As I have read through the literature researching this topic, it has become apparent that, in the early days of the RRS – and well into its history – man’s best friend functioned mainly as the sled dog. A good breeding stock must have been in the area before the settlers arrived. Although there is mention of dogs being used at York Factory, I didn’t see any reference to them being brought down in the boats.

Most of the mention of dogs at work in the Red River Journals indicated that they were busiest at hauling meat from the winter kill sites back to Fort Daer or Fort Douglas.

Archibald McDonald mentions that two dog teams helped relay his goods and some supplies from Churchill Creek to York Factory when 51 members of the 1813 Group made their famous snowshoe trek, but most of the sledges used were pulled by the men in the expedition. In April of 1815, two small groups of settlers intending to desert to Canada in NWCo. canoes left for Point Futre on the Winnipeg River with their belongings packed in dog sleds.

The winter expresses, carrying mail packets from fort to fort or post to post, were taken by dog team. Hargrave gives an excellent description of the specially designed sleds:

The starting of the Northern Packet from Red River is one of the great annual events in the colony. It occurs generally about the 10th December, when the ice having been thoroughly formed and the snow fallen, winter travelling is easy and uninterrupted. The packet arrangements are such that every post in the Northern Department is communicated with through its agency. The means of transit are sledges and snowshoes. The sledges are drawn by magnificent dogs, of which there are three or four to each vehicle, whose neatly fitting harness, though gaudy in appearance, is simple in design and perfectly adapted to its purposes, while the little bells attached thereto, bright looking and clearly ringing, cheer the flagging spirits of men and animals through the long run of the winter’s day.

In the course of the long distances traversed by the winter runners, every pound weight laid on the sledges tells. So jealously was all excess in the amount of mail matter transmitted through the packets guarded against in the old times, before the institution of Red River mails, that the carriage of newspapers was disallowed, with the exception of an annual file of the ” Montreal Gazette,” forwarded to head quarters for general perusal. Newspapers were then rare and highly prized, but now the bulk of the contents of the Company’s inward bound packets consists of newspapers addressed to private individuals.

A pair of stoutly constructed wooden boxes, measuring about three feet in length by eighteen inches deep and fourteen wide, when well packed, contain an astonishing amount of printed and written matter. These receptacles are secured to the dog sledges, and the party sets forth on its journey, the dogs running at a gentle jog trot from about daylight till dusk, and the drivers accompanying them on foot.

Detail of a painting depicting a dog sled at Lower Fort Garry in 1869 - Private Collection

Although he is writing about a period some time later (1850s/1860s) than the days of the early settlement, it is unlikely that the teams and sleds had changed much.

(references: pages  16967, 18180, 18184, 18185, 18186, 18305, 18308, 18320 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives; James John Hargrave. Red River. Montreal: 1871 pages 100-1, 155-6)

Late last night Mr. St. Germain arrived from Jack River, brought me a letter from Mr. Bird mentioning the arrival of Eighty Colonists and Robert Semple Esq’re. Governor in Cheif of the Hudson’s Bay Companys territories with a controuling power over the Colony– It is astonishing that no instructions have been sent me by this Gentleman from the Governor,- do they mean to take us by surprise, with such a number of families?- Gov’r. Semple ought to have sent a light boat ahead with the single men only, to aid in preparing for the others who I am informed are aged people.- this is really sad blundering- but perhaps they intend to bring a sufficient quantity of provisions to pass the winter.- Mons’r St. Germain informed me that my letters would not reach York in time for the ships- as Mr. Thomas had left no one at Jack River to take them to the Factory- altho’ he promised to have two men there for that purpose.- This consideration induced me to send off Jean Baptiste Logmonier and one of the Company’s Canadian servants with the Montreal Packet, – they left this place about 4 oclock P.M. for Fort Dair- they have an Indian Guide. – Mr. Bird informs me that on examining the Packet from England there were no letters addressed to me. I presume that Gov’r. Semple has them.- Engaged two Hunters and sent them off for Fort Dair to prepare provisioins for the Emigrants- sent orders to Mr. Pritchard to have the houses put into repair.-

-  Colin Robertson’s Journal

Here we see the very beginning of the rocky relationship between Colin Robertson and Governor Semple. Robertson was constantly frustrated in his efforts to help the Governor understand the politics of the region and the importance of developing certain strategies accordingly. He was largely ignored and his own responsibilities diminished until he eventually resigned and left in frustration.

Also of interest is that the beginning of Lagamodière’s legendary journey to Canada and back is mentioned here. On his return journey, his indiscretion led to his arrest and imprisonment by NWCo. officials.

(reference: pages 1425-6 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives)

“Send a Canoe with 3 men for the Salt left about 25 miles up the river-”  – Miles Macdonell Journal

There were at least two places that Miles Macdonell would send men in the late winter from Fort Daer for the purposes of obtaining salt. He gave them kettles to take with them, so I imagine that there were springs with a high salt content, and that when the water was evaporated through boiling, the salt was left for packaging. Does anyone know more about the process used, or where these salt sources were exactly?

(reference: page 16823 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives)

“Friday The Cuchulin arrived from Fort Daer, with Eight families & some lumber…. The party that arrived to-day were quite astonished when they saw Capt. McDonald [Miles Macdonell] & Mr. Warren & several others of our men on the Bank of the River to-day because they were told above that they were all taken prisoners by the N. W. Co. & this was so strongly circulated among them that, even Mr. [Michael] McDonell gave up work above [at Fort Daer].”  – Archibald McDonald Journal

The Cuchulin was designed and built by Donald Livingstone, a boat builder who came out with the 1812 group of settlers.

From today’s entry we can see the effects of the propaganda of the North West Company officials on even the leadership of the colony. At this point, Michael Macdonell is so disheartened by the news that the Governor has been made prisoner that he completely gives up the work he was assigned at Fort Daer. The N.W.Co. further uses this item of misinformation to lure him into surrendering to them, an act that significantly weakened the position of the loyal colonists and HBC employees holding out against the N.W.Co. and deserting colonists at the Forks.

(reference: page 18321 of the Selkirk Papers, M187, Manitoba Archives)