2016 FUMLA Winter Camp

The following is transcribed from my field journal. There are typos, misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entry is from the 2016 FUMLA Winter Camp.

Friday, January 29th, 2016

FUMLA Winter Camp

Photo by Terry Madden 

It was just past dusk when I arrived to the banks of the Charboneau Creek. I could see the faint glow of firelight in the outside camp and candlelight from the windows of the Lassey cabin. The ground was rather greasy under my moccasined feet due to the warmer than usual January temperatures.  

With my gear mantied up and worn on my back, I made my way down the hill. I could see that Paul and Dave F. had their camp up closer to the cabin, with the Madden camp set up more to the east and closer to the entering trail. Terry and Caleb greeted me and invited me to camp by them and to share their fire. It had been a while since our last meeting so it was good to see them again. They had a leen-to set up with lots of furs. I picked out a piece of high ground to the east of them where I dropped the manty pack and readied my beading. Terry offered me some roasted meat and potatoes that were left from their meal so that I wouldn't have to prepare a meal. I gladly accepted. Terry, Caleb and I talked for a while and then we made our way to the cabin.

Mark and Chris, members of the Canadien contingent had made it as well. Chris was playing a

Photo by Terry Madden

rather animated game of cribbage with Dave F, Paul and Graywolf (Bob S). I sat by the stove, rifle in hand, talking and listening to the fun going on around us. Chris offered us some Canadien cheddar. As she was drawing the small knife from the bag which contained the cheddar her finger was cut. In short order we had it sorted and the cribbage match continued.

After awhile we were all starting to feel drowsy so we decided to turn in. Terry, Caleb and I head back out to bedding. I was glad to have my new red wool flannel shirt with me. I kept on waking up throughout the night on the verge of shivering. I finally was aware that I wasn’t feeling all the weight of my blankets and buffalo robe on me. Reaching out with one hand I confirmed that a few layers had shifted completely off of me. I quickly remedied that, adjusting the bedding and began to slowly warm up. I woke up a few more times throughout the darkness.

Saturday, January 30th, 2016

FUMLA Winter Camp
It was starting to get light when I threw the canvas and blankets off the top of me. The skyline to the east was beautiful with the sun just coming up. I quickly donned my sky blue capot, bullet pouch and horn, grabbed my rifle, pulled on my gloves and began a scout of the east.

I hadn’t scouted this side of the creek before. It was still rather cool and the what was soggy ground yesterday was frozen and hard underneath my moccasined feet. In an area where part of the bank had sloughed off a few years before there was a large hole that some animal had claimed for a den, but what little sign that was left suggested it had not been used in quite some time.  I found rose hips as I followed the creek for awhile and stopped to repose briefly and take in the view.

After I returned the rest of the camp was up and about. I had brought a big bag of anasazi beans to share with the party. I had some blue check trade cloth so I made some bags to portion out the beans. Graywolf and Terry each got a bag.

Paul B. wanted to scout the area a bit later so he and I scouted even further to the east than I had gone before, reaching the boundary of the area. We found evidence of flooding from the previous spring. It was a nice walk.

Shortly after we had returned to the camp, Paul E. and Scott arrived and began to make their lean-to camp. We were now at the most people we’d had at a winter camp in some time.

Terry and Caleb welcomed me to use their fire again and I made rice with some of this year’s peppered deer breakfast sausage in my lidded copper kettle. We also added some

anasazi beans, some of my deer sausage and even a piece of rattlesnake (fringe from my leggins, due to a story from years past)  into their stew pot. All of the beans were eaten and none of us managed to find the piece of long leather fringe.

Dave E. arrived and made a little camp as well.

I roasted a set of ribs for everyone during the afternoon which were finished until the evening. We fired our rifles from the bank of the Charbonneau. Rod and his son did some shooting as well. It was his son’s first time and he did rather well. It was good to see the next generation enjoying the time with everyone and seeing a father teach his son.

As dark came on we congregated in the cabin. It was full due to how large the party had

grown today. Cribbage was played, the ribs were eaten, shrub and other libations were passed, pipes were let and laughter and conversations ensued to the flicker of candle and lantern light. Great conversations that let us all get to know each other more.  Alas, such moments like this must even end, and we began to turn in for the night.

Sunday, January 31st, 2016
FUMLA Winter Camp
I slept warmer last night, but was still cool. I need to make some winter mocs and blanket moc liners. I tried to get moving right away this morning. It was sure slow going. The coffee that Paul B. made sure felt good going down.

I didn’t take too much time to get my little camp mantied up and hiked out of the site and dropped it off at the truck. I then helped Terry and Caleb get their gear packed up as well.

