Horses Change Native Lives
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The 1724 Journal of de Bourgmont

Éttienne de Veniard, sieur de Bourgmont was the first known white man to systematically explore the Missouri River basin and was the first to record his findings. After leaving France a convicted juvenile delinquent, Bourgmont settled in Canada and joined the military. When an Indian attack on Fort Pontchartrain (near modern day Detroit) damaged Bourgmont's reputation, the acting commander escaped to the wilderness. He lived with Indians for years at a time and became a notorious and powerful figure among the them, eventually becoming the king's personal envoy to the tribes that complicated France's desire for western expansion. The following journal entries chronicle Bourgmont's expedition to negotiate peace between and among the French, Pawnee, Oto, Kansa, and Padouca (or Plains Apache) Native American tribes.

This is the main expedition's travel journal. French historians believe the journal was written by mining engineer Philippe de La Renaudière. The handwriting of his signature at the bottom of the document seems to match the writing of the journal entries. The story also seems to be written by a well-educated person and someone who was present daily. Besides Bourgmont, La Renaudière is the only member who fits that description.

Bourgmont Journal Entries

June 25, 1724 Company sets out Sept. 6, 1724 Bourgmont negotiates with Padouca
July 3, 1724 Bourgmont departs by land Oct. 2, 1724 Bourgmont's recovery
July 4, 1724 Bourgmont describes landscape Oct. 4, 1724 Bourgmont greets Otos
July 5, 1724 West by quarter west-northwest Oct. 5, 1724 Bourgmont offers peace
July 6, 1724 Encounter with Kansa chiefs Oct. 6, 1724 Smoking the peace pipe
July 7, 1724 Party reaches the Missouri Oct. 7, 1724 Chiefs accompany Bourgmont
July 8, 1724 Kansa village welcomes Bourgmont Oct. 8, 1724 Landscape on way to Padouca village
July 9, 1724 Bourgmont reaches out to tribes Oct. 9, 1724 An 11 hour day
July 10, 1724 Otos respond to overtures Oct. 10, 1724 Descriptions of weather & landscape
July 11, 1724 Bourgmont suffers fever Oct. 11, 1724 The Great Kansas River
July 12, 1724 Kansa chiefs holds feast Oct. 12, 1724 The sites & sounds of the prairie
July 13, 1724 Waiting for pirogues Oct. 13, 1724 An abundance of wildlife
July 14, 1724 Indians catch fever Oct. 14, 1724 Bourgmont shoots bison
July 15, 1724 More fever in camp Oct. 15, 1724 Traveling the treeless prairie
July 16, 1724 Good medicine and pirogues Oct. 16, 1724 Party gets off course
July 17, 1724 Bourgmont addresses chiefs Oct. 17, 1724 Smoke signals
July 18, 1724 Bourgmont negotiates with Kansa Indians Oct. 18, 1724 Party arrives at Padouca village
July 19, 1724 Osages fear sickness Oct. 19, 1724 Bourgmont addresses Indians
July 20, 1724 Chief offers daughter's hand Oct. 20, 1724 The head chief speaks
July 21, 1724 Preparing for the Padoucas Oct. 21, 1724 Trade begins
July 22, 1724 Departure delayed by rain Oct. 22, 1724 Living and hunting styles
July 23, 1724 Horsethief strikes Oct. 23, 1724 Leaving for base camp
July 24, 1724 Departure by land Oct. 24, 1724 Large herds of bison
July 25, 1724 Party encounters storm Oct. 25, 1724 Fine weather
July 26, 1724 Reconnaissance Oct. 26, 1724 Frost
July 27, 1724 Description of travois Oct. 27, 1724 Re-crossing the Kansas river
July 28, 1724 Journey difficult for many Oct. 28, 1724 Traveling eight leagues
July 29, 1724 Description of prairie Oct. 29, 1724 Wolves
July 30, 1724 Bourgmont taken ill Oct. 30, 1724 Rain
July 31, 1724 Bourgmont turns back Oct. 31, 1724 Approaching the Kansa village
Aug. 1, 1724 Bourgmont returns on a stretcher Nov. 1, 1724 Crossing the Missouri
Aug. 2, 1724 Six leagues traveled Nov. 2, 1724 Leaving for Fort d'Orleans
Aug. 3, 1724 Back at the Kansa village Nov. 5, 1724 Arrival at Fort d'Orleans
Aug. 5, 1724 Bourgmont at Fort d'Orleans