French fort at the southwestern extremity of lake Superior, called also Fort La Pointe, or Grand Pointe, from the long projecting point. Settlements were made here by Huron and Ottawa Indians after war with the Iroquois about 1650. The first mission was established by Menard 1660 and called Mission du Saint Esprit. The first fort was built by Radisson and Groseilliers 1661 on the shore of "Cheguamegon" bay. It was a palisaded fort situated not far from the present town Ashland, Wisconsin. Marquette was in command of this fort in 1668. It was probably destroyed by fire within a few years, for in 1692 Frontenac sent Sieur La Seneur to La Pointe to build a fort and garrison it. La Gardeur de St. Pierre was in command, followed by Linctot in 1726. This fort was built on the south end of Magdalen (Madeleine) island. Thirty soldiers formed the garrison. It was included in Bougainville's list of 1757 as "Pointe de Chagoamigon" under the command of M. De Beaubassin. This fort seems to have been destroyed at the conquest of Canada. For a number of years the fur-traders followed the south shore of lake Superior in going west and La Pointe became an important stopping-place. Alexander Henry Sr. was one of the first traders to venture west after the French had deserted the forts. In 1765-6 he built a house on the mainland sheltered by Madeleine island. He remarks that "on the island there had been a French trading post, called La Pointe du St. Esprit". The North West Co. soon acquired the possession of Grand Pointe, erecting a fort which appears on their list of 1821. It was not operated by the Hudson's Bay Co. after coalition, being on American territory. It is shown on Del'Isle's map 1745, on map of French claims (No. 10), on Bellin's 1744 map (No 15), on La Hontan 1703 (No. 20) also on Del'Isle 1703 (No. 18).