South Branch House facts for kids

South Branch House was an important fur trading post in what is now Saskatchewan, Canada. It operated from 1785 to 1794 and again from 1805 to 1870. It was the only major trading post located on the South Saskatchewan River. Most fur trade happened on the North Saskatchewan River, which was closer to areas with many beavers.

The two Saskatchewan Rivers run side-by-side for about 100 miles west of the Saskatchewan River Forks. There was a good amount of forest between them.

Early Days of South Branch House

Before 1785, a trader named Peter Pangman built a post called Fort des Isles. He was an independent trader, meaning he worked for himself. William Holmes, from the North West Company, also built a post nearby.

In 1785, the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) decided to join the fur trade in this area. William Tomison of the HBC sent Mitchell Oman to build South Branch House. It was built at a river crossing later known as Gardepuy's crossing.

The two rival traders, Pangman and Holmes, soon moved their posts. They built new ones on the other side of the river, about 400 yards downstream. A famous explorer named David Thompson worked here for the HBC in 1786 and 1787.

The Attack of 1794

In July 1794, a group of 100 to 200 Gros Ventre people attacked the HBC post. This happened a year after they had destroyed another post called Manchester House.

Only two HBC men and a few Indigenous people were inside the fort. Two company officers, Magnus Annal and Hugh Brough, were outside and were quickly killed. The two men inside the fort quickly locked the gate. They then hid in a cellar. The Gros Ventre broke into the fort. They attacked everyone inside, including women and children.

However, one man named J. C. Van Dreil managed to escape. He hid in an empty cellar for eight hours. Then, he got away in a canoe.

The North West Company's Defense

After attacking the HBC post, the Gros Ventre moved to the North West Company (NWC) post across the river. It seems the NWC people did not know what had happened at the HBC fort.

An interpreter named Jacques Raphael was riding his horse. He saw the Gros Ventre coming. He quickly rode back to the NWC fort. He warned the men, and they got ready to fight. The first shots from the fort pushed the attackers back.

The Gros Ventre took cover and fired at the fort. But they started to run low on ammunition. Their chief, L'Homme de Callumet, tried to lead a charge. However, Jacques Raphael immediately shot him. The Gros Ventre managed to get their chief's body. Then, they left the area.

Seeing that it was impossible to defend the fort or continue trading, the NWC master, Louis Chatelain, made a decision. He loaded all his men and goods onto canoes. They then left the fort.

Later Years and Current Site

In 1805, both the HBC and NWC rebuilt their trading posts. They moved them about 6 miles upstream from the original sites.

In 1821, the Hudson's Bay Company and the North West Company joined together. After this merger, the HBC took over and continued to operate South Branch House. It remained an active trading post until 1870.

Today, the site of South Branch House is a Provincial Historic Site. It is located about 20 miles east of Fort Carlton on the North Saskatchewan River. It is also about 10 miles west of Saint Louis, Saskatchewan and 10 miles north of Batoche, Saskatchewan. The original fort was on the right bank of the river, with a hill behind it. There is a marker at the site, and some archaeological work is still being done there.