Before we left we were able to get a sketch made of the crew that stayed last night. It was a good number of people for one of our winter camps. I got to know some of my friends more. I look forward to the next time.

Leifer

  

2015 FUMLA Bunny Hunt

The following is transcribed from my field journal. There are typos, misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entry is from the 2015 FUMLA Bunny Hunt outside of Dore, ND. 2015 FUMLA Bunny Hunt

Muzzleloader Area, Dore, ND

Sunday, December 20, 2015

It was a Sunday afternoon and our party was set to meet at our usual gathering place in the Muzzleloader area outside of Dore, ND. While there was some snow on the ground it wasn't like the snow we'd had last year. Last year it was a cold, overcast day and was below freezing with a good amount of snow on the ground. This year there was but a thin layer. It was 34 degrees when I'd left home.

I hiked into the gathering place wearing my wool leggings, sky blue light capot and wolf eared cap make from blanket scrap, my .58 J. Henry trade rifle in tow. I could see by the tracks that there were at least three people who had previously been on the trail. I followed the tracks left by the sled that had presumably been brought to bring in supplies. By the time I reached the gathered party my side seam mocs were soaked through.

As I got closer to the gathering place I could see four men, all of whom I recognized, and I identified myself as I got closer. "Hello the camp!" "Hello Leif!", was the return greeting. Our party today consisted of Dave F., Dave E., Tod, Rod and myself.

The group was gathered around a small fire, with coffee on the boil and water that Tod was heating for tea. Despite the fact I was more properly prepared for the cooler weather today compared to last year, even brought along in my small haversack a small sheet iron skillet and some venison sausage my family had made several weeks prior, I forgot my tin cup yet once again. Tod just smiled and offered me the use of his kettel drink out of, yet again. I enjoyed some tea this time.

In short order Rod noticed some rustling in a large cottonwood about 20 yards away. He caught sight of movement about 30 feet up. Slowly the group began to surround the tree, with the exception of me, who had managed to not have loaded my rifle. What a fool I was, and when we heard the growl from the limbs overhead I loaded as quickly as I could.

Saying the beast was larger than what we expected would be an understatement. It was about two feet in length with a bushy tail roughly as long. Its claws looked like the talons of an eagle. Its snarl revealed teeth like a badger and it's eyes leered at us with hatred. It locked eyes with Rod, who instantly fired his .58 Derringer. The beast scurried to the other side of the large limbed, at which point Tod fired his trade gun, spraying bark towards the flurry of fur. Dave E shot next as Dave F pulled out his cap and ball pistol and aimed up at the branches. Tod fired again and the beast frantically scurred to the other side of the limb. I finally had completed loading my Henry and arrived next to Rod when he fired his second shot, hitting the ferocious animal. The beast shrieked and flailed itself to the other side of the limb just as I raised my rifle. He kept on ducking back and forth on the limb as he tried to quickly make his way to the trunk of the tree. Each time as I was about to fire it would weave to the other side of the limb. The hairy mass of hatred suddenly appeared energized as it locked eyes with Rod again, who had landed a shot into the beast, and charged. Right as this happened Tod fired, the beast screeched one final time and dropped twenty five or so feet to the ground. With determination in his eyes Tod quickly grabbed the flailing animal by the tail and quickly finished him off while the rest of us stood with knives drawn ready to unleash havoc. We all stood gasping for a long moment, trying to catch our breath and come to terms with what had just transpired...

Or...just maybe...what we experienced actually went something like this:

While we enjoyed the coffee and tea Rod took notice of a large squirrel in a cottonwood tree about 20 yards away. "I bet it's the same one you guys missed last year," quipped Dave E. That was all the prodding we needed and we headed to the tree with the exception of me, who had managed to not have loaded my rifle. What a fool I was. By the time I got to the tree Rod and fired once, Dave E. once, Tod twice and as I approached Dave F. had pulled out his pocket pistol and was taking aim as well. As I found my place in the circle of men around the tree Rod fired again, landing a shot. The squirrel barked and scurried to the other side. Each time as I was about to fire it would weave to the other side of the limb. After the third time or so of this happening Tod fired and the squirrel dropped to the ground. Tod quickly snatched the squirrel and finished him off.

I had posted a video about a month back about a quick way to skin a squirrel by make a couple incisions on the hind legs and then cutting between bones at the base of the trail, making it possible to strip the skin from the rest of the squirrel in two batches. Tod did this and we were amazed at how well it worked. As a testament as to how tough the hide was on this particular squirrel, which was fairly large for a squirrel, Tod removed the flattened .58 cal ball from the animal from when Rod had first shot it. Tod finished field dressing the animal and got to work gathering some dog wood to make an improvised spit and skewered the animal.

