Christmas

How the Festive Day Was Celebrated by Traders and Pioneers in Early-Day Montana Territory

Originally printed in the Hysham Echo on

December 16, 1926

by Mrs. M. E. Plassmann

From the earliest records obtainable, we learn that Christmas was always, for the white men who had the courage to adventure these solitudes, the great festival of the year. This was due to no superabundance of religious feeling on the part of the half-pagan voyageurs, or other employes of the Hudson’s Bay or Northwest companies; it had a strictly material basis. Even the few who retained their Christian faith, probably celebrated then not so much the accepted birthday of Jesus of Nazareth, as they did the return of the plum pudding.

Nor is this to be wondered at, when we consider that the remainder of the year, meat of some kind was the only article of food on the daily bill of fare. Berries, other fruit, and the few roots growing wild, were none too plentiful even in summer. In winter they appeared only dried, and a woman was required for this work; the trappers had no time, or time being granted, inclination to waste it in preparing for winter meals.

Bread was out of the question. But little flour could be transported the long distance from headquarters by canoes, sledges, or packed on horses, when goods to be traded for furs were more profitable, and therefore were given preference as freight. From factor to the humblest engage, flour was regarded as a luxury, and plum pudding calls for flour.

Other nations may indulge in this kind of dessert, but it has always been regarded as a British specialty since the day when “Good King Arthur” set the notable example to his subjects, of stealing “three bags of barley meal to make a bag of pudding,” which his royal hands prepared with the lavish addition of fat. His queen, it may be recalled, permitted none of this kingly dish to be wasted, but with commendable thrift, “What they did not eat that night, the queen next morning, fried.” Britons, since that day, will never willingly celebrate Christmas without plum pudding, and so it chanced that in the most remote fur trading post, Christmas Day was Pudding day.

Not all the brandy, on these occasions, we are assured, lighted the pudding to the festal board; plenty of it or other liquor was served, as was common in those days, with the usual result; most partaking became gloriously drunk. There was singing, dancing, and fighting, the latter not infrequently terminating only with the death of one, or both combatants.

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A little above the present town of Fort Benton, once stood Fort Lewis, named for Meriwether Lewis. It was the property of the American Fur company, and here came the Indians, mainly the Piegans, with furs and game to barter for the trading goods of the white men. The location of this fort was soon found undesirable; the floating ice of the Missouri, rendering it difficult for the Indians to cross. It was at length decided to abandon it for a more convenient location, which was discovered where the remains of the old fort are seen today.

 “The Salute of the Robe Trade” - This is a reproduction of a painting by the late Charles M. Russell.
Old Fort Lewis is shown in the background. The post was located a short distance from Fort Benton and was abandoned to be replaced by the adobe fort, the remains of which still stands at the town of Fort Benton.
The Indians seen here approaching the post are the Piegans and Bloods.
It will be noticed that as they near the fort, they discharge their guns. This was done at the standing order of the factors of the posts that warning might be had of the approach of the natives with their furs.
Fort Lewis was in existence but a few years and was the property of the American Fur Company.

Hitherto the upper river posts of the company had been constructed of logs, as were also most on the lower river. It was Alexander Culbertson who conceived the plan of using adobe in building the new post. He had been a guest at Fort Laramie, and while there noticed the material used in the buildings which although uncommon in the north, was largely employed in the Southwest, where timber was scarce. Major Culbertson believed the earth at Fort Benton would make good adobe, and that a fort so constructed would be more substantial, and likewise far better looking than one of logs.

With this in mind, Major Culbertson hastened north, to his post on the upper Missouri, and immediately set his men to work to carry out his plans. They worked with a will, undoubtedly stimulated by the novelty of their task. Soon the fort began to take shape, after the plans adopted for other posts; namely, the central enclosure with its surrounding rooms or buildings; the bastions at diagonal corners, built two stories high, where were kept the cannon and small arms. About all was the stockade, of sufficient strength to resist an ordinary attack by hostile Indians. A large gate opened from without into the inclosure, which could be strongly barred when necessary. Many of the larger forts had a connecting garden, where, in case of attack, the horses of the fort could be kept safely. I have never heard of such a garden at Fort Benton.

At length the work was completed, but the walls were not thoroughly dried, when it was declared fit for occupancy, and the company move in. This historical event occurred on Christmas Day of 1850, seventy-six years ago, and fortunately an account of it by Lieut. Bradley, has been given of what then transpired, as given by Major Culbertson. Lieut. Bradley writes:
“On Christmas night it (the fort) was dedicated by a big ball; and until late the light-headed voyageurs and their squaw wives, sweethearts and friends, danced and whirled to the music of several fiddles. In the midst of the festivities, Major Culbertson proposed that, in consideration of the warm friendship of Thomas H. Benton for the partners of the American Fur company, and of his services in saving the company from ruin in 1844 by effecting a compromise of the suit brought against it, that the post should be named in his honor.

The proposition was received with acclamation by the joyous assembly, and thus, upon Christmas night, 1850, the post was first called by the name it still bears, and that will probably ever distinguish the locality of Fort Benton.”

This account of the naming of Fort Benton is a twice told take, but cannot be too often repeated, until every child in Montana is familiar with it, and can picture that Christmas night gathering of a mixed crowd of employes in the newly completed fort. There were a few Americans present; a number of French Canadian Voyageurs; many Indian women, all good dancers; and presiding over the assembly was Major Culbertson, slight of figure, light complexioned, and with the sandy hair inherited from his Scotch ancestors. I saw him but once when I was going down the Missouri river in 1873, on the boat of Captain Joseph LaBarge. He was then at Fort Peck. One would not have thought him to be, from a casual glance, the forceful character he was, endowed with an excellent knowledge of men; unlimited courage; a kindly heart which was not indifferent to the sufferings of Indians; and good judgement in dealing with the many questions arising in his conduct of affairs.

For myself, I shall always be grateful to Major Culbertson for the sack of buffalo tongues he confided to the care of his son Joseph, and which the latter permitted his sister, Fannie, and myself to sample. They were fine, as all will agree who have eaten buffalo tongue, and it is safe to say the consignees never missed the few we took. I can readily understand why the Indians called buffalo meat “real food”, and prized chiefly the tongue and the hump of the animal. At fur posts, these portions were reserved for the factor, and other officials.

Christmas of 1863 is memorable to me as being my first Christmas in Montana. For the children of the household it was a disappointing day. The weather was intensely cold; the ground covered with snow; and which may have been the reason Santa Claus brought none of the usual gifts to that mining town of Bannack. There was no Christmas tree in the houses, but many of them, snow-decorated, were on the mountain sides. Whatever celebrating occurred took the form of drinks at the numerous saloons on either side of Main street; gambling and diversions of a kindred nature, in which miners indulged.

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