Old Fort Benton

Fort Benton, two years later in the spring of 1823, was the starting point for Jones and Immell and a large party of men who set out for the upper Missouri. Their aim, in addition to trapping furs, was to find and make friends with the Blackfeet Indians for the purpose of establishing trade with them.

This was a most daring undertaking, as the Blackfeet were widely known for their bloody attempts to keep white men out of their territory. After reaching the Three Forks of the Missouri they remained there until mid-May, trapping there and along the Jefferson Fork nearly to its source. Although they were successful in their trapping efforts, there were no signs of Blackfeet. On May 16 they began their return to the Yellowstone. On the second day of their return trip they were confronted by a party of thirty-eight Blackfeet. These Indians, in spite of their fierce reputation, acted friendly and stayed with the white trappers over night.

However friendly these Indians acted the white trappers, the following morning, hurried on their way-away from the Blackfeet. It was well they did.

After the white trappers departure the Blackfeet apparently contacted other Blackfeet, rallying them to come. Sometime later, as the white trappers passed through a deep defile, the now some 500 Blackfeet attack. It is a wonder that 17 of the trappers escaped. Both Jones and Immell lost their lives in the battle.

Apparently the Old Fort Benton (or Lewis) was replaced, in the spring of 1847, by a new Fort Lewis. However, the new location was several miles from a good stand of timber, necessary for further building and firewood. Also, the Indians from north of the Missouri that came to trade complained that they could not cross the river easily at or near the post.

So once again the fort was moved and rebuilt. In the spring of 1847, the fort was dismantled, the material floated downriver on the opposite bank. There, it was rebuilt. At first the new post was again called Fort Lewis, then Fort Clay. Within a year it received its final name, Fort Benton, honoring Missouri's staunch champion of the fur trade and westward expansion, Senator Thomas Hart Benton who would become the father-in-law to John Charles Fremont.

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Index of Forts in this series can be seen at:

Forts of the West: An Introduction http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/1379...

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Also by Mary Trotter Kion at Suite 101

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