While Tod continued to tend to his squirrel the rest of us meandered into the woods to hopefully find rabbits or more squirrel. While my feet were cold from my mocs being soaked through, the rest of me was warm. Thank goodness my winter gear has improved since last year.

I made my haversack in January of 2015 during our Winter Camp as a result of the 2014 FUMLA Bunny Hunt. I put it into use while stalking in the woods. I gathered some kindling including some tinder fungus, punk wood, and rose hips. I was very surprised at the number of rose hips I found that were not all shriveled.

I found the bones of a cow that had apparently died a few years back and the coyotes had stripped clean. I also found a number of squirrel nests up in the trees. I kept hoping I'd see movement, but I never did. I did kick up an owl. I found several good spots to make camp if I needed too. Lots of pretty scenery. The sun came out later on while I continued walking, pausing, listening and enjoying this time in the woods.

I finally began to make a loop back toward Tod's fire. About five minute later or so I saw Dave E. and Rod and I made my way towards them. I linked up with Rod and said, "All I saw was an owl." Rod replied with,"Yeah, I kicked up a white tail. I think Tod got the only game there was." We made our way back to the fire where the roasted squirrel was ready.

Tod had lightly seasoned it with a little salt and a little pepper. I found, to me, it tasted similar to rabbit, or at least what I ate did at any rate. I pulled out the small skillet and venison sausage and fried it up for us. We talked for a bit. Tod, Rod and Dave E enjoyed some fine tobacco. I had regrettably left my pipe behind this morning.

The time came to head out. The light was beginning to fade and fog was setting in. We doused the fired and made our way back to the vehicles. We were only out several hours, but it was a good time of camaraderie, and, this time, we could actually say we'd successfully gotten an animal on our yearly Bunny Hunt.

-- Leifer

2015 Engages Christmas

The following is transcribed from my field journal. There are typos, misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entry is from the 2015 Engages Christmas at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. 2015 Engages Christmas
Fort Union

Friday, December 4th, 2015
In a year’s time I’ve finally been able to take each one of my kids on an overnight with me. Today I took my son Garrick with me. Tonight we’d be staying in the clerk’s office at Fort Union, where later on tomorrow evening we’d be celebrating Engages Christmas. Besides the usual gear that we brought with us we a few special things as well: stamped and frozen gingerbread cookie dough, turkey, two boiled deer hearts and a mule deer buck. The gingerbread cookies and the turkey I

would cook tomorrow in FUMLA’s tin kitchen reflector over in front of the hearth in the clerk’s office and the the mule deer buck we would hang up from the cross supports on the wall to skin and rough process. The hearts we would slice up and pair with swiss cheese for the dinner tomorrow evening.  Processing wild game would have been a commonplace occurrence at Fort Union.

Garrick and I arrived at dark. We were met by Rod who was enjoying some reading and a cup of coffee at the table in the clerk’s office. I brought the turkey into the bourgeois house where it could finish thawing for tomorrow and then Rod helped me bring the deer into the clerk’s office on a piece of canvas to warm up for processing tomorrow. The deer was in a bit of posed state as a result of the trip to the fort and now completely frozen. I kept doing double takes as it seemed it was watching our every move.

The dinner Garrick and I had consisted of some bread, meat and cheese. Rod and I figured it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get some larger chunks of firewood for the night since most of the wood that was in the clerk’s office was good for getting a fire in the hearth started and established, but not to keep the heat going. We went outside and loaded the wooden wheelbarrow with larger pieces and then stacked them inside. After awhile Garrick wanted to go to sleep so I prepared our bedding on the floor towards one side of the hearth.  

Rod and I enjoyed our pipes filled with tobacco I had received as part of my issued rations at the Fur Trade Symposium at Bent’s Fort in September. It was good tobacco. It had gotten dried out since I had kept it in some trade cloth so I put it in an airtight container and mixed in some rum to give it some life again. We did some reading by candle and firelight before turning in for the evening. I started to read “Pierre’s Hole” by Jim Hardee.

Saturday, December 5th, 2015

Garrick the three and a half year old tossed and turned all night in our bedroll, making my ribs and face the recipient of many elbows and knees. Rod and I basically took turns throughout the night keeping wood on the fire.  When Garrick and I got up Rod had already left to take care of his morning chores.

The first thing I did was drag the “posed” deer closer to the fireplace to continue to warm it up. I then got some bacon frying in my little skillet for breakfast. The smell of bacon woke Garrick up. All three of the kids have demanded bacon when they camp with me. We made bacon sandwiches. The rest of the bacon was cut up and put into my lidded copper kettle along with the beans that had been soaking since lastnight.

