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John Work of the Hudson's Bay Company - Leader of the California Brigade of 1832-33 (June 1943) (16 pages)
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Page: of 16
102 California Historical Society Quarterly
Mountain. A fairly low pass in the Cascade Mountains enabled the party to
reach the headwaters of Cow Creek, which they followed through the foothills to reach the Sacramento River.
The great valley of California formed by the Sacramento and San Joaquin
rivers in the early years of the nineteenth century was a no man’s land traversed by wandering parties of Russians, British,and Americans who trapped
the furs of itsstreams. Glimpses of these early explorers, who included French
Canadian employees of the northern fur companies, flash across the pages of
the journal in which John Work kept a daily record. From these sparks can
be caught brief pictures of the fierce competition engaged in by the various
groups in their desire to be first to trap the streams for their rich harvest of
beaver and otter pelts.
Entries in Work’s journal concerning the American, Ewing Young, are a
hitherto unknown source of information on this hardy frontiersman. Work
enlarges on exploits already known and contributes additional material on
Young’s route of 1832-33. Comments upon mission padres, the Russian governor,of FortRoss, Indian chieftains, early English and American residents
of California, the attendance of Catholic French Canadians at mass on Easter
Sunday, 1833, and a battle with Indians on the San Joaquin add dramatic interest to the daily record.
From Cow Creek the trappers traveled south along the banks of the Sacramento River to the Sutter Buttes where there was a campsite already well
known from previous visits to the region. From the Buttes the men attempted to proceed farther south along the slopes of the Sierra foothills to
the eastward but were prevented by torrential rains and high water. An excursion to the American River resulted in Work’s determination to spend
the winter atthe Buttes.Here he was joined by another band of Hudson’s
Bay men who had come south.along.the Oregon. and.California.coastline.by,
the trail of Jedediah Smith. Michel LaFramboise headed this party of sixtyfive people, many of whom were Oregon Indians. They left Fort Vancouver
in April 1832 and penetrated the great valley of California as far as French
Camp, near what is now Stockton. John Work, as was fitting his rank as
gentleman of the company, became leader of the joint party.
When spring approached, the trappers followed the Sacramento River
north to a crossing that had been discovered by Ewing Young. They crossed
safely to the west bank and proceeded south along the foothills of the Coast
Range to the Bay of San Francisco. After visiting Sonoma Mission and Fort
Ross they searched the coast line to the north for furs but found none. Prevented from proceeding farther by mountain barriers south of Cape Mendocino, the brigade turned inland and returned to the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers, where the party spent the summer of 1833. The southernmost
point reached by the trappers was the Stanislaus River.
Disappointments marked the stay of the trappers in the valley..Furs were
scarce and the Indianswere belligerent, stealing horses.at.every opportunity.
To add to the distress, mosquitoes were almost unbearable, and sickness followed their visitation. Work, completely discouraged, determined to return
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