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Lewis & Clark Expedition

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The Way to the Western Sea Lewis and Clark across the Continent
  • Except for their hard-earned horse herd they were dirt poor and could offer the Indians few shiny, colorful, mechanically helpful manufactured goods and inducements.
  • Yet the explorers had to tidy it up somehow, or the ambitious Indian program they had believed was in their grasp a year ago would evaporate.
  • Dorion's Indians, stranded in red tape, some of them ill, and all of them bored, had finally left St.
  • N.D.
  • Texts
  • David Lavender
The Way to the Western Sea Lewis and Clark across the Continent
  • Lewis, a few troopers, and several Indians remained on the shore, gossiping. Unfortunately the helmsman misjudged the current.
  • At that point Lewis ordered all Indians off the boats and told one of the American soldiers to cast off.
  • Fearing to be caught in the fire if shooting started, the Indians aboard scrambled for land. The uproar brought Clark and Black Buffalo out of the cabin.
  • N.D.
  • Texts
  • David Lavender
May 14, 1804 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • Clarks (Clark, William) Black Man York (York) —.    At the Mandans (Mandan Indians) Tousant Shabono (Charbonneau, Toussaint) Indian woman (Sacagawea) & child (Charbonneau, Jean Baptiste) joined as interpreter & interpretis to the Snake (Paiute Indians) Indians."   
  • Village, in the Illinois (Illinois) Country.—    I there, from frequent conversations, I had with Traders; whose traffic was with the Indians, residing on the Mesouri (Missouri River) River, contemplated that there might be a practibility of penetrating across the Continent of North America, to the Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) by way of the Mesouri (Missouri River) River, but found from the most perfect account that I could collect from any of them; did not extend beyond the Mandan (Mandan Indians) Nation, who inhabited on the same River Mesouri (Missouri River) , which lays in 47° 24' 12 North Latitude; the Countries beyond that place, being utterly unknown to them, and even to the Indians inhabiting that Country.
  • John Colter (Colter, John) Hugh McNeal (McNeal, Hugh) Hugh Hall (Hall, Hugh) Joseph Fields (Field, Joseph) } Volunteers John Collins (Collins, John) Reubin Fields (Field, Reubin) Silas Goodrich (Goodrich, Silas) George Gibson (Gibson, George) Richard Windsor (Windsor, Richard) George Shannon (Shannon, George) Robert Frazer (Frazer, Robert) & 8 Canadians who were only to Joseph Whitehouse (Whitehouse, Joseph) proceed with us to the Mandans (Mandan Indians) Peter Crusatt (Cruzatte, Pierre) } Canadians &Volunteers,       Labeech (Labiche, François)       George Drewer (Drouillard, George) , to act as Indian Interpreter and Hunter & Captain William Clark's (Clark, William) Black Man, York (York) , And at the Mandan (Mandan Indians) Nation we were joined by Tousant Shabono (Charbonneau, Toussaint) (a canadian) and his Indian Woman (Sacagawea) , with a Child (Charbonneau, Jean Baptiste) ; this Indian Woman (Sacagawea) who was employed, as Interpreter to the Snake (Shoshone Indians) Nation of Indians.— [Then comes a blank page and on a new page the heading for the daily entries and a first entry for November 17, 1803, after which begin daily entries from May 14, 1804] Journal Of a Voyage across the continent of North America, to the Western; or Pacific Ocean (Pacific Ocean) . 1803 novemr 17th    We embarked at 9 o'Clock this morning from Saint Louis (Saint Louis, Mo.)
  • May 14, 1804
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Bear Legs Bear Legs, an Osage Indian, half-length portrait, seated, facing front. LC-USZ62-106369 cph 3c06369 c1906
  • N.D.
  • Images
December 23, 1803 - Clark, William
  • Griffeth (Griffith, Samuel) Came down from his farm with a Load of Turnips &c. as a present to me, Drewyear (Drouillard, George) Came home to day after a 〈long〉 hunt, he Killed three Deer, & left them in the woods, the Ice run to day    Several Deleaways (Delaware Indians) pass, a chief whome I saw at Greenville Treaty, I gave him a bottle of whiskey, the water falls fast, the boat Supt. by Skids.
