Fort Mandan, North Dakota — John Ordway: December 21, 1804

bringing & Setting pickets a nomber of the Savages came
Staying about our Garrison espacally Several of the women.
1 “Mr Henny from the Establishment on River Ossinniboin, with a letter
from Mr. Charles Chaboillez one of the Co arrived in 6 days. Mr. C in his
letter expressed a great anxiety to Serve us in any thing in his power.” Clark.
“The object of the visits we received from the N. W. Company, was to ascer-
tain our motives for visiting that country, and to gain information with respect
to the change of government.” Gass. The leader of the visiting North West
Company traders thus records his impressions of Fort Mandan: “Arrived at
Fort Mandan, being the name the Americans give to their Fort which
is constructed in a triangular form, ranges of houses making two sides,
and a range of amazing long pickets the front. The whole is made so strong
as to be almost cannon ball proof. The two ranges of houses do not join one
another, but are joined by a piece of fortification made in the form of a demi
circle that can defend two sides of the Fort, on the top of which they keep
sentry all night; the lower parts of that building serves as a store. A sentinel
is likewise kept all day walking in the Fort.” “Journal of Francois Larocque,
1804-1805,” in L. R. Masson, Les Bourgeois de la Compagnie du Nord Ouest
* * * (Quebec, 1889), I, 307-8.
174 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Dec. 22