In 1806, the return to St. Louis of Lewis and Clark from their epic journey across the unexplored American West with their tales of untold abundance of valuable furbearers, especially beaver, excited the populace Men like General Ashley and Major Henry responded to such tales of valuable furbearers in abundance by forming a fur company, employing 100 adventurous young men as company trappers, and keelboating up the Missouri River to the Yellowstone...