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45-558: The term was used as early as 1739 by French trader and explorer Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de la Verendrye when he described hearing of the Gens du Serpent ("Snake people") from the Mandans. This is probably the first written mention of the Shoshone people. The term "Snakes" is also used to refer to the Shoshone by British explorers David Thompson and Anthony Henday . The term

90-498: A prisoner of war , Gaultier returned to Canada and married Marie-Anne, daughter of Louis Dandonneau, Sieur Du Sablé, in 1712. For the next 15 years, he supported his family by farming and fur trading along the Saint Lawrence. In 1726 his fortunes changed when his brother Jacques-René was appointed the commander of the poste du Nord . This was the north shore of Lake Superior with three main posts: Fort Kaministiquia , which

135-550: A gradual canadianization of the officer corps. Young Canadians of good family were from 1699 encouraged to become officers in the marines. Retired marine corps officers settling in Canada, also sent their sons into the corps as cadets , although the formal rank of cadet was not introduced until 1731. A Canadian military elite emerged; already in 1690 a quarter of the officers were born in Canada, and in 1720 about half. From 1683 to 1688, 35 marine companies of 50 soldiers each landed in

180-433: A higher organization, a small staff existed above company level, containing a surgeon, a chaplain, a clerk of the muster, and a drum-major. In 1687 the rank of "commandant of the troops in Canada" was created, with a major as his chief of staff added to the organization in 1691. The original 150 marines of 1683 increased the next year to 500, and with the arrival of governor Denonville, bringing an additional 300 men, reached

225-578: A large band of Assiniboines , he pushed southwest across the prairie and reached a Mandan village probably somewhere near the modern New Town, North Dakota , about 70 miles east of the Montana border. He did not push on to the Missouri River but sent his son Louis-Joseph to do it for him. In order to get rid of their numerous Assiniboine guests, the Mandan claimed that there was a Sioux war party in

270-485: A plan. La Vérendrye would build a post on Lake Winnipeg. The expedition would be paid for by Quebec merchants who hoped to profit from the resulting fur trade . This financing was fragile because the merchants lacked the capital and organization to efficiently move supplies so far to the west. An additional goal was to divert furs from being traded to the British on Hudson Bay. In the absence of government funds, exploration

315-730: A process that added Western Canada to the original New France territory that was centred along the Saint Lawrence basin. He was the first known European to reach present-day North Dakota and the upper Missouri River in the United States. In the 1740s, two of his sons crossed the prairie as far as present-day Wyoming , United States, and were the first Europeans to see the Rocky Mountains north of New Mexico. Born in Trois-Rivières , New France, Pierre

360-456: A strength of 800 marines in 1685. Two years later an additional 800 marines arrived from France. In 1688 the required strength was 1,750 other ranks, although due to losses the actual strength was 1,418. The 35 substrength companies were consolidated to 28, with 50 other ranks in each. A reduction from 50 to 30 men per company took place in 1699, reducing the required strength to 840 other ranks. The actual strength were always somewhat lower than

405-611: A war against "the Snake Indians" of Canada. It is not clear if this term (used in this period of Canadian history) is meant to refer to the Northern Paiute people , inaccurate, or perhaps entirely unrelated. In modern Plains Cree language , the term "kinêpikoyiniwak / ᑭᓀᐱᑯᔨᓂᐘᐠ", literally translating to "Snake Indian" refers to Shoshone people . This article relating to the Indigenous peoples of North America

450-416: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, Sieur de la Verendrye Pierre Gaultier de Varennes, sieur de La Vérendrye (17 November 1685 – 5 December 1749) was a French Canadian military officer, fur trader , and explorer . In the 1730s, he and his four sons explored the area west of Lake Superior and established trading posts there. They were part of

495-403: The compagnies franches de la marine , as the infantry of the troupes de la marine were called after 1690, remained unchanged between 1690 and 1761. Through the initiative of governor Denonville , the rank of second ensign was added to the complement in 1699, explicitly in order to recruit young Canadians of good families to the officer corps. Although the free companies per definition lacked

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540-698: The Carignan-Salières Regiment tipped the scale in favour of the French, and the Iroquois sued for peace in 1667. By 1671 all regular army soldiers were back in France, or settled as colonists. When the Iroquois resumed hostilities ten years later, the colony was once again unable to defend itself in spite of the foundation of a militia system in 1669. The minister of marine, also in charge of

