92 BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY [Bdll. 176 



post but sold the following year to the larger Chouteau firm (then 

 successors to the American Fur Company in the West) . Again the 

 precise location is in doubt, though the site may lie in SE14 sec. 28, 

 T. 5 K, K. 31 E. (ibid., p. 22). No other establishments of 

 subsequent date are known for the inunediate area. 



Fort Pierre Chouteau, long headquarters of the trade in this region, 

 and frequently visited by travelers, had by the year 1855 fulfilled its 

 major historic role. Having survived noteworthy (though now 

 little-known) changes in the nature of the trade itself during the 

 preceding two decades, the old post was now the scene of a military 

 occupation, and for a final brief period performed an essentially dif- 

 ferent function. This occupation was connected with campaigns 

 against hostile Dakota (Sioux) Indian groups, conducted by military 

 forces under the command of Bvt. Brig. Gen. William S. Harney, 

 and entailed the purchase of the post for garrison and supply 

 purposes. Thus the building of new posts by the traders for their 

 own needs became necessary. 



Unfortunately, data pertaining to these new trading establisliments, 

 following abandonment by the traders of the old post, are not readily 

 available, and statements of historical students concerning them, fre- 

 quently unsupported by conclusive evidence, are doubtful and con- 

 fusing, or actually in disagreement. The following outline of the 

 probable succession of events after 1855 is believed to be in the main 

 correct, if inadequate in details. An attempt has here been made 

 to proceed upon the evidence of contemporary documents or, lack- 

 ing this, on the basis of reliable testimony of eyewitnesses given at 

 later times. The attempt is not wholly successful, and search of the 

 commercial papers of such firms as the Chouteau Company and its 

 affiliates may provide data to fill in the scanty outlines now known, 

 when detailed research becomes possible. 



It is known from contemporary sources that the agent of tlie 

 Chouteau firm, upon the sale of old Fort Pierre to the War Depart- 

 ment in 1855, was Charles E. Galpin, frequently referred to elsewhere 

 as "Major" (Galpin to Capt. P. T. Turnley, Fort Pierre, Nov. 1, 

 1855; Galpin to Turnley, Nov. 8, 1855; in U.S. War Dept., 1902, 

 pp. 404, 412) . The same sources reveal that Galpin had at this time 

 lived in the region for 16 years, 10 of which (i.e., since 1845) he had 

 lived "immediately at Ft. Pierre" (Galpin to Turnley, Nov. 8, 1855, 

 ibid.). Galpin was to continue here for some years longer, as repre- 

 sentative of the Chouteaus. With him, at one time, Charles Primeau 

 seems to have represented the firm. 



It is known that at some time prior to August 7, 1855, Galpin had 

 established a camp about 4 miles above Chantier Creek, "with the party 

 that vacated Fort Pierre on the arrival of the troops," at a site said 

 to be good, having a considerable quantity of grass and wood, but 



