The History of the original Fort Peck

Nestled along the sweeping bends of the Missouri River in northeastern Montana, the original Fort Peck stood as a vital, if relatively short-lived, hub of trade and diplomacy in the tumultuous post-Civil War American West. Established in 1867 by the ambitious Kansas trading firm of Durfee and Peck, the fort played a pivotal role in the region's burgeoning fur trade, its steamboat commerce, and the complex, often fraught, relationship between westward expansion and Native American communities. While its physical remnants now lie submerged beneath the vast expanse of the Fort Peck Reservoir, its legacy endures as a testament to a transient yet transformative era in Montana's history.

The Rise of Durfee and Peck and the Founding of Fort Peck

The mid-19th century witnessed a significant shift in the economic landscape of the American West. The decline of the traditional beaver fur trade and the increasing demand for buffalo hides created new opportunities for entrepreneurial ventures along the Missouri River. Elias H. Durfee and Campbell K. Peck, partners in a prominent Leavenworth, Kansas-based trading firm, were keenly aware of these shifting tides. Their vision extended beyond mere commercial exchange; they aimed to establish a dominant presence in the lucrative trade with the Native American tribes of the upper Missouri, particularly the Sioux and Assiniboine peoples (Legends of America).

In 1867, under the supervision of their employee Abe Farwell, Durfee and Peck strategically selected a site approximately one mile west of the present-day Fort Peck Dam, on the north bank of the Missouri River, for their new trading post (North American Forts). This location was ideal, offering access to the river for steamboat traffic and proximity to the hunting grounds of the Plains tribes. The construction of the fort was a considerable undertaking, reflecting the firm's commitment to securing their foothold in the region.

Old Fort Peck was a substantial defensive structure, a log palisade measuring approximately 300 feet square (Ultimate Montana). Its walls, twelve feet high, were constructed from vertically set cottonwood logs, a readily available material in the riverine environment. The fort boasted five bastions—fortified projections designed for defensive fire—three facing the front and two at the rear, providing strategic viewpoints and protection against potential attacks. Within this sturdy enclosure were various log structures, including living quarters for employees, storehouses for goods, a blacksmith shop, stables, and a corral (Ultimate Montana). While not a military installation, its robust construction gave it the appearance of a formidable outpost, and it frequently served as a temporary headquarters for military personnel and government commissioners engaged in negotiations with Native American tribes (Ultimate Montana).

A Commercial Powerhouse on the Missouri

The establishment of Fort Peck marked a significant shift in the regional fur trade. With its strategic location and well-supplied stores, Durfee and Peck quickly gained a near-monopoly on trade with the Sioux and Assiniboine (Legends of America). The fort became a bustling center of commerce, where European goods such as firearms, ammunition, blankets, and provisions were exchanged for buffalo robes, furs, and other Indigenous products. This trade was crucial for both sides: Native Americans acquired essential tools and commodities, while Durfee and Peck amassed wealth from the vast quantities of hides and furs they shipped downriver.

The Missouri River was the lifeblood of this trade, and steamboats were its arteries. Fort Peck was a vital stop for sternwheelers plying the treacherous waters of the upper Missouri. These "floating palaces" would arrive laden with supplies from St. Louis and other eastern hubs, unloading their cargo at the fort's landing (Big Sky Journal). In turn, they would be reloaded with bales of buffalo robes and other furs, pressed at the fort for efficient transport, for the journey back downstream (NovaNumismatics.com). The steamboat era in Montana was a dramatic, albeit short-lived, chapter in westward expansion, characterized by high risks and even higher potential profits. A typical upriver trip from St. Louis to Fort Benton, the head of navigation, could take 60 to 65 days (Big Sky Journal). The dangers were numerous: submerged trees ("snags"), sandbars, fires, ice, and strong winds all posed constant threats to these vessels, with the average lifespan of a Missouri steamboat being a mere three years (Big Sky Journal). Yet, the allure of substantial profits, sometimes enough to pay for a steamer twice over in a single season, kept these vessels on the river (Big Sky Journal). Fort Peck, with its reliable trade and steady supply of goods, was an essential node in this intricate network of riverine commerce.