  • At the Treaty of Fort Greenville, August 3, 1795, General Anthony Wayne (Wayne, Anthony) forced the Indians of the Northwest Territory to surrender much of present Ohio (Ohio) and parts of Indiana (Indiana) and Illinois (Illinois) .
  • December 23, 1803
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 4, 1804 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • we Sailed fast, we passed the Mouth of Big Rapid River (Niobrara (Quicurre, Rapid) River) on S. S.    Saw an Indian raft at a Cdeeder Bottom abo. the Mo. of Rapid River (Niobrara (Quicurre, Rapid) River) .   
  • Tuesday September 4th    We set off early this morning and proceeded on, & found some plumbs, we passed a Creek called plumb creek, lying on the South side of the River, the wind blowing fresh, we sett all our Sails & proceed on Sailing fast, We passed the Mouth of the big Rapid River (Niobrara (Quicurre, Rapid) River) , lying on the South side; we passed by an Indian Raft near a bottom, above the Mouth of rapid River (Niobrara (Quicurre, Rapid) River) ; we sent to see if the Tracts of one of our Man named Shannon (Shannon, George) , who had been missing from us some days, but they could discover no signs of his having passed that way.— We continued on till evening and encamped on the South side of the River—
  • September 4, 1804
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
September 23, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • . &.C—    towards evening we Saw 4 Indians on the Sand beach S. S. we Camped on the N. S. & 3 of them Swam over to our Camp.    they belonged to the Souix (Sioux Indians) Nation.    they Informed us that their Camp was near where their was a Grand chief and a nomber of their nation, the Capts.
  • September 23, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
October 17, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • Ordway Wednesday 17th Oct. Eight Indians came on from their Camp last night & brought us Some meat.   
  • Capt. Clark (Clark, William) our Indian & one hunter went out hunting on S. S. & at 11 oC. the [wind?]
  • October 17, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
November 1, 1804 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • at dark we arivd. with the boat and Peirouges 9½ Miles 〈bel〉 Below the 2nd vilage of Mandans (Mandan Indians) at a piece of woods On the N. E. Side whare we Commend. building the fort.— November 1st Thursday    This morning, we had the Wind blowing hard from the South, that we could not set off at the time appointed; our Officers having agreed on, to return down the River, before 2 o'Clock P.
  • This place lies 9½ Miles below the 2nd village of the Mandan (Mandan Indians) Nation, and 〈is〉 lay in a piece of Woodland, lying on the North side of the River Mesouri (Missouri River) , and lies in Latitude 47° 21' North.— Here resumes in the original version the daily entries, now in the hand of No. 2.
  • November 1, 1804
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
December 7, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) took 15 men & went out joined the Indians, who were at the time he got up, Killing the Buffalows on Horseback with arrows which they done with great dexterity, his party killed 14 Buffalow, five of which we got to the fort by the assistance of a horse in addition to what the men Packed on their backs—    one Cow was killed on the ice after drawing her out of a vacancey in the ice in which She had fallen, and Butchered her at the fort—    those we did not get in was taken by the indians under a Custon which is established amongst them 'i 'e. any person Seeing a buffalow lying without an arrow Sticking in him, or Some purticular mark takes possesion, many times (as I am told) a hunter who Kills maney Buffalow in a chase only Gets a part of one, all meat which is left out all night falls to the Wolves which are in great numbers, always in the Buffalows—    the river Closed opposit the fort last night 1½ inches thick    The Thermometer Stood this morning at 1 d. below 0—    three men frost bit badly to day
  • December 7, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
March 2, 1805 - Clark, William
  • La Rocque (Larocque, François-Antoine) a Clerk of the N W Company visit us, he has latterly returned from the Establishments on the Assinniboin River (Assiniboine River) with Merchindize to tarade with Indians—    Mr. L (Larocque, François-Antoine) informs us the N, W. & X Y Companies have joined, & the head of the N W.
