Taliaferro, One Man Against the Fur Empire: The 1830 Fort Snelling Arson

Long before the Twin Cities grew around Bdote, the prairie outside Fort Snelling hosted a quiet war over trade, alcohol, and tribal sovereignty. Discover the true story behind the August 14, 1830 arson attack on the St. Peters Indian Agency. Was it a freak accident or a mob-style message from John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company?  Learn how one stubborn bureaucrat stood his ground for two decades. A high-stakes clash between an unyielding federal agent and the corporate cartel determined to control the Upper Mississippi.