1865. [I know it as Pillar Rock, but was it near the mouth of the Columbia River? Wasn’t it upriver from Fort George?]

Fort Vancouver. Hudson’s Bay Co. fort on right bank [descending] of the Columbia River, six miles above its junction with the Willamette River. Built in 1824-25, under charge of Dr. John McLoughlin. Occupied as being on British territory until the treaty of 1846. The fort was maintained by the Company for several years after the Treaty, until dispossessed by US military authorities in 1860. In 1847 McLoughlin was succeeded by Peter Skene Ogden who afterwards transferred the Company’s headquarters to Fort Victoria [Not true.] The fort was of large size, enclosed by stockade 750 x 600 feet and had attached a 1,500 acre farm. The enclosure contained the fort with dwelling houses, store-houses, servants’ quarters, shops, barns &c. On the appertaining land were barns, stables and farm buildings near the main fort. Cultivated fields, pasturage, extended along the Columbia River for 25 miles and 10 miles back from the river, also on Sauve and Menzie’s Islands. It was sometimes called Fort Columbia. 

I have lots of questions here, as you can see. Were the Fort Vancouver lands as extensive as he claims? Twenty five miles along the river bank, and ten miles into the back country?

Willamette River Fort. A North West Co post on Willamette River, outpost of Fort George (Fort Vancouver). Named on the Company list 1820. [Did this exist?]

Fort Champoeg. Hudson’s Bay Co. fort near present city of Salem, Oregon. It was a small establishment of one house. Was one of the posts for which Hudson’s Bay Co. claimed indemnity from the United States. 

Fort Umpqua. Stockaded fort of Hudson’s Bay Co. at mouth of Umpqua River, Oregon. Built in 1822. One of the forts for which the Company claimed indemnity in 1865.

In April 1853, Peter Skene Ogden leased the Umpqua Post to Colonel William W. Chapman, at an annual rent of $100. Two years later, in 1855, Dugald Mactavish reported that Colonel Chapman had not paid any money owed to the company. In fact, Chapman wrote to the company to say he was giving up the lease, on condition that he was paid for the improvements he had done there. Dugald Mactavish considered this a scheme to raise money and had no intention of giving him anything. 

Fort Walla Walla. Originally a North West Co. fort on left bank [descending] of Columbia River, at mouth of Walla Walla River, five miles below mouth of Lewis or Great Snake River. Built in 1818. The Hudson’s Bay Co. succeeded to this fort in 1821 and rebuilt it in 1841, the walls and bastions of brick. It was surrounded by sandy desert. The Hudson’s Bay Co. claimed indemnity for this fort in 1865. It was sometimes called Fort Nez-Perces.

Fort Simcoe. Hudson’s Bay Co. fort on left bank of Yakima River, state of Washington, about the location of present town Yakima. It was built later than 1821. Shown on Map No. 6.

Does anyone know anything about Fort Simcoe, on the Yakima River? Did it ever exist? Was it, perhaps, a military fort, not an HBC post?

Fort Okanagan. [Okanogan is correct.] Hudson’s Bay Co fort on right side of Columbia River at the mouth of Okanogan River. Built 1811. It was a stockaded fort. the Company claimed indemnity for the loss of this fort from the United States…The North West Co. was located nearby.

Fort Spokane. [Spokane House] North West Co. fort at Spokane Falls, on east bank of Spokane River, 1 mile above mouth of Little Spokane River and about 10 miles northwest of present city Spokane, Washington. It was built in 1810-1811. Was the principal distributing and wintering point of the North West Co. for the Upper Columbia Kootenay and Flathead trade and was continued by the Hudson’s Bay Co. after 1821 to 1826 when it was abandoned for a new fort at Kettle Falls (Fort Colville [Colvile]) built under orders of Governor Simpson. In 1821 the Pacific Fur Co. built a rival house but this was purchased with Astoria in October 1813. 

Fort Colville [Colvile]. Hudson’s Bay Co. fort on Colville River about one mile from junction with Columbia River, State of Washington. It was a wooden fort of large size, enclosed with stockades and bastions. The buildings were made of cedar logs. Cultivated fields surrounded the fort. It was established in 1825, and of the Oregon country forts it was next in importance to Fort Vancouver. The Hudson’s Bay Co. claimed indemnity from the United States for this fort. [The proper spelling is Colvile.]

Flathead House. Hudson’s Bay Co. outpost of Fort Colvile. It was established by David Thompson in 1809, on the right bank of Flat Head or Clarke’s River, 115 degrees W. The Company claimed indemnity for this post from the United States in 1865. 

Kullyspell House. North West Co. post in basin of Columbia River, on east side of Kullyspell Lake (Lake Pend d’Oreille), 1 1/2 miles from mouth of river, 48 degrees 11′ 30″ N. Built by David Thompson 1809 and named by him. It stood on a point extending into Lake Pend d’Oreille between Hope and Clarks Fort stations on Northern Pacific Railway. Was maintained for only a few years. 

Kootenay Falls House. Hudson’s Bay Co. fort at Kootenai Falls, Montana, on east bank. Built by the North West Co. 1808. An outpost of Fort Colvile. The H.B Co. claimed indemnity from the US for this fort. Sometimes called Kootanie or Kootanais Fort (Not to be confused with Kootenay House on the Columbia River, BC.)

Kootenay House. Fortified post erected by David Thompson for North West Co. in 1807 on the west side of Columbia River, BC, one mile downstream from the north end of Lake Windermere, about one mile northwest of Athalmer and just north of Toby Creek. It was the first post erected in that region. Sometimes called Fort Kootanae: After the union of 1821 was operated by the Hudson’s Bay Co. for some time and was included in the 1856 list of forts.

Boat Encampment. North West Co. establishment at the Great Bend in Columbia River, at mouth of Canoe River on east side of the river. Built by Thompson January 1811. It was the rendez-vous for travel across the mountains by Athabasca Pass. It was maintained up to time of building railway. [Perhaps, but not by the HBC.] 

So, no mention of David Thompson’s Saleesh House, but I wonder if it was Kootenay Falls House under the North West Co.’s name? And no mention of Fort Hall, I think, nor of the Donald McKenzie’s Boise River camp. Nevertheless, plenty of forts to think about. Plenty of questions to ask and have answered!

Copyright, Nancy Marguerite Anderson, 2025. All rights reserved.

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