Jed's Shopping List
Jed Smith returned to California in the spring of 1828 to find the men he had left behind. The return trip was less eventful and Jed found his men hunting and trapping where he had left them. They had no trouble with the California Indians who seemed to like the men feared by the Mexicans. The group continued trapping since it was Beaver pelts that supported the Mountain Men. Smith wanted to take pelts north into Oregan Territory (claimed by the US since the Louisiana Purchase) and trade them with the British who had a fort on the Washington State side of the Columbia.
Jed thought that the Mexicans did not come to the mountains because they were afraid of the Indians living there. He thought this because the Mexicans referred to the Mountains as the "Chalk Mountains" because they were white in the summer due to snow.
Before they left an Indian runner arrived from Mission San Jose. He carried a message from the Mission Priest that the Mexican Authorities in Monterey wanted Jed to come to the Mission. When he arrived at the small mission just east of what is now Fremont he was asked to disarm himself and procede to Monterey. Jed obeyed.
In Monterey he explained why he had returned to pick up his remaining men. The authorities wanted him to take a ship to Acapulco but again Jed resisted going. An American trader living in Monterey put up a bond that Jed and his men would leave California.
Jed sent for his men who were also now disarmed to come to Monterey. They were well treated but were nervous about their situation. They agreed to leave California and not return. They were to cross the Carquinez Straight and procede to Oregan. Their muskets were returned to them and they proceded to leave. The Straight was too difficulet to cross so they went East before crossing the Sacramento river.
They proceded according to plan and left California for Oregan. They finally arrived in the Hudson Bay Company fort on the north bank of the Columbia. From there they traveled back up the river, up the Snake and into the U.S. where they met American trappers.
Jed Smith did not live to see the long trains of wagons follow his trails to Oregan and California. Three years later he planned to retire from trapping but he first agreed to guide a wagon train to Santa Fe to trade with the Mexicans there. While searching near the Canadien River for water for the train he was surrounded by a half dozen Indians who shot him in the back and took his horse, saddle, musket and clothing. These things were recognized when the Indians tried to sell them in Santa Fe. No one knows where his remains are but Jedediah Smith is remembered for his exploratons. Throughout the west you will find Smith Rivers named for this brave explorer who searched for Beaver but found the way west.
Bear Flag Links
Jed Smith goes to California
Jed Smith returns to California
Bibliography of California History
Links to other California Sesquicentennial Sites
