The Vérendrye Brothers' Expedition To The Northern Great Plains

A Tangible Claim: The Vérendrye Lead Plate and its Role in Shaping the History of Exploration in the American West

The Vérendrye brothers' expedition to the northern Great Plains in the mid-18th century represents a pivotal moment in the history of European exploration in North America. While their primary objectives revolved around the fur trade and the elusive "Western Sea," their journey, particularly the westward push in 1742-1743, has captivated historians for centuries. The discovery of a lead plate in 1913 near present-day Pierre, South Dakota, has significantly shaped the legacy of this expedition, providing tangible evidence of their presence and territorial claims, while also sparking debates and further inquiries into the specifics of their travels.  

Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye, a French Canadian military officer and fur trader, spearheaded the westward expansion from the Great Lakes region starting in the 1730s. Driven by the potential for profit and the ambition to find a route to the Pacific Ocean, La Vérendrye established a series of trading posts and dispatched his sons on exploratory missions. While the elder La Vérendrye himself made significant inroads into what is now Manitoba and North Dakota, it was two of his sons, Louis-Joseph and François (often referred to as the Chevalier), who embarked on the journey that potentially took them to the foothills of the Rocky Mountains (Anderson 2018, 45-46).  

The details of the 1742-1743 expedition are primarily gleaned from a journal attributed to the Chevalier de La Vérendrye, discovered in French archives in 1851. This journal, though somewhat vague and open to interpretation, describes a journey southwest from their established posts, traversing vast plains inhabited by various Indigenous nations. The expedition aimed to make contact with new tribes, expand trade networks, and continue the search for the "River of the West." The journal recounts encounters with the "Gens des Chevaux" (Horse People) and the "Gens de l'Arc" (Bow People), believed to be the Crow and possibly the Cheyenne tribes, respectively. It also mentions reaching a "shining mountain," which many historians interpret as the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming, although this remains a point of contention (Smith 1980, 78).  

The most concrete piece of evidence attesting to the Vérendrye brothers' journey is the lead plate, unearthed on February 16, 1913, by a group of teenagers near Fort Pierre, South Dakota. The plate, measuring approximately 7 by 5 inches, bears the inscription: "A. Miotte, Le 7 de Marse 1743, Deposé par Le Ch’ de La Verendrie et un de ses officiers Pour prendre possession Pour Louis XV Roy de France Ce 30 Mars 1743" (The American Surveyor 2013). This translates to "A. Miotte, the 7th of March 1743, deposited by the Chevalier de La Vérendrye and one of his officers to take possession for Louis XV, King of France, this 30th of March 1743."  

The discovery of the lead plate had an immediate and profound impact on the understanding of the Vérendrye expedition. Prior to 1913, the journal was the primary source of information, and its somewhat ambiguous descriptions led to various theories about the extent of their westward travel. The lead plate provided irrefutable physical evidence of the presence of the Vérendrye party in the region of present-day South Dakota in March 1743. It confirmed the French claim to the territory on behalf of King Louis XV, highlighting the imperial ambitions of France in North America during this period (Discovering The Verendrye Plate 2023).  

The inscription itself offers valuable insights. The mention of both March 7th and March 30th suggests a period of activity or travel in the vicinity of where the plate was found. The name A. Miotte likely refers to a member of the expedition party, further corroborating the journal's account of individuals involved in the journey. The formal declaration of possession underscores the strategic importance of exploration in the context of European colonial rivalry. Placing such markers was a common practice for European powers to assert their claims to newly encountered lands.

However, the lead plate also introduced new questions and complexities. While it confirms their presence in South Dakota, it does not definitively prove they reached the Rocky Mountains. The journal describes their journey beyond the point where the plate was discovered, leading to ongoing debate among historians about the accuracy and interpretation of the geographical details provided (Breton 2017, 102-105). Some scholars argue that the "shining mountain" could have been a distant view or a misidentification of another prominent geological feature. The limitations of 18th-century navigation and surveying make it challenging to precisely trace their route based solely on the journal entries.

The lead plate has thus become a focal point in the historiography of the Vérendrye expedition. Its tangible nature lends it significant weight as a primary source, yet its interpretation remains intertwined with the analysis of the journal and other historical context. Historians have used the plate as a crucial anchor for understanding the timeline and geographical scope of the expedition. The fact that it was found so far east of the generally accepted location of the Rocky Mountains has led some to question the extent of the Chevalier's claim of reaching the mountains themselves (Wishart 2004, 65).

Despite the ongoing debate about the westernmost point of their journey, the impact of the lead plate on the legacy of the Vérendrye brothers is undeniable. It transformed a somewhat obscure and debated historical event into a more concrete and recognized episode in the exploration of the American West. The plate has been preserved and is now a significant artifact in the South Dakota Cultural Heritage Center, symbolizing the early European presence on the Northern Plains and the complexities of historical interpretation.  

Furthermore, the Vérendrye expedition, evidenced in part by the lead plate, highlights the broader context of European expansion and its impact on Indigenous populations. While the French aimed to establish trade relationships and assert territorial claims, their presence inevitably affected the lives and sovereignty of the Native American tribes inhabiting these lands. The journal and the lead plate offer glimpses into these early encounters, although they are naturally biased towards the European perspective. Understanding the Vérendrye expedition requires acknowledging the Indigenous presence and perspectives, which are often marginalized in the primary European sources (Manitoba History 2016).

In conclusion, the Vérendrye brothers' expedition of 1742-1743 was a significant undertaking that extended French influence and knowledge across the northern Great Plains. The discovery of the lead plate served as a landmark event, solidifying the historical reality of their presence in the region and their claim of possession for France. While the plate has not definitively resolved all questions surrounding the expedition, particularly the extent of their westward journey to the Rocky Mountains, it remains a crucial artifact that has profoundly shaped the legacy of the Vérendrye brothers. It stands as a testament to the ambitions of European explorers, the complexities of historical interpretation, and the enduring importance of primary source evidence in understanding the past. The lead plate continues to fascinate historians and the public alike, serving as a tangible link to a pivotal moment in the intertwined history of European exploration and the American West.

Notes

All URLs were last accessed on April 21, 2025.

Bibliography

Anderson, Gary Clayton. Imperialism and Native Americans, 1600-1763. Routledge, 2018.

Breton, Paul-Émile. Les Vérendrye: Leur Vie et Leurs Voyages. Les Presses de l'Université Laval, 2017.

“Discovering The Verendrye Plate.” South Dakota Magazine. Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.southdakotamagazine.com/verendrye-plate.

Manitoba History. “Where the Historiography Falls Short: La Verendrye through the Lens of Gender, Race and Slavery in Early French Canada, 1731–1749.” Accessed April 21, 2025. https://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/mb_history/62/laverendrye.shtml.

Smith, G. Hubert. “The Verendrye Enigma.” North Dakota History: Journal of the Northern Plains 47, no. 3 (1980): 76-83.

The American Surveyor. “The Vérendrye Plate.” Accessed April 21, 2025. https://amerisurv.com/2013/01/26/the-verendrye-plate/.

Wishart, David J. An Unspeakable Sadness: The Dispossession of the Nebraska Indians. University of Nebraska Press, 2004.