Taken From Lounsberry's History

Quoted from Lounsberry's History of North Dakota: "Records of Alexander Henry" and "The Red River Brigade:"

In the year 1800 Alexander Henry, a nephew of Alexander Henry mentioned in connection with the early fur trade on Lake Superior, but known in history as Alexander Henry Junior, was the leader of an expedition which set out from Lake Superior with the Turtle River area of Dakota for its objective. It was Henry's intention to establish his headquarters on that stream for use while in charge of the Red River District to which he had been recently assigned by the North-West Company. His party bore the title "Henry's Red River Brigade."

Having reached the Assiniboine River August 17th, on the 18th the party divided and that portion intended for the Red River embarked on August 20th. There were four canoes in the party carrying a total of 21 persons. Two horses were led along the shore, and Henry claimed they were the first introduced into the Red River Valley by the whites.

Alexander Henry was ordered August 3, 1808, to the Sask to take charge of that district, where he lived three years. He bade farewell to the Red River after sixteen years among the Chippewa.

It should be noted that there was traffic of considerable importance on the Red River of the North in those early days.

Charles Hesse
Charles Hesse was a clerk in the employ of the North-West Company at Grand Portage in 1779 and is mentioned in connection with Red River matters by Henry October 16, 1801. When he and his young wife arrived at Red Lake on February 22, 1804, they went to Red Lake for sugar September 18th. Hesse left Pembina with eight men to establish the post at Park River, which was accomplished the first of October. At the same time, Augustine Cadotte reopened trade at Salt River to oppose the XY Company.