Voorhis Interactive: Posts of the Trade

Fort Augustus   NWC GMaps
ID: 37  Voorhis Number: 32 ;   Location: Alberta, Canada [53.745, -113.19] ;    Founded: 1794 , Closed: 1807 .

Six forts to be noted in neighborhood of city Edmonton, Alta.

(1) The first fort constructed was that of the North West Co., known as Fort Augustus, sometimes called Upper Fort Des Prairies, on Saskatchewan river, north bank, a little more than one mile above the mouth of Sturgeon Creek, and about 20 miles air line east from present city Edmonton. Built by Shaw and McGillivray 1794. Shown on Thompson map 1810. Thompson was there in 1808 and A. Henry Jr. passed in 1809. Was destroyed 1807 by Blackfeet Indians.

(2) The second fort was built in 1795 by the Hudson's Bay Co. close beside Fort Augustus and was named Fort Edmonton in compliment to John Pruden, clerk, a native of Edmonton, near London. It was built by George Sutherland. Was sometimes called Fort Des Prairies. This fort was destroyed by Blackfeet Indians at the same time as Fort Augustus.

Both these forts were the most western stations until 1799 when Rocky Mountain House was built 200 miles farther upstream.

(3) In 1808 New Fort Augustus was built by Hughes of the North West Co. on the site of the present city of Edmonton, 20 miles in a straight line upstream from old Fort Augustus. This fort was abandoned 1810 and destroyed by Blackfeet Indians.

(4) The same year, 1808, Rowland of Hudson's Bay Co. built New Fort Edmonton close by New Fort Augustus.

Both these forts were abandoned in 1810 and were re-established several miles further upstream at mouth of White Mud Creek and went by the name of Old Fort Whitemud and Upper Terre Blanche Fort (q.v.). In May 1811 A. Henry Jr. camped for the night at the nearly demolished Fort Augustus which had been abandoned 1810: "We pitched out tent inside the old House for the night".

(5) Fort Edmonton was again reoccupied and repaired by the Hudson Bay Co. some time before 1819. At first it was built on the river flats but later was moved to the top of the bluff and strongly re-enforced. Its defences were maintained till recent times because of hostile Indians. It was hexagonal in form with high pickets and bastions and battlemented gateways, on the perpendicular height commanding the river. "It was painted inside and out with Indian devices, gaudy colours and queer sculptures. The buildings were painted red and smeared with red earth which, when mixed with oil, produces a durable brown" (Sir George Simpson 1843). In 1912 the fort was removed to allow construction of Parliament buildings. See maps No. 8, 100 & 101.

(6) An X. Y. Co. fort was also built in the neighborhood in 1798 and 1810.

The site of old Fort Augustus was marked by Historic Sites Board August 8, 1927. Inscription on the cairn reads: "On the river flat below stood Fort Augustus, established by the North West Co. in 1794; Fort Edmonton, established by the Hudson's Bay Co. 1795. Abandoned 1807".

Fort Augustus was in Sect, 15, Tp. 55, R. 22, W. of 4th Meridian. See Map Early Alberta forts (No. 11) and Tyrrell's Northern Alberta (No. 36).



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