Waiilatpu Massacre
From my first book, The Pathfinder, I post the brief introduction to the 1847 measles epidemic in the Columbia district and New Caledonia [British Columbia], that eventually resulted in the…
Read moreDugald Mactavish
Who was Dugald Mactavish, who took over Fort Vancouver after Peter Skene Ogden’s death in 1854? Bruce McIntyre Watson, in his book “Lives Lived,” tells us he was born in…
Read moreThe incoming New Caledonia brigades leave Fort Vancouver, Columbia River
At Fort Vancouver, William Connolly prepared to take in the New Caledonia brigade to Fort St. James. In fur trade parlance, “Incoming” always meant that the horse and boat brigades…
Read moreFort Nez Perces to Fort Vancouver with the New Caledonia brigade
Chief Factor William Connolly and his brigades arrived at Fort Nez Perces (Walla Walla) on Friday, June 9, 1826. He departed soon after he had arranged with Chief Trader Sam…
Read moreFort Okanogan to Fort Nez Perces
At Fort Okanogan, the brigades prepared to descend the Columbia River to Fort Nez Perces [Walla Walla] and Fort Vancouver, their headquarters a hundred miles inland from the mouth of…
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