585-501: The Mandan country on the upper Missouri River. These people were described as white men who lived in big houses. Auchagah, a Cree guide, made a map of the canoe routes between Lake Superior and Lake Winnipeg based on his and other Cree experience. La Vérendrye judged correctly that Lake Winnipeg was the geographic key which had to be reached to allow further exploration. In 1730 he met Governor Beauharnois at Quebec and worked out

630-436: The muster-roll and maintaining the military hospital. Even the recruitment expenses were deducted. Sometimes the marines could work for the civilian population, or as officers servants, earning welcome additional income. Most of the marines were stationed in and around Montreal . A barracks housing 100 marines were built but most of the troops were in wintertime billeted with the inhabitants. In Quebec and Trois-Rivières

675-825: The 'River of the West'. The correct one was the Saskatchewan River , which flows east into Lake Winnipeg. The other was the Missouri River in the Mandan country in what is now North Dakota, United States. The Mandan were said to live in big houses and resemble Frenchmen. La Vérendrye picked the Missouri. In September 1738 he reached Fort Maurepas on Lake Winnipeg and ascended the Assiniboine River to Portage la Prairie , where he built Fort La Reine just south of Lake Manitoba (October 1738). Joining

720-459: The 1713 Treaty of Utrecht , Great Britain had taken control of Hudson Bay and thereby blocked the French from using that area. At this time people thought that not far to the west was an inlet from the Pacific called the mer du couchant , similar to the equally mythical Strait of Annian . They thought also that travelers could cross the height of land and find a River of the West that flowed all

765-828: The 300-mile journey through the wilderness to return to Montreal. During those years, both sides often took captives for ransom. The next year La Vérendrye participated in an unsuccessful attack on the English settlement of St. John's, Newfoundland . At age 22, he enlisted in the French Army, and fought in Flanders during the War of the Spanish Succession ; he was seriously wounded at the Battle of Malplaquet . After recovering from his injuries and being given paroled as

810-507: The French archives. Morton thinks they may have gotten as far as Lake Winnipeg. In 1716 a memoir drawn up by Governor Vaudreuil showed lakes and portages as far as Lake of the Woods, from which flowed a river to the " Sea of the West ". This implies that Frenchmen had explored west of Lake Superior before Vérendrye did so. La Vérendrye questioned the Natives who came to trade. He learned of

855-493: The French colonies, therefore began to deploy Troupes de la marine to Canada in 1683. The object of the first troupes de la marine sent to Canada in 1683 was to defeat the Iroquois, and then return to France. La Barre's failed expedition against the Senecas in 1684 changed this, and from the following year the troupes became a permanent standing force in the colony, the colonial regular troops. The basic structure of

900-558: The Jesuit missionary priest Jean-Pierre Aulneau who accompanied them, were killed by the Sioux on Massacre Island in Lake of the Woods. La Vérendrye restrained the local Cree from a war of revenge in order to protect the fur trade. In 1737 La Vérendrye returned to Quebec on business. In Paris, Maurepas was pushing for more exploration. By this time explorers had identified two candidates as

945-576: The Marines in Canada, something that hurt volunteer recruitment. From 1686, each newly raised company also included a veteran core of 14 non-commissioned officers and men from the Marine guards in French ports. Stoppages were made from the pay for the uniform and for the extra blanket needed in the Canadian climate. Further deductions were for the pay of the drum major and the surgeon , and for keeping

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990-865: The Northern Paiute tribes found in the basins between the Cascade Mountains and these valleys in Oregon and northern Nevada and northeastern California . These people were the opponents of the California , Oregon , and Washington Volunteers and US Army , in the Snake War . From 1688-1720s, when the British Empire first came into prolonged trade contact with the Western Cree and Blackfoot , both of these groups were united in

1035-527: The Rocky Mountains ) He worked to consolidate his hold on the chain of lakes that look like a single lake west of Lake Winnipeg, establishing Fort Dauphin (Manitoba) , Fort Bourbon and Fort Paskoya . Back in France, Maurepas was growing increasingly irritated with La Vérendrye, who he thought was trading in furs when he should be exploring. In 1742 Maurepas suggested that he be replaced. In 1743 La Vérendrye resigned. He returned to New France and led

