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Home , Fort Vancouver, George Vancouver, Oregon boundary dispute, Oregon Treaty

Historic Fort Steilacoom 4 establishing Army posts in the terri- The survey party tory at Fort near the was escorted by a Hudson’s Bay Company post on the detachment of sol- Columbia, and at Fort Steilacoom on diers from Fort Stei- , also near a Hudson’s lacoom. In December Bay Company post. 1858 the Americans Nothing happened for eleven years. were visited by US Vol. 32, No. 3 Fort Steilacoom, Autumn 2015 Then on June 27, 1857, the Interna- Army Inspector Gen- tional Boundary Commission met eral J. K. F. Mansfield aboard the British ship HMS Satellite and his assistant, Ma- in harbor. The American jor Irvin McDowell, The Boundary Question commission was headed by a civilian, who were conducting Archibald Campbell, while the British inspections of Army by Kenneth A. Morgan commission was under the command activities in the west. of Captains James Prevost and John The Fort Steila- HMS Satellite was in Bellingham Bay in 1859. ho had jurisdiction over Hawkins of the Royal Engineers. coom detachment the Country? No The plan was to mark the boundary consisted of soldiers one really knew. The th th status of Point Roberts, a US terri- W along the 49 parallel from the of Company F, 9 Infantry, com- W is generally defined tory attached to that can be to the summit of manded by Capt. D. Woodruff, and as that region of entered by land only through Canada, the , a distance of two additional officers, four sergeants, between 42 degrees north latitude still exists. some 400 miles. three corporals, 63 privates, and (about the present Oregon/California The Americans were eager to get two buglers. Also attached were border) and 54 degrees 40 minutes Internet sources: started, but the British party was Surgeon I. H. Berrien and Lt. A. V. north latitude and west of the crest th delayed at sea, so the Americans Kautz, 4 Infantry, who was acting Wikipedia.org: “Oregon Country,” of the Rocky Mountains. started without them. The United quartermaster and commissary officer. “,” Claims were based on early explo- States Commission established a base General Mansfield reports that all “Russian-American Company,” ration, commercial exploitation, and camp at Semiahmoo about a mile was in good order except for seven “Hudson’s Bay Company,” actual occupation. Russia, Spain, th north of the 49 parallel in what was prisoners who were in the guard “,” Great Britain, the , British territory. The camp housed house for desertion or other “,” and even France all stated claims on 100 to 150 men in several rough wood offenses. “.” the area. Of course it was the home buildings, each with a kitchen but no Field work on the boundary con- oregontrackers.com: “Oregon Treaty of native populations, too. bunks for the men to sleep in. One tinued and was completed in the of 1846.” Spanish authority claims were also served as a hospital. spring of 1861. For the next thirty history.gov/milestones: “Milestones based on the Inter caetera and In the summer of 1858 the British years little changed along the border. 1830-1860, The .” Treaty of Tordesillas of 1493-94. finally arrived. They established a But by the 1890s settlements on each This treaty between Spain and base camp a few miles east of present side caused both governments to history.link.org: “Robert Gray,” “The International Boundary Portugal was negotiated by Pope day Blaine. It, too, contained about reexamine the line and to more Alexander VI and delineated those 100 men, mostly laborers. vigorously enforce it. The San Juan Commission first meets on June 27, 1857.” countries rights to North America. A joint effort was undertaken to question had been resolved in favor Spain had established a colony on th surryhistory.ca Camp Semiahmoo mark a line along the 49 parallel, of the United States, however there , but in the 1857-59, clear a path 20 feet on either side of were some loose ends concerning the had given up its rights to Great the line, and mark the line with iron location of the line in north central Other sources: Britain. In 1819, as a result of the stakes and stone cairns every few and north east Washington. The Adams-Onis Treaty, Spain had re- miles. The line was confirmed by British and American surveys were Morgan, Kenneth A., “The Pig leased any claims to the territory, Wikipedia astronomical observations made by as much as 500 feet apart. Examina- War,” HFSA Newsletter, 2011. and Florida, to the United States. The boundary between the United States and Canada became the 49th parallel. Lt. I.G. Parker of the US Topog- tion of the original drawings in 1898 Klotz, Otto, “The History of the French assertions were weak at raphical Engineers. resolved the differences. Forty-Ninth Parallel Survey West of best. Based on early explorations The Russian-American Company today’s Sitka, , and Fort Ross It was difficult work. The forest In 1908 a new International Bound- the Rocky Mountains,” and roamings by fur trappers, the was chartered by Tsar Paul I in in California. They also built a fort was thick with fallen timber, swollen ary Commission was formed to Geographical Review, Vol 3, No 5, French claims were settled in favor 1799. It was supposed to operate (Fort Elizabeth) in