Next order of business was to get the gingerbread cookies started. This was the first time I had made cookies in the tin kitchen. Garrick helped rub butter onto the small tin cooking sheets and lay

out the cookies onto them.We had square cookies that had been stamped with Luther’s Rose and smaller ones where the kids had rolled the dough into a skinny log and cut short pieces from. The first batch got a little dark unfortunately. I was distracted by a small group of visitors that came in with Ranger MacVaugh. They wanted to know what would be appropriate personas for events and what would be appropriate items to sell. It was a bit more involved than that...however…’nuff said about that… Second batch of gingerbread cookies turned out better.

After the cookies were I took the small kettle of beans and bacon into the trade room and set them to cooking over the fire. After that I trussed the turkey, seasoned the outside, put it on the large skewer and loaded it into the tin kitchen. This is the largest thing I’ve made in the tin kitchen. It was a 12 pound bird. I tossed three sticks of butter into the bottom to melt to baste the bird throughout the day. Around 12:30 is when I set the tin kitchen in front of the hearth in the clerk’s office. After I got that situated I loaded up more wood to last the rest of the afternoon and on into the evening.

Rod arrived later on along with Dave F. and Tod. They helped me get the deer, which no longer

looked like a posed frozen animal, hung up on the cross beams of the wall. We skinned the deer and did the rough processing of it. The meat and the quarters were tied wrapped up in the deer’s. We were hoping for some visitors during the process but we had no more today. Brandon arrived with Jess and gave me a roast from his deer. Kim, the kids and I will enjoy it as part of a meal next week.

We had a good number of folks for the dinner tonight. There was a lot of food as well. Potatoes, green beans, two turkeys, ham, rolls, pie, pie and pie, deer heart, lefse, and Kim made a cranberry tart from Amelia Simmons 1796 collection, "American Cookery”. Bob S introduced us to a few new games and did a drawing for all people present for a piece of artwork. He even swore off the Northwest Company and swore allegiance to the American Fur Company.

Lots of food, games, laughter, beverages, conversations and even music all to the light of candles

and the hearth. I played a variety of historic Christmas music ranging primarily from the 1600s to as late as the 1880s. Everyone seemed to have a great evening. At the end of the evening I just enjoyed playing my guitar and watching all that was going on around me. For a few short hours this evening we enjoyed a wonderful meal and time with each other, as a friend calls FUMLA, our Muzzleloader family.

Garrick and I would not be spending the night this evening and would be headed back with Kim and the girls. About five or so of the other guys would be. I was bummed, but I was able to stay with Garrick and Rod lastnight, made cookies and a turkey with Garrick in a historic tin kitchen, processed a deer and got to enjoy a wonderful meal with good friends. Pretty tough to beat that. Happy Christmas everyone.

-- Leifer

2015 FUMLA Turkey Shoot

The FUMLA Turkey Shoot this year went a bit differently. I was actually there! This is going to be a brief write-up compared to my previous journal entries. The reader should note that this post contains pictures of a skinned beaver.

I had my bedroll all set and the guys suggested I just stay in the cabin this year. I wasn’t going too, until they pointed out it was now raining...so I quickly ran outside, rolled up my bedroll and brought it inside. It was a nice change to be inside the warm cabin on a cooler day. I was glad to have my sky blue wool melton light capot with me. I’d finished making it right before I’d gone to Bent’s Fort with Rod for the Fur Trade Symposium. I was glad I had it along this camp.

One of the plans, aside from the Turkey Shoot, was to set some traps for some beaver that had been causing problems for Rod. I brought along some red wool flannel that I had purchased for another project to rip a section from to use as a breech clout when wading in the Charbonneau Creek tomorrow afternoon. I thought I had only purchased two yards. I opened it up larger and larger. I had four yards! Looks like I’ll finally be hand sewing a wool shirt. I measured the width I figured I’d need, made a small slit with my knife and ripped it on down.

The time came for the shoot on Saturday afternoon. My new English Pattern J. Henry, made by Mark Morain, performed flawlessly. I, however, did not. I only hit two of the targets. A fun time was had by all.

Later that afternoon I switched into the breech clout, a new experience for me. I’m glad my blue checked shirt is as long as it is. I wore my wool leggings until it was time to get into the water. We used

one of my traps, a #5 Bridger double longspring that I modified and one of Rod’s that was an early 20th century original. I receive a few whistles, hoots and hollars from the guys as I blinded them with my fish belly white legs. I set my trap first near the edge of the dam the beaver had built. Then I set Rod’s trap further up the creek. Upon exiting the water the comment was made that my legs were now as red as my breech clout and I quickly pulled on my wool wrapper blanket leggings.

