Letter : Fort Union, to Kenneth McKenzie, 1832 Sep 11

ALS regarding Fontenelle’s activities on behalf of the American Fur Company during his absence from Fort Union on the north bank of the Missouri River five miles above the mouth of the Yellowstone, between June and September, 1832. Fontenelle informs McKenzie (head of the Upper Missouri Outfit, a branch of the American Fur Company) that due to the large number of free and hired trappers, the difficulty of managing the outfit, and the dangerous environment, he had hired [Andrew] Drips in addition to [William H.] Vanderburgh to assist him in managing the business. He also discusses the status of the account books being kept by Drips.