64
TERRITORIAL MASONRY
troops for Prairie du Chien, nominally American territory, but in reality held by Indians and traders; he had as an escort 60 United States regular troops, commanded by Brother Joseph Perkins, a Lieutenant in the Army. A fort was established there and Perkins remained in charge of the post. The defeat of the British at the Battle of New Orleans, January 8, 1815, by Brother Andrew Jackson, a General in command of the Regular Army, was a cause for great rejoicing in the Territory, many Freemasons holding commissions in his army. As early as 1808 a meeting was held in St. Louis for the purpose of forming a volunteer company; Benjamin Wilkinson was made Captain of this first company and Risdon H. Price acted as a Lieutenant; both were members of the lodge at St. Louis. In this year General Lewis ordered all troops to be mustered according to law, at which time Brother (Capt.) Pierre Chouteau and Brother (Capt.) Otho Shrader assembled their troops of horse. Another rendezvous of these troops was held at St. Louis May 4, 1809. A later organization, known as the 'CSt. Louis Guards," was formed in December, 1819; we note as officers the following Master Masons: Amos .J. Bruce, William Renshaw, David B.