Early Sunday morning I ran back home because I had to do music for church and and then came back with Kim. I checked the traps with Rod. Kim just shook her head when she saw me in shirt and breech clout. I’m pretty sure I scared Lisa Sanden who was out as well that afternoon. My trap yielded no beaver. As we continued up stream Rod and I noticed a familiar piece of wood floating in the water. It was part of the trap stake for the other trap! When we got to where I had placed Rod’s trap we saw that during the night a beaver had gnawed his way around the exposed part of the trap stake right at water level. I noticed that all the sticks I had place in the water that were meant to direct a beaver to the trap were all gone. I pulled on the chain and felt some hefty resistance. The joke was on the beaver. He may have chewed off the top of the trap stake, but he was at the end of that trap chain, firmly caught in that trap.

This is the largest beaver I’ve ever caught. I skinned him out. The pelt, tail and castors/glands are in my freezer waiting to be pulled out for our trapper camp demo during Kids day at the 2016 Fort Union Rendezvous.

The included pictures were all taken by Rod Lassey.

-- Leifer

2015 Fort Union Rendezvous

The following is transcribed from my field journal. There are typos, misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entry is from the 2015 Fort Union Rendezvous at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site.

Wednesday, June 17th, 2015
Fort Union Rendezvous
This year Rendezvous is going to be a bit different. I will be here both as a living historian and as a park ranger. Earlier today I was able to get our tent set up in the camp next to Paul’s and was able to drop off all the blankets in it for my family. I figured this would be a good way to go as it would be one less thing to worry about when my family arrived tonight. It turned out to be a good idea. When we arrived this evening it was raining. We sat in the van for a short while until the rain subsided enough to go outside. We met Paul and Brandon and our friends of the Canadien contingent, Mark & Chris, Mike & Megan and their son Rhett.

After the rain had essential quick we unloaded the kids and transferred the rest of our gear to the tent. We had Kim’s new rain fly and I hadn’t had a chance to put together a ridgepole and end pole for it. I scrounged the old broken tipi poles and cut them to length with Paul’s buck saw. After he returned on a short hike with the kids he helped me put up the fly and get it staked down.

After we got the kids put down we spent a few hours talking with Brandon and Paul before we finally retired for the evening. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. I’ll need to get the trapper camp demo set up early for tomorrow’s Kids Day.

Thursday, June 18th, 2015

Fort Union Rendezvous
I got up early this morning so my usual routine would be done with sooner. 

I gathered a set of poles to put together a lean-to shelter for our trapper camp. Rod and Sawyer helped me put it together. It consisted of two tripods, a horizontal pole running between the two and several poles leaning against the horizontal. We then tied the ground cloth to it and placed my buffalo robe under it. Rob and Moriah brought us a table that wasn’t being used in the clerk’s office to be used as a display table for our demo area. Rod was able to display his horse gear on it along with historic traps and equipment. Tod was able to make it out today and help with the demo. He brought his two horses along and they were able to use them later on with Rod’s demo on horse use and tack of the fur trade. Rod said at one point, “By the way, Mark and Charlotte arrived.” “They are!?” I said with a smile on my face. Rod chuckled and responded, “Now he’s excited.” I was looking forward to seeing them and talking with Charlotte about a clothing project and with Mark about my rifle. It would have to wait for now.

Due to safety reasons we were not able to build our usual open fire in our demo area that is inside of where the dwelling range used to be so we were using a “double brazier” instead, which we surrounded with firewood to mask it as best as we could. Rod brought some ribs to roast over the fire like we had done last year. By good providence I had managed to trap a rabbit earlier this morning that we would roast over the fire later.

We had a large number of kids and parents

stop by our demo area. We seemed to be a popular place to stop by. It was good having Tod join us in the demo this year. At times we had so many people stopping by that all three of us were talking to different people at the same time. Chris had been doing Indian Sign Language with the kids right behind us by the hunter shack and later on would be doing his presentation as Hugh Glass. We answered a lot of questions and explained the difference between the rendezvous system and the trading post system during the fur trade. The visitors seemed to enjoy seeing and hold the period beaver traps, feeling the beaver tail and smelling the bait in Rod’s bait bottle. In the afternoon my beaver plew had finished thawing so I was able to flesh it on the beam as visitors stopped by the trapper camp. Gordon stopped in with a piece of pottery he’d made for me. 