1080-908: The Saskatchewan. In 1756 the western command was given to Pierre's son Louis-Joseph Gaultier de La Vérendrye , but he was unable to travel to the west. During the French and Indian War (1754-1763), the North American front of the Seven Years' War , the French gradually abandoned the western posts. With France's defeat, the British took control of New France territory east of the Mississippi River. Numerous places were named in his honour: French Marines in Canada, 1683-1715 The Troupes de la marine served in Canada during

1125-530: The age of twelve he received a cadet's commission in the French Marines in Canada . In 1704 and 1705 La Vérendrye took part in the raids of Queen Anne's War , which was waged by colonists in the English and French areas of North America. He was present at the Raid on Deerfield in present-day Massachusetts. The French and their Abenaki allies took more than a hundred captives from the village, forcing them on

1170-597: The area. The Assiniboines fled, taking with them the Cree interpreter. Unable to talk to the Mandan, La Vérendrye left two Frenchmen to learn the language and returned to Fort La Reine (January 1739). In 1740 he returned to Quebec on business, and in 1741 started on his fourth and last journey west. From Fort La Reine he sent his son Louis-Joseph exploring westward as far as, probably, the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming (1742–43). (See: Verendrye brothers' journey to

1215-405: The barracks was big enough to house the marines stationed in those towns. In summer the marines lived in tents. The marines drilled with muskets twice a week, and practiced with grenades once a week. One marine from each company were selected for extended training in handling cannons , mortars and grenades. When trained, these marines were replaced by another set of marines. Standing guard

1260-421: The city of Quebec and were stationed in the three governments of Canada . Taking into account death and disability leave, at least 1,400 soldiers arrived into a New France which had no more than 11,000 inhabitants in 1685. Before 1715 a total of 3,000 to 3,500 marine recruits arrived in Canada. With the exception of 200 indentured servants that arrived 1684 and 1685, the marines were the only external additions to

1305-468: The command of poste du Nord , but accomplished little. After the elder La Vérendrye's death, the new governor Jonquière forced his sons out of their father's patrimony. Control of the west was given to Jacques Legardeur de Saint-Pierre (1750–53). He built Fort La Jonquière somewhere on the Saskatchewan, but failed in an attempt to ascend that river. He was followed by Louis de la Corne, Chevalier de la Corne (1753-1756). He built Fort de la Corne on

1350-451: The life of a gentleman while doing a considerable business since his sons remained as traders in the west. In 1746 he was reappointed to his old post. He was planning the fifth expedition, this time up the Saskatchewan River , when he died on December 5, 1749. Shortly before his death, he was awarded the Order of Saint Louis . From 1744 to 1746 Nicolas-Joseph de Noyelles de Fleurimont held

1395-511: The mouth of the Red River at the southern end of the lake. In 1734 La Vérendrye went to Quebec to reorganize the finances and returned to the western post the following spring. In 1734 more than half the beaver pelts reaching Quebec came from La Vérendrye's posts. But by 1736 it was clear that the supply system was not working, and Jean-Baptiste was forced to go to Lake Superior for supplies. He along with 20 other Frenchmen, 19 voyageurs including

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1440-470: The ocean. In 1731 La Vérendrye, three of his sons and 50 engagés left Montreal. That autumn his son Jean-Baptiste built Fort St. Pierre on Rainy Lake . Next year they built Fort St. Charles on Lake of the Woods , which became his headquarters for the next several years. In 1733 Jean-Baptiste got within 20 miles of Lake Winnipeg but was blocked by ice and lack of supplies. In 1734 their party reached Lake Winnipeg. Jean-Baptiste built Fort Maurepas near

1485-507: The period 1683–1715. The Marines were first sent to Canada in 1683 after an upsurge of Iroquois hostilities. The basic unit of the Marines in Canada was the company, with three or four officers, two sergeants, four corporals and lance-corporals, and a total complement of 33 to 52 officers and other ranks . The number of marines during the period peaked in 1688 with a total strength of 1,750 officers and other ranks. The other ranks were recruited in France, and were mostly volunteers, although Canada

1530-418: The population of Canada during the period 1683–1715. Integration of the large number of marines arriving was aided by several factors. Canada lacked barracks and the marines were – like their predecessors of the Carignan-Salières Regiment – billeted on the people of the local community, especially during the cold season. Brought about by utter necessity, this probably constituted the principal element in