  • McTavish (McTavish, Simon) of Monteral (Montreal) ,—    visted by the Coal & Several Indians Simon McTavish (McTavish, Simon) came to America from Inverness-shire (Inverness-shire, Scotland) , Scotland (Scotland) , before 1772, and was a fur trader in Albany (Albany, New York) , New York (New York) , moving to Montreal (Montreal) in 1775.
  • March 2, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 10, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Side in a Short bend, the wind Continued all day    Several times in the course of the day We had some fiew drops of rain from verry black Clouds, no thunder or lightning latterly, Soon after we landed a Dog came to us from the opposit Side, which induced a belief that we had not passd. the Assinniboin (Assiniboine Indians) Indians, parties wer Sent on the hills in different derections to examine but Saw no tents or fresh Sign.   
  • May 10, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
July 12, 1805 - Gass, Patrick
  • In our way we passed a small bottom on the north side of the river, in which there is an old Indian lodge 216 feet in circumference. Here we saw some wild pigeons and turtle doves.
  • Probably a Blackfeet (Blackfeet Indians) sun dance lodge. The now-extinct passenger pigeon, Ectopistes migratorius.
  • July 12, 1805
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
August 9, 1805 - Clark, William
  • E    we proceeded on verry well rapid places more noumerous than below, Shannon (Shannon, George) the man whome we lost on Wisdom River (Big Hole (Sensable, Wisdom) River) Joined us, haveing returned to the forks & prosued us up after prosueing Wisdom River (Big Hole (Sensable, Wisdom) River) one day Capt Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) and 3 men Set out after brackft. to examine the river above, find a portage if possible, also the Snake (Shoshone Indians) Indians. I should have taken this trip had I have been able to march, from the rageing fury of a tumer on my anckle musle, in the evening Clouded up and a fiew drops of rain    Encamped on the Lard Side near a low bluff, the river to day as yesterday.   
  • August 9, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 1, 1805 - Clark, William
  • Clark September 1st Sunday 1805 a fine morning    Set out early and proceeded on over high ruged hills passing the heads of the Small runs which fall into the river on our left to a large Creek which falls into the river 6 miles to our left and encamped in the bottom, Some rain to day at 12 and in the evening which obliges us to Continu all night    despatched 2 men to the mouth of the Creek to purchase fish of the Indians at that place, They returned with Some dried, we giged 4 Sammon & killed one Deer to Day.    the Countrey which we passed to day is well watered & broken Pore Stoney hilly country except the bottoms of the Creek which is narrow, all the Indians leave us except our Guide, one man Shot two bear this evining unfortunately we Could git neither of them They traveled across country to the North Fork Salmon River (North Fork Salmon River (Fish Creek)) (Fish Creek (North Fork Salmon River (Fish Creek)) on Atlas map 67) and camped a few miles south of Gibbonsville (Gibbonsville, Idaho) , Lemhi County (Lemhi County, Idaho) , Idaho (Idaho) , in the neighborhood of the mouth of Hull Creek (Hull Creek) on the opposite side of the North Fork (North Fork Salmon River (Fish Creek)) .
  • September 1, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
October 6, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • a raft Seen floating down the River with Several Indians on it.    one of the men killed 2 ducks.    berryed the pack Saddles and Some Ammunition &c.— Sunday October 6th    A clear pleasant morning, we continued the party working on the Canoes, and dug a Cashe or hole to bury our pack Saddles in, & made oars & poles for our Canoes.    Towards evening, we got the other Canoes ready to put in the Water & prepar'd some Gig poles &ca    We saw a raft floating down the River which had several Indians on it.    One of our party went out with his Rifle & killed 2 Ducks which he brought to our Camp.   
  • October 6, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
October 21, 1805 - Ordway, John
  • we Set out eairly and proceeded on as usal    we then halted at an Indian village where we bought a little wood and cooked breakfast.   
  • we came about 32 miles this day and Camped at some Indian lodges close under high clifts of rocks on the Stard Side    a handsome Spring flowed out of the clifts.   