Most of the day was spent inside of the fort walls. It took several attempts, but, I was finally able to escape to the outside for the evening. The first stop was to see Gordon and Susan, my favorite potters. I’ll be stopping in to see them again to pick up a few more pieces. Next I stopped in to see Mark and Charlotte. Mark said he’d brought my rifle to work on during his gunsmithing demos and that we’d talk about my rifle later on when I had more time.

Photo by Kris Baxter

I got a fire going for Kim and set to making dinner for us. Slab bacon, sliced thick, and sliced potatoes. The kids really enjoyed it. This year was the first time they were able to roam around quite a bit. While Tod, Rod and I were doing our trapper camp demo Kim was helping at the craft area. Sig, Bryn and Garrick played around inside the walls during the day and later on were hunting toads with their friends. They had done well today with their freedom.

After the kids went down for the night we went next door to Paul’s tent and enjoyed some libations and talked for several hours... When we made it back to our tent I was very surprised to see just how late it was. I was informed today by Travis, our head of maintenance that a couple of packages had arrived for me. It should be my uniform, which is good as I am supposed to be in uniform and working in the Bourgeois house tomorrow. Hopefully it will fit.

Friday, June 19th, 2015
Fort Union Rendezvous
I woke early this morning to get showered. Our wonderful maintenance staff had brought the packages I had received yesterday up to the Fort for me. Inside I found a complete uniform and parts of two more. Miraculously everything fit. It may seem different or weird to some, but I felt so proud to be able to wear my NPS Park Ranger uniform. Putting on my NPS straw ranger hat was the icing on the cake. Fred, one of our rangers loaned me the use of one of his NPS badges for the weekend until I would be issued a set next week.

We had a number of people cycle through the bourgeois house today. I answered a LOT of questions. 

At one point I was spelled by Loren and went out to check on how things were going in the camp. Things appeared to be going well. I was able to stop in and make contact with each of our vendors and introduce myself. 

My rounds in the camp complete I stopped in to see Mark and Charlotte. Mark showed me my rifle in his portable work vise and walked me through the state of things. Long story short, the establishment we gotten the parts from, a reputable outfit, had some misleading information about the parts for the rifle. Everything was high quality, however, not all of it was as it should have been for the type of rifle it was. This was not Mark’s fault. I could tell he felt poorly about the situation. While the establishment may have failed us, I know that Mark’s craftsmanship will not. I know it will be a finely made, dependable rifle that I will be honored to carry with me and use wherever I may make my camp.

I went with Lisa to inspect a vendor’s tent. The gentleman was an odd “cat” of different “hats”, a reference only some will understand.

Stopping in to see Charlotte I found a nice box for Kim made by Mark, a case bottle and a better vent pick. I let Charlotte know I’d stop by later to talk with her about a clothing project for me for next year.

I took the box to our camp where Kim was at. She was pleased.

Back in the bourgeois house we contented with another onslaught of visitors. Many questions. There were some very interesting visitors with great questions and then there were others. One particular gentleman kept talking and talking and whenever I’d attempt to speak to other visitors he dragged back into the conversation. Kim came in with lunch for me and tried to intervene but to no avail.

We’d been monitoring the weather all day via satellite imagery and had been concerned about a storm cell making its way toward the fort. As the cell came closer it grew in intensity. We made the decision to inform the camp that it was time to “baton down the hatches.” I was dispatched to the camp to inform them of the situation and assist with preparations. It was impressive to see how the living historians helped each other attach new guy lines and drive new stakes to secure their tents. If someone was short of something someone else quickly offered up extra stakes or rope they had.

Satellite imagery went purple and we decided it was time to move everyone into the fort

for safety. Most people came, some decided to ride out the storm in camp. Tod brought his horses in from the outside corral and put them in one of the small corrals that was built into the fort’s walls. Some of the living historians went into the trade house and many ended up inside the bourgeois house. The kids sat on the floor in the main area playing games while Jeff played guitar and sang. We kept observing the storm from the upstairs level and from the covered porch. 

Hail. Some marble size and quickly dwindled into pea size. We watched a horrendous wind move the tipi in the courtyard, pulling up most of the stakes holding the edges down. The only thing that kept it from completely blowing over was the rope that ran from the top of the poles to the two long stakes pounded in at criss-cross angles. In the aftermath amazingly, only two tents had gone down during the storm outside the walls. The rest stood. No major damage done. Everything was soaked, but nothing ruined.

Ben, Amanda and myself set to putting up tall hitching posts made of tripods with tipi poles set horizontally across them for people to dry out their soaked blankets and ground cloths. 