1575-594: The rapid integration of the marines into the host society. Another factor favorable for integration was the two privileges granted the marines by the Intendant of New France , Jacques de Meulles , in 1685. One was the right for every marine to take work among the inhabitants of the country; the other authorized those who had a trade to practice it for 15 sous daily. The marines, who was paid 6 sous daily, but only had 3 sous left after stoppages, were happy to be able to work for 10-15 sous per day and food in addition, and

1620-646: The recruits were volunteers, but since service in Canada was not attractive, sometimes deception or violence was used to induce young men into the Marines. Wishing to avoid such chicanery, the government removed the height requirement and gradually lowered the age requirement until it was set at 15 in 1706. Catholic prisoners of war from Ireland and Scotland also became available for recruitment. When Canada urgently needed more marines, both deserters and civilian criminals, who had not been subject to corporal punishment , were released if they enlisted for military service in Canada. Sometimes prisoners were sentenced to serve in

1665-440: The required strength. Officer's billets were always filled, but the actual number of private marines were almost always lower than the required strength. With the reduction of the number of companies from 1689, there were a small surplus of officers from the reduced companies, serving as extra officers. Recruits had to be 20–30 years old, 158 cm (5 ft 2 in) tall, and fit for service. Single men were preferred. Most of

1710-492: The settlers and bourgeoisie were glad to be able to hire workers for less than was normally demanded. The captains of the marine companies were in their turn more than happy to give soldiers leave for work, as they then pocketed their military pay; an illegal but common practice. In 1686 the King confirmed, that any soldier who wished to marry and become a settler cultivating uncleared land was to be released from service and during

1755-399: The way to the Pacific. (For the area to be explored see Early Canadian canoe routes, Nelson River Basin .) In 1688 Jacques de Noyon had reached Rainy Lake . In 1717 Zacharie Robutel de La Noue tried to reach Rainy Lake but succeeded only in establishing Fort Kaministiquia . The British on Hudson Bay heard reports of coureurs des bois west of Lake Superior, but they left no records in

1800-697: Was a perpetual duty, winter or summer. When living in tents in summertime, the marines were doing road work or working on the colony's fortifications. Transportation of goods to the Western posts, and of fur back to Montreal, was also the task of the marines. Military patrols on the large rivers and through the settled areas in search of hostile Indians were the most important military duty performed outside actual combat. Source: The majority of marines in Canada had been unskilled labourers in civilian life. Yet, there were also skilled craftsmen among them, such as masons, carpenters, and tailors. Several factors led to

1845-607: Was a terminus for the main route west; a post at the mouth of the Nipigon River ; and one near the future site of Wawa, Ontario , which had river connections to James Bay. La Vérendrye began trading in the area and in 1728 was appointed as commandant when his brother left to fight the Fox Indians . He became involved with the quest to find a route to the Pacific, what was known as the Northwest Passage. Under

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1890-720: Was also used by Plains Tribes to refer to the Shoshone. They called the Shoshone "snake" referring to the Shoshone sign in Plains Indian Sign Language for the Shoshone people. The sign was used for salmon but the fish was unknown on the Great Plains . This term was widely used by American immigrants on the Oregon Trail in the Snake River and Owyhee River valleys of southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon . The term "Snake Indian" later included

1935-483: Was dependent on financing from the fur trade. It is not clear whether La Vérendrye was genuinely interested in exploration or whether exploration was a pretext for expansion of the fur trade. Maurepas , the French Minister of Marine, was very interested in exploration, but would not provide funds. According to Pehr Kalm , La Vérendrye was acting upon orders given by de Beauharnois to explore until he could reach

1980-431: Was not an attractive place to serve. Unskilled labourers dominated and almost a third of them came from the western parts of France. On the other hand, the officer corps was the subject of a gradual process of canadianization, with about a third of the officers serving in 1715 born in Canada. The war with the Iroquois forced the French to deploy a regular army regiment to Canada in 1665. The additional military manpower of

2025-525: Was the eldest son of René Gaultier de Varennes , who came to Canada as a soldier in 1665, and Marie, the daughter of Pierre Boucher , the first Governor of Trois-Rivières. The Gaultier family were minor nobility or landowners who came from the Anjou area of France . Varennes and La Vérendrye were 2 of their estates. Pierre's father died when he was 3, and he was educated at the Jesuit seminary in Quebec. At

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