  • October 21, 1805
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
November 15, 1805 - Ordway, John
  • M cleared off    the after part of the day calm and pleasant    we loaded up the canoes and at low tide we Set out and went down about 5 miles    passed an old Indian village a little below the clifts    passd. Several Small creeks.   
  • one of the men who went down the River first joined us. Several Indians with him.    he informed us that the Savages at the village Stole two of their guns when they were asleep last night, but when Capt.
  • November 15, 1805
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
December 27, 1805 - Clark, William
  • In the evening Co-mo wool (Coboway) the Chief and 4 men of the Clat Sop (Clatsop Indians) nation the[y] presented us a root which resembles the licquirish in Size and taste, which they roste like a potato which they Call Cul ho-mo, also a black root which is cured in a kill like the pash-a-co above; this root has a Sweet taste and the natives are verry fond of it—    they Call this root Shaw-na-tâh-que. also a dried berry about the size of a Chery which they Call Shele well all those roots those Indians value highly and give them verry Spearingly. in return for the above roots Capt Lewis (Lewis, Meriwether) gave the Chief a Small piece of Sheap Skin to Ware on his head, I gave his Son a par of ear bobs and a pece of ribon, and a Small piece of brass for which they were much pleased.
  • December 27, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
April 25, 1806 - Gass, Patrick
  • At noon, we came to a very large band of the Wal-a-waltz nation (Pisquow Indians) , the most numerous we had seen on the Columbia (Columbia River) ; I suppose it consisted of 500 persons, men, women, and children; and all of them tolerably well clothed children with robes of the skins of the deer, the ibex or big-horned animal and buffaloe.
  • The captains call them "Pish-quit-pahs (Pisquow Indians) ." For the question of their identity, see Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) entry.
  • April 25, 1806
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
May 9, 1806 - Gass, Patrick
  • They are not of the largest size of horses, but very good and active. At noon two of the Indians went to look for our horses, and the old chief with one of our men who knew where some powder and ball was buried, went to bring our packsaddles.
  • Probably lodgepole pine; see Gass's (Gass, Patrick) entry for September 4, 1805. The Nez Perces (Nez Perce Indians) and other tribes of the Northwest Plateau became famous for their breeding of the Appaloosa horse.
  • May 9, 1806
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
May 2, 1806 - Ordway, John
  • one of them went back to where we took dinner yesterday and turned back.    was Soon overtaken by an Indian who had caught our horse & was takeing him to us.    as soon as the Indians returned him to us our officers gave a tommahawk knife and a pr. overalls for the kindness.   
  • May 2, 1806
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
June 21, 1806 - Gass, Patrick
  • We proceeded on to a creek, where we met two young Indians, who said they were come to go over the mountains with us. We halted here for dinner; after which, all our party proceeded on to Com-mas flat (Weippe Prairie (Camas Flats, Quawmash Flats)) , except myself and two men who remained here to hunt.
  • One of our best horses got snagged to-day, and was left here. The two Indians remained with us, and in the evening one of the men killed a deer.
  • June 21, 1806
  • Journals
  • Gass, Patrick
Images from the Library of Congress
  • On the beach—Chinook American Indian woman standing holding a basket on beach. LC-USZ62-99363 cph 3b45409 Photographer: Edward S.
  • N.D.
  • Images
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Flathead child Salish Indian boy, posed, wearing costume and headdress. LC-USZ62-98071 cph 3b44160 Photographer: Edward S.
  • N.D.
  • Images
The Way to the Western Sea Lewis and Clark across the Continent
  • One likes to imagine a gunshot that brought Drouillard out from under the saddle blanket that covered him like a cork from a bottle. Indians!—though they had not yet seen a trace of a wild Indian. A night in the life of a hunter.
  • Almost as terrifying to the Indians as the plague were new fears of the Sioux. Being nomads, those Indians had not suffered as much from the epidemic as had the river tribes, who lived in densely packed villages.