Tonight was our camp meeting where we all sat down together and went over the

Photo by Lyla Kraft

guidelines and expectations for the remainder of rendezvous. Andy, our superintendent welcomed the camp; Lisa one of our rangers and volunteer coordinator spoke about what paperwork still needed to be completed; Brandon, one of our Fort Union Muzzleloaders and this year’s bourgeois talked a little about the events taking place tomorrow; and I, as the assistant bourgeois said hi to everyone as well. As an EMT I was going to be the contact person in the event of a medical or trauma scenario. To this point, aside from slivers in the camp kids’ fingers and toes, we’ve had no major incidents. Hopefully that will be the case for the remainder of rendezvous.

Kim K. arrived today and will be camping per usual with Mark and Charlotte.

Kim (my Kim) was a bit beside herself this evening, which was understandable as the interior of our tent was soaked. She’d gotten enough blankets dried on the hitching posts to keep us all warm tonight and had gotten the ground cloths dried as well. Brandon shared his fire with us and I took care of making supper, a stew, while Kim attended to Garrick and just sat and relaxed for a bit. The Maddens stopped by and shared some dessert with us that helped lighten Kim’s spirits. I was able to arrange for another barrier between our ground cloth and the mud. We were able to stop by Mark and Charlotte’s camp and share some shrub with them, Rod and Kim K. It was good to spend some time with them this evening.

We were both exhausted by the time we retired for the evening.

Back in period clothes for tomorrow.  

Saturday, June 20th, 2015
Fort Union Rendezvous
Slept well.

Today I roamed between the camp and the inside of the fort. I spelled Loren and Fred some in the bourgeois house with all the people we had coming through, which was many more than yesterday.

I went into the clerk office side of the trade house to snap a picture of the painting of Denig and ended up with several accidental tour groups, talking to them about how Kurz’s painting of the Indians got him into trouble down river when some were dying of small pox, Denig, and Kurz’s painting of Natoh. It was unexpected but was a fun little talk to share with the visitors none the less. 

Was able to talk with Charlotte about putting together a frock coat that matches what Denig is wearing in the painting of the trade room, a new shirt and a pair of pants to wear as bourgeois next year. She agreed and was relieved that I wouldn’t be needing them until next year’s rendezvous. She said she’ll have them ready early enough so that any final alterations can be made before rendezvous. I’m very excited about the new bourgeois clothing. Tonight I will be wearing boots I was able to procure from Brandon, my regular brown pants, blue check shirt, red scarf, brown wool vest and black top hat. A bit hodge-podge but the best I have as assistant bourgeois. 

Got a knife from Bob S. today that I will use with my 6th Infantry kit at Fort Buford.

I was able to sit in on Jim Hardee’s talk today about Nathaniel Wyeth. I enjoyed it. Learned something new about the “Grand Tetons”. Mike Casler was here for the talk as well and shared with me about a few articles he’s been working on that are going to be published soon along with some interesting information about Fort Floyd.

Around 4pm today Brandon and I went around and met with everyone in camp. As the

assistant bourgeois it was my job to notate everyone in camp in the book. The nice thing about this honorary position is that you get to meet everyone and have a chance to find out who everyone is. It took about two hours. When we completed the task we made slips with the names of all the adults for tonight’s drawings before the dance. The big prize is the special chief’s blanket that has been nicknamed “The Fort Union Blanket.”

Brandon and I returned to the camp famished. Tonight was the night that there is a huge camp stew prepared by Tim S. (Swede). The Lisenbees made homemade rolls and possibly some huge round loaves of bread. I inhaled two bowls of stew and three of the large rolls.

Photo by Lyla Kraft

After supper we all convened in the courtyard for the drawings. Brandon and I did some welcoming announcements and thank yous to everyone. We drew the names out of my new Tim Bender top hat. We had my son Garrick help us by having him take the prizes to the people who won them. It was a pretty fun time with joking, laughter and music. 

During the dance I ended up giving some special Bourgeois House tours to about a dozen people or so. As like last year the music moved from the courtyard to the camp.

I was able to go to the six main camps and share some shrub with everyone. Kim’s raspberry shrub was a hit. 

I was able to spend some time at the Madden for a while. Terry offered me a drink and Marcia gave me a generous portion of apple crisp. We shared some good laughs and I really enjoyed the company. It was good to spend some time with them. This year I hadn’t gotten much of an opportunity to spend much time in anyone’s camp. 

Back at our camp we had Ben and Amanda, Ross, Paul, Mark and Charlotte, Brandon, Kris, Mike and Lisa, Kim K. and Rod and Briana. Was able to spend some time in good conversation, enjoying everyone’s company. 

