OLD FORT OKANOGAN AND OKANOGAN TRAIL 17
for the rendezvous at the mouth of the Walla Walla. Ross goes into a world of details in regard to all of these happen- ings, he traveled up and down the Okanogan country from the mouth of the river to the head of Okanogan Lake time and again. He made one exploring trip into the Methow country and evidently crossed the main range of the Cascades, and got well down on the Skagit, but did not reach tide water. He took unto himself, at Fort Okanogan, an Indian girl of the Okanogan tribe, and when he returned to Winnipeg, about 1825, he took her and his half-breed children with him, and the Pacific Northwest knew them no more. Ross became promi- nent in Manitoba and Assiniboia. His third book which ap- peared in 1856, the year of his death, referred entirely to the Winnipeg country, and is entitled "The Red River Settle- ment."
Stuart and Ross reached the rendezvous at the mouth of the Walla Walla May 30th, 1813, and a few days afterward the brigades began arriving from up the Snake river and over- land from Spokane. By this time the tidings of the breaking out of the war between United States and Great Britain had reached the Columbia. Upon arrival of the consolidated brig- ades at Astoria, June 14th, 1813, a council of the partners was held. There was found to be dissension amongst the part- ners and a feeling of discouragement and dismay pervaded the meeting on account of the news of the war and their wholly un- protected situation from an attack by a British war ship or pri- vateer. There was also great dissatisfaction among some in re- gard to Mr. Astor's management of the company, and to crown it all, the opposition of the Northwest Company was getting stronger. It was decided, however, after much discussion, to attempt to continue the enterprise for another year in spite of the hazards and difficulties, and preparations were at once made to send out the wintering parties again. The outward bound brigades left Astoria in a body on July 5th, 1813, Stuart and Ross for the Okanogan and Kamloops country, Clarke for the Spokane country and McKenzie for the Willamette country. Resolutions were also passed authorizing McDougal,