Hawaii. By 1820 streams, threats of attack by bears finalize any questions that might 1917. of the United States by the north of 55 degrees latitude. The reduced numbers of fur bearing and other wildlife, rocky and steep arise. Another agreement was reached Baker, Marcus, Survey of the of 1803. charter gave Russia trade rights and animals lowered the profitability of ground, and particularly for the in 1925 which established the com- Northwestern Boundary of the Fur was big business in the early colonization rights along the Pacific the company and it was taken over British, attacks by mosquitoes. Per- mission as the caretaker of the United States, 1857-1861, 19th century, and the Oregon Country coast, including adjacent islands, by the Russian government. When sistence paid off so that by the end boundary area. Government Printing Office, 1900. was caught up in it. Russia, Great from the Bering Sea southward to Alaska was purchased by the United of 1858 nearly 90 miles of bound- At last the boundary question was Britain, and the United States had the and beyond. The States in 1867, the company’s activi- ary had been marked. settled. But was it? The curious established fur trading companies in Russians established settlements in ties were effectively ended. the region. (Continued on page 3) Historic Fort Steilacoom 23 Autumn 2015

Corps of Discovery Expedition (1803- agreed on. The Anglo-American HISTORIC FORT STEILACOOM Boundary Question (from p. 1) 1806). Lead by Army officers Captain Convention of 1818, which settled ASSOCIATION Captain George Vancouver, , made several voyages for the Meriwether Lewis and Lieutenant disputes from the , President...... Carol Stout British Crown. Between 1791 and William Clark, the Corps explored, allowed for the joint occupation of Past President ...... Lawrence Bateman mapped, inventoried plant and animal the Oregon Country for a period of st 1795 those voyages explored the 1 Vice Pres...... John Roten life, contacted native peoples, and ten years. nd Pacific Coast of North America, 2 Vice Pres...... Loran Bures recorded and reported their findings The Hudson’s Bay Company actively Secretary ...... Joseph W. Lewis particularly the region which later to the President. During the winter discouraged settlement of the terri- Treasurer ...... Michael J. McGuire became called the Oregon Country. Directors: Bill Arends, Bernard Bateman, He sailed into Puget Sound, sent of 1804-05 they established a camp, tory, but they were the only ones to Nancy Keller-Scholz, Thomas A. Melberg, small boats to survey the bays and , at the mouth of the do so. Americans wanted free land Kenneth A. Morgan, Orville H. Stout inlets therein, named several of the Columbia River. and began to trickle in. By the 1830s Honorary Board: Christine Colyar, Steve prominent geographic features such When Captain Vancouver was explor- the was well estab- Dunkelberger, Gideon Pete, Walter Neary as , navigated the ing, so were the Americans. In 1787 lished and more and more settlers Web :...... Stephen Neufeld a group of Boston merchants sent a arrived. In 1843 a provisional gov- Web Site: www.historicfortsteilacoom.org mouth of the Columbia River, and, of course, mapped it all. Because of two-ship expedition to the northwest ernment was established in the e-mail:[email protected] coast. The lead ship, Columbia, was at Champoeg, Telephone: (253) 582-5838 or 756-3928 his efforts, Britain had at least a commanded by Captain John Kendrick, although it was not “officially” Editor & Publisher ...... Orville H. Stout partial claim on the territory. That claim was exploited by the while the second, the Lady Washington, recognized by the Hudson’s Bay Publication funded in part by City of was commanded by Captain Robert Company. The ten years established Lakewood Lodging Tax Grant. Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) and the North West Company (NWC). Gray. While operating off the coast, in 1818 had long passed. It was time Gray and the Lady Washington took to do something. Photo by Nancy Covert The Hudson’s Bay Company was President’s Message established by royal charter from on a load of furs for the China trade. Territorial was the Following a flag disposal ceremony assisted by cub scouts on June 14, Upon returning from China, Gray political “hot potato” of the . Thank you historian Loran Bures presented a program about U.S. Flag history. King Charles II in 1670. Not only was it a trading company, but it was the took command of the Columbia and Texas had become independent in Volunteers! resumed exploring the northwest 1836 and southerners wanted to annex A new monument has been placed foundation. D.S.H.S. will be publish- de facto government in those areas Volunteers have not under the influence of other coast. He found what he thought to it as pro-slavery, while northerners between Quarters 1 and 2 by the ing the plan to send to potential be a bay, but what turned out to be a wanted to annex the Oregon Country kept Historic Fort European nations. Initially it had Lakewood Historical Society. It com- contractors for bidding. river which he later entered. He named as anti-slavery. Britain, meanwhile, Steilacoom open jurisdiction over lands whose rivers memorates the site of the Puget If you want to become a