The time finally came to retire for the evening. Today was a good day.

Sunday, June 21st,2015
Fort Union Rendezvous
Today my 1790s contract rifle went with me wherever I went. 

Spent most of the morning between the bourgeois house and the courtyard talking to visitors. Was able to catch Rod’s demo about horse use and tack of the fur trade. It was a good presentation. Tod had his horses there during the presentation as well. There was a good number of people who attended it. I was able to snag a copy of Rod’s notes, complete with excerpts from the different inventories.

Got to see Chris Floyd’s presentation as Hugh Glass. He did a fantastic job. He was

able to paint scenes in your mind with the words he spoke that gave the listener a better idea of just how bad it must have been for Glass to continue on after the bear attack.

Helped Kim get the rest of our gear tore down and packed into the van.

We had more incoming weather so I was able to help out some of the folks in camp who were tearing down, including the Morains and the Luchts.

After checking in with Loren, Kim and the kids and I departed midafternoon. It had been four long, but very good, days of rendezvous at Fort Union. It was different experiencing it as both a living historian and as a park ranger. Not bad, just different. I am looking forward to having a slower day tomorrow where we unpack, air out the blankets and canvas, do laundry and get everything put back into order. 

I look forward to Labor Day weekend where I will see many of our friends again and help the visitors experience life at Fort Union.

-- Leifer

2015 April Game Day Weekend

The following is transcribed from my field journal. There are typos, misspellings and editings as there would be for transcriptions of other period journals. This entry is from a historic game day weekend in April of 2015 at Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site. This was one of a series of monthly game days at the Fort.

Friday, April 24^th, 2015
2015 April Game Day Weekend

The girls and I arrived to the fort this evening and found Paul and Dave F. already there, their camp already made. Brandon arrived shortly after. With some assistance we got our camp made

and I got supper for the girls. It was good to be here. The evening meal consisted of meat, cheese and hard crackers.

Brandon arrived. He would be residing in the carpenter’s shack. The rest of the evening was spent in Paul’s tent, playing cribbage, enjoying some libations together, getting to know Ross, one of our new park staff, and just shooting the breeze.

Due to the long day I retired earlier than I normally do on an outing like this. Brynja was complaining about her ear and ended up snuggling in with me.

Saturday, April 25^th, 2015
2015 April Game Day Weekend
The night passed without major incident. Brynja did fidget throughout the night. Breakfast was made and Kim arrived to the fort shortly thereafter with Garrick.

Was able to spend time in the blacksmith shop today. Paul helped me cut a bunch of pieces of round stock and I made jig to help make some consistent chain links. I spent several hours working on forge welding the links. Still working on my technique. They aren’t the way I want them to be yet, however, they are greatly improved compared to the forge welding I was doing last year. I will have to finish up this chain later on. As I have all the stock cut for this project it will make things go more quickly later on.

The Signe, Brynja and Garrick wanted to take Paul, Brandon and me on a hike. So we went on a

hike. They would run ahead for a while and then come back as we walked along the trail. We were hiking along the edge of the hill and looking down to the river bottoms below. Depending on high the water would be later on we found a few possible locations to camp at some later time. The kids had a great time and it was a good time to just enjoy the imagery around us and talk. On the way back we paused at the pit saw that was used to cut large logs. Garrick entertain Paul and I with a story. Paul ended up carrying Garrick the rest of the way back into the fort.

Drizzle. It drizzled softly outside so we stayed mostly in the trade house, stoking the fire. Kim had brought along her 1830s coffee pot so I pulled aside a small pile of coals onto the hearth stones and she made some tea. It felt good on a cool drizzly evening like this. At this point Taylor and Sawyer had arrived as well. We enjoyed the rest of the evening playing cribbage and talking.

We put the kids down for the evening and enjoyed another hour or so talking to the light of the fire in the hearth of the trade house until retiring for the evening.

Sunday, April 26^th, 2015
2015 April Game Day Weekend
The night passed without incident. Kim made baked oatmeal at the hearth in the trade house. It’s one of my favorite meals.

We began to prepare our tent some for packing up later in the afternoon.

No time spent in the forge.

More of the crew arrived, including Ben, Amanda and Haans. Cribbage and draughts ensued.

For lunch Signe and Brynja helped Kim make two boiled “fig” puddings. Kim used raisins instead. They turned out very good.

A group of visitors wanted to get a picture of us in front of the Bourgeois house, so stood for a photo.

Shortly after we helped each other pack up our camps and headed out. It wasn’t a long weekend and the weather limited our activity somewhat, but it was a good weekend. We got to spend it together as a family with our friends.

-- Leifer