Fort Peck as an Indian Agency

Beyond its commercial functions, Old Fort Peck assumed a significant governmental role. From 1871 until 1879, a portion of the fort served as the Milk River Indian Agency, also known as the Fort Peck Agency (North American Forts). This agency was established to administer to the needs of several Native American tribes, primarily the Assiniboine, along with various bands of the Sioux, including the Brule, Teton, Hunkpapa, and Yanktonai (The Historical Marker Database).

The dual role of Fort Peck as both a trading post and an Indian agency reflected the complex and often contradictory nature of federal Indian policy during this period. On one hand, the agency aimed to provide provisions and assistance to Native American communities, particularly as their traditional way of life, centered on buffalo hunting, became increasingly unsustainable due to westward expansion and commercial hunting. On the other hand, the presence of a trading post within or adjacent to an agency often led to exploitation, with traders sometimes engaging in illicit activities like whiskey trade, further exacerbating the challenges faced by Indigenous populations.

The move of the Milk River Agency to Fort Peck signaled a governmental attempt to centralize control and administration over the tribes in the region. However, the period was marked by ongoing tensions and conflicts as Native Americans resisted displacement and the erosion of their sovereignty. The establishment of reservations and agencies was part of a broader federal strategy to confine tribes to specific areas, paving the way for further white settlement and resource extraction.

The Decline and Disappearance of Old Fort Peck

The heyday of Old Fort Peck was relatively brief. Several factors contributed to its eventual decline and abandonment. The most significant was the relentless westward advance of the railroads. As rail lines pushed further into Montana, they gradually supplanted steamboat traffic as the primary mode of transportation for goods and people (Big Sky Journal). The efficiency and speed of rail travel rendered riverine commerce increasingly obsolete, diminishing the importance of trading posts like Fort Peck.

Furthermore, the evolving federal Indian policy led to changes in the administration of Native American affairs. In 1879, the Fort Peck Indian Agency was relocated from the original fort site to its current location at Poplar, Montana (The Historical Marker Database). This move effectively stripped the old fort of its governmental function, further reducing its strategic importance. With the fur trade waning and the agency relocated, the need for a fortified trading post at that specific site diminished. The original Fort Peck trading post was abandoned in 1879, marking the end of its active role in the region's development (NovaNumismatics.com).

Today, the site of Old Fort Peck lies submerged beneath the waters of the Fort Peck Reservoir, created by the construction of the massive Fort Peck Dam in the 1930s (Ultimate Montana). The dam, a monumental New Deal project, transformed the landscape, forever altering the Missouri River and the surrounding region. While the physical structure of Old Fort Peck is lost to history, its memory is preserved in historical accounts, geographical names, and the ongoing narrative of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, which continues to be home to the descendants of the Assiniboine and Sioux peoples who once traded and lived near its walls.

In conclusion, Old Fort Peck, established by Durfee and Peck in 1867, represents a crucial chapter in the economic and social history of northeastern Montana. As a fortified trading post and later an Indian agency, it was deeply intertwined with the fur trade, the vibrant steamboat era on the Missouri River, and the complex dynamics between Euro-American expansion and Native American communities. Its existence, though fleeting, illuminates the forces that shaped the American West, from the pursuit of commercial gain to the evolving policies governing Indigenous populations. While its physical presence has vanished beneath the waters, the stories of Fort Peck continue to resonate, offering valuable insights into a transformative period of American history.

Sources:

Montana Forts. "Fort Peck (1867-1879)." North American Forts. Available at: https://www.northamericanforts.com/West/mt.html

Glasgow Area Chamber of Commerce & Agriculture. "Fort Peck." Available at: https://www.glasgowchamber.net/fort-peck.html

The Historical Marker Database. "Old Fort Peck." Available at: https://www.hmdb.org/m.asp?m=142941

Legends of America. "Fort Peck, Montana." Available at: https://www.legendsofamerica.com/fort-peck-montana/

Big Sky Journal. "Images of the West: 'Steamboat A'Comin'." Available at: https://bigskyjournal.com/steamboat-acomin/

NovaNumismatics.com. "Durfee & Peck's Indian Trader Tokens - Forts Union & Buford, Dakota Territory." Available at: https://www.novanumismatics.com/durfee-pecks-indian-trader-tokens-of-forts-union-buford-dakota-territory/