Charles R. Raymond
Captain Charles Raymond, of the U.S. Army, was sent to Alaska to determine the north-eastern boundary following the purchase of Alaska in 1867. Specifically, he was to determine the location of Fort Yukon because the American trading companies were planning to establish posts. Captain Raymond travelled with two companions and they arrived in the spring of 1869 and got passage on the first motorized [steam] craft to go up the Yukon, a small steamer named the Yukon. They were greeted at Fort Yukon by the Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) agent, Mr. John Wilson, and by Rev Bompas. Raymond remained for two months to complete his task and found Fort Yukon to be eighty miles inside the border. He notified the HBC to cease trading and vacate the buildings. He then took possession and raised the US flag. The HBC relocated up the Porcupine River at the Ramparts. Raymond returned to San Francisco seven months after his departure. He included a map with his report. When he left in the fall of 1869, he reported two powerful companies had posts along the river. He later learned that both companies lost money and they amalgamated the following year.1)