Native Americans In The Rocky Mountain Fur Company

The relationship between the Americans and the Native Americans had been tumultuous for some time. The Americans insisted on recklessly encroaching on Indian land and the Indians were forced to defend it. The Rocky Mountain Fur Company’s fur traders were licensed to trade only to do trade with the Indians, but they set out to trap and hunt instead. What they didn’t realize was that two Indians had been killed just a few weeks prior in a skirmish with the Missouri Fur Company and the situation in the area was hostile. For years, the Indians had only known tense relationships with the white men and the death of two of their own created a tense environment for the new Rocky Mountain Fur Company. When General Ashley and his men arrived, they believed
When General Ashley was granted a license, it was for “trading with the Indians only” . However, Ashley and his men set out not just for trade, but for hunting and trapping on the Indians land as well . When General Ashley arrived, he did not take an attitude of remorse for the previous loss of Indian life at the hands of the Americans but rather an enterprising attitude; his attitude placed blame on the Indians and that angered them . One of his men, Hugh Glass, wrote a letter to the parents of a killed trader, John S. Gardner, in which he states “the savages are greatly treacherous” and “the traitors” will be “rightly punished” . Another of Ashley’s men claims the Indian hostility is due to their close proximity to the English and a prohibition on the sale of liquor to the Indians; the Indians simply moved closer to the English trader to get their fix . The same trader proclaims his intentions to avenge the death of his fellow traders and says that he “never will descend this river until I assist in shedding the blood of some Ricarees” . Benjamin O’Fallon, the U.S. Indian agent who neglected to establish a relationship with the Indians, calls these people he doesn’t know “inhumane monsters,” and openly proclaims his disdain for them . He then calls on the government to take action to put down the Indians and save the citizens of America . It appeared from the attitudes of the men, and of
While Ashley claimed he discussed the death of two Indians with the Chief and issues a stern warning against aggression, the intelligence officer claims the Indians demanded reparations and Ashley obliged with “powder and 25 muskets” . However, even with the muskets and powder, the Indians were not satisfied and demanded more; when no more was offered, they attacked . The problem with this statement is that it doesn’t match General Ashley’s account and it sounds like a cover up. None of General Ashley’s men corroborated this story either; theirs matched with General Ashley claimed happened. Instead of being an honest account, it sounds more like the intelligence officer was attempting to excuse Ashley of any blame and incite the government to take action. This inconsistency makes the entire incident questionable; maybe Ashley’s men were really the aggressors. Without an account from the Indians, the true events will remain