member the river after his ship, Columbia. wanted control over all the Oregon since 1983 after a and streams flowed into Hudson’s Sound Agricultural farm operated by or volunteer at Historic Fort Americans wanted to cash in on Country north of the Columbia River. dedicated group, led Bay, but with westward expansion Joseph Heath until his death on Steilacoom, go to our website the , too. The Oregon question was settled by Lyle Dunkin, restored the four its authority expanded as well. March 7, 1849. “Less than a month (www.historicfortsteilacoom.org) and founded the American Fur Company first. The United States and Great remaining officers’ quarters. The The North West Company was after the auction of farm implements click “Contact” then scroll down to in 1808. Astor’s plan was to establish Britain signed a treaty on , buildings were opened to the public formed in in 1779 to and remaining effects...Major John complete the form, or simply call us a series of fur trading posts and 1846, setting the boundary at the offering tours and reenactments for directly compete with the Hudson’s S. Hathaway...and Captain Bennett at (253) 582-5838. collect the furs at the mouth of the 49th parallel of north latitude, essen- visitors to experience life as it was Bay Company. It, too, was concerned Hill, of the First Artillery, arrived... Columbia, at today’s Astoria, Oregon. tially extending the boundary between from 1849 to 1868 during the years U.S. flag history trivia with the fur trade. Its agents, called seeking a location for an American From there they would embark a and the United the fort was active. “pedlars,” roamed throughout the Fort.... It was arranged for the ship from New York and be traded States as established by previous The current board, whose names America’s first flag of June 14, Rocky Mountains and the northwest. United States government to rent in China for goods to sell in New treaties and conventions. The Texas are listed above on this page, and 1777, featured a circle of 13 stars, The North West Company found it the buildings and 20 acres of land York. The War of 1812 changed all question was settled by the Mexican groups such as the Fourth US representing the original colonies, increasingly difficult to compete with for $50 a month. By October, 75 men that. Britain seized his posts, includ- War. Infantry and the 20th Maine and with 13 red and white stripes. the Hudson’s Bay Company, which and 5 officers were remodeling the ing the one in Astoria, and sold them The writers of the Treaty of 1846 other volunteers, continue tours and The “Star Spangled Banner” flag had a monopoly on the land where farm house, kitchen, barn, granary to the North West Company. Decline were diplomats, not geographers, reenactments. From now until next 1 created in 1795 had 15 stripes and the best furs originated. The company and other outbuildings into quarters. in the desirability of fur as a fashion which lead to a problem that almost spring the fort will be open on the flew for 23 years. appealed to the British Prime Minister, The library renovation continues. accessory and increased competition brought the two countries to war. first Sunday of each month from 1 to The Civil War flag first had 34 but the appeals were not addressed. Additional shelves have been con- from the Hudson’s Bay Company The question of ownership of the 4 p.m. with special programs in then 36 stars. Stars representing Decreasing profits finally led to the structed and painted and the newly caused Astor to abandon the fur was based on the between. southern states were not removed by merger of the North West Company donated books, along with the older trade and enter the real estate busi- location of the channel between You are invited to attend the Lincoln. More stars were added with the Hudson’s Bay Company. collection, are being reorganized. ness in New York, which made him Vancouver Island and the mainland remaining events on the 2015 schedule: Extra books will be available for afterward as more territories became The United States had claims to states. the Oregon Country, too. Like the the wealthiest man in the United (see the HFSA newsletter: Winter, September 26: Museum Day Live purchase in the gift shop. During World Wars I and II the British claims, they were based on States. 2011). October 18: Annual Meeting The architects have completed a flag had 48 stars. The addition of early exploration. When the United By the early 1800s there were Just as in 1818, the Treaty of 1846 November 15: Military Uniforms plan for the repair of the quarters 3 Hawaii and Alaska later brought the States purchased Louisiana from really only two players in the game caused little to happen. The Hudson’s December 12: Christmas at the fort number of stars to 50. France in 1803, President Jefferson of who had jurisdiction over the Bay Company continued to operate; Visit our website for updates to the 1 Heath, Joseph, Memoirs of Oregon Country: Britain and the American settlers continued to travel program schedule. wanted to know what he had bought. Nisqually, Ye Galleon Press, Finding out was the task of the United States. Several partition plans the Oregon Trail. The United States, Fairfield, WA, 1979, p. 171. were proposed but none could be however, did “show the flag” by