Turn Over Your Settlements!

St. Louis - an early French trading post founded by Pierre Laclede in 1764 and destined for great importance.   An associate in Laclede's fur trading business, Pierre Chouteau, envisioned greatness when he looked out over the prairies around present day St. Louis.  He saw a bustling metropolis, boats on the river, and industry fueling the growing city.  He built his spacious home on a hill looking down on what would later be St. Louis. 

Meanwhile, the French had the Indians to handle.  The Indians wanted to defeat their common enemy, the British, but the French were battle weary and had little interest.  The British at this time, were planning to take possession of all the French "up river" settlements from New Orleans northward.  Things didn't go as planned for the British as they were ambushed several times and forced to retreat. 

Ridiculed and mocked by the French as inept soldiers, General Gage vowed to try again, this time from Fort Pitt rather than New Orleans.  First, the Indians needed to be placated and this task was assigned to George Croghan, a trader with long experience and a good standing with the natives.  With two boats and a good many soldiers including friendly Delawares, they left Fort Pitt in 1765.  Descending the Ohio River, they reached the mouth of the Wabash where they were met by a band of Kickapoo, who killed half their men.  After discovering that the Indians with Croghan were not Cherokee as told by the French, the Kickapoo offered apologies.  Croghan didn't quite believe that excuse as his party were closely guarded and taken up the Wabash to Vincennes, where the old Indian friend of Croghan set the matter straight with the Kickapoo.  Croghan chose to continue with his "hosts" to Ouiatanon where the peace pipe was offered and apology speeches made.

Croghan met Pontiac at Fort Chartres where Pontiac was assured that the English were not going to enslave the natives and agreed not to further deter Croghan.  Croghan reached Detroit and then Niagara where he reported that the situation in the new western territories was ready for English rule.

Captain Thomas Sterling was dispatched with 100 veteran soldiers to take over the French settlements at last.  On October 10, 1765, Sterling reached Fort Chartres, and then St. Louis, and Vincennes and raised the British flag.  The new western territory was now in English hands.

Next time...the Creoles and Indians adjust
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Today in Pioneer History: "On January 31, 1865, the House of Representatives passes the 13th Amendment  to the Constitution, abolishing slavery in America.  "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction."