Today in History – 16 September 1815

Colin Robertson is at Fort Douglas with those settlers that remained loyal and evacuated to Jack River in June and with the new arrivals from Kildonan. They have worked hard to rebuild the RRS and to save whatever portion of the crops escaped trampling by NWCo. servants in June. It will be another difficult winter for the settlers.

Robertson is well aware that hunger and cold are not the only winter dangers that face the colony in 1815/16:

“I learned this evening that Grant, Pangman and Mountour were endeavouring to stir up their Countrymen but failed in the attempt. Mr. McDonnell [Alexander of the NWCo.] has offered them extravagant Wages to winter with him at Que’Appelle. Oh! that I had a clever fellow to oppose him there! I will take care of [Duncan] Cameron at this place.”  – Colin Robertson’s Journal

These efforts to ‘stir up’ resulted in the Massacre of Seven Oaks in June of 1816, under the leadership of Cuthbert Grant, most likely under the direction of Alexander Macdonell and other NWCo. officials.

(reference: pages 17400 of the Selkirk Papers, M186, Manitoba Archives)

Tags: Alexander Macdonell, Colin Robertson, Colin Robertson's Journal, Cuthbert Grant, Massacre of Seven Oaks, Montour, Pangman, RRS Politics

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