FLATHEAD POST, 1825
Alex Ross
1824. November, Friday 26. 37 From Prairie de Cheveaux myself and party arrived at this place in the afternoon, where terminated our voyage of 10 months to the Snakes. Mr. Ogden 38 and Mr. Dears 39 with people and outfit from Spokane reached this place only a few hours before us. Statement of people both voyages (?)
Engaged party with their families, including gentlemen, and 43 men, 8 women, 16 children. Freemen and trappers with families, 34 men, 8 lads, 22 women and 5 children. Total, 176 souls.
To accommodate people and property we use a row of huts 6 in number, low, linked together under one cover, having the appearance of deserted booths.
Saturday 27. All hands building. Mr. Ogden handed me a letter from the Governor appointing me in charge of this place for the winter. Mr. Ogden takes my place as chief of the Snake expedition.
Monday 29. Kootenais joined Flatheads at Prairie de Cheveaux. Indians are now as follows there :
Men and Lodges Lads Guns Women Children
Flatheads 42 168 180 70 68
Pend' Orielles 34 108 40 68 71
Kouttannais 36 114 62 50 48
Nez Perces 12 28 20 15 23
Spokanes 4 12 6 7 11
128 430 308 210 221 and 1,850 horses.
37 From the heading it would appear that Mr. Ross now begins a new part of the journal, covering his residence at Flathead Post or Fort.
38 Peter Skene Ogden, well known to Oregon pioneers; see Oregon Hist. Quar., Vol. n, pp. 247-8.
39 This was Mr. Thomas Dears, who was a clerk of the H. B. Co. on the Columbia at this time.
