Wilson Hunt’s 1811–12 Astorian Expedition Route
Arikara Villages (South Dakota) to Fort Astoria (Oregon)
Contributed by Steve F. Russell
In 1811–1812, Wilson Hunt lead an expedition from the Arikara Villages, on the Missouri River in South Dakota, to the newly-established Fort Astoria, at the mouth of the Columbia River. In a major sense, Hunt would be traveling a route similar to the one planned by the Gaultier brothers, almost 70 years before. The Hunt expedition was funded by John Jacob Astor, as part of his plan to establish significant fur trading holdings in the Pacific Northwest. He called his company the Pacific Fur Company. Sometimes the expedition is called ‘The Astorians’.
Attempts to reach the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean, from the central United States, began as early as 1742–43, with the expedition through North and South Dakota, Wyoming, and Nebraska, by the Gaultier brothers, Francois Gaultier, Chevalier of the Verendrye, and his brother Pierre Gaultier. They were French Canadians because France controlled Canada until 1763, when the victory of England in the French and Indian Wars, gave the English control.
The purpose of the ‘Verendrye’ Expedition, was to find a way to travel westward from the Mandan Villages of North Dakota to the Western Sea (Pacific Ocean). They were unsuccessful because the Snake River Indians of Idaho and western Wyoming, primarily the eastern Shoshoni, were hostile to invaders of their territory and the plains tribes refused any requests to guide the Gaultiers through Snake Indian country. They explored westward, to the east face of the Big Horn Mountains, before returning to the Mandan Villages of North Dakota.
In 1804–1806, the Corps of Discovery, under the command of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, led an expedition from St. Louis westward to the mouth of the Columbia River, and return. They were exploring at the request, and support, of President Thomas Jefferson. Jefferson wanted the new Louisiana Purchase area to be explored so ownership claims could be firmly established. Lewis and Clark took a northern route, up the Missouri and down the Columbia River.
Fort Astoria was built in 1811, but the War of 1812 brought difficulties in operation and the fur trade was not really profitable. The fort was sold to the British North West Company in 1813.
It was not until 1834, that an organized expedition, led by Nathniel J. Wyeth, traveled the entire route of the Oregon Trail that would be followed by emigrants. Wyeth was a merchant and trader and traveled with a large load of goods, which he sold along some of the route.