  • Drouillard and Colter found the horses, and at sunset the trader, whose name Clark rendered as Fairfong, arrived with fourteen male Indians, six of them minor chiefs. All, probably, were on horseback. There was no sign of La Liberté, though the Indians said he had left their camp a day ahead of them.
  • N.D.
  • Texts
  • David Lavender
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Rabbit Head — Hidatsa Hidatsa Indian posed, head and shoulders, facing right. LC-USZ62-96191 cph 3b42303 Photographer: Edward S.
  • N.D.
  • Images
September 25, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • .—    all things made ready to receive the Band of the Souix (Sioux Indians) nation of Indians, Called the Tribe of Tetons (Sioux Indians, Teton) .   
  • the Guard and cooks on Shore &.C—    the Indians Camped on S. S.    our Camp was on a willow Isl. in the middle of the river, at our Starbord Side.— Probably Cruzatte (Cruzatte, Pierre) .
  • September 25, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
September 28, 1804 - Ordway, John
  • took breakfast about 10 O.Clock.    the whole lodge of Indians were waiting on the bank to See us Start as we intended if the excident had not of happened last night.   
  • he informed us that their was 300 Indians around which was the other lodge.—    they wished to have us Stop.   
  • at Sunset we cast anker near a small Sand bar in the middle of the river, where we Stayed all night.    heared Some Indians on boath Sides of the river.    corn cooked on the little Sand bar for the next day    all but the cooks Slept on board.— About three miles above Oahe Dam (Oahe Dam) , Hughes (Hughes County, S.
  • September 28, 1804
  • Journals
  • Ordway, John
September 14, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • we crossed at the forks and proceeded on down the creek.    passed Several late Indian Encampments.    our 〈Intrepter〉 Guide tells us that the natives catch a great nomber of Sammon along here.   
  • our hunters found a Stray horse on the road.    a Small Indian horse came to us this evening. Saturday Septemr 14th    A Cloudy Morning, & we did not set out till we had breakfasted, at which we eat the last of our Meat; we then proceeded on our Journey, and ascended a Mountain which was cover'd with Pine timber, and was about 4 Miles from where it began to ascend to the top; we descended this mountain; & came down to a Creek on a fork of it; at this place the Water run rapid, & it was very full of Rocks.—    We ascended then, another Mountain; which was about 4 Miles from the fork we left to the top of it.— We continued on our way on the top of this mountain where we had a most delightful prospect of the Hills & Vallies which lay below us, & then descended this Mountain about 6 Miles, which in some places, we found very steep, and came down on another fork of the Creek, which we last left, which was considerable larger, the Natives had here made places across this fork of the Creek, in the form of Weirs to catch fish in, which we found in 2 different parts of this fork, it was worked in with willows very ingeniously & strong, the current running very rapid at where these Weirs were set.—    We crossed below this place at where the Creek forked, and proceeded on down the creek and passed several Indian encampments, which the Natives had lately left.   
  • Our Hunters found a stray horse on the Path, & a small Indian horse came to our Camp in the evening.—    We came about 18 Miles this day.— That is, weirs.
  • September 14, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
October 16, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • Along the Shores 〈are〉 grew a few Willows.    We found upwards of 200 Indians, that were encamped on a point of land, that lay between these two Rivers, in a very pleasant situated place.    We Encamped near those Indians on the same point of land.    These natives came to our encampment & sold us 8 dogs & some fresh Salmon.    This whole Band of Indians came in a body, Singing in their manner to our fires, Smoaked with us, & appeared friendly.—    These Indians had beads, and small pieces of brass & Copper hanging about them, which they made signs to us, that they got them from White people, who live on a River; lying to the North of this place, & that they also got some of them at the Mouth of this River.   
  • October 16, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
November 7, 1805 - Clark, William
  • West 2 miles on the Stard Side under a hill high and rockey N W. 1     mile to the head of an Island Close under the Stard Side, Sept. by a narrow Chanel.    2 Canoes of Indians met us, and returnd. with us, a Island in the middle of the river, we followed those Inds. on the North Side of the Island thro a narrow Chanel to their village on the Stard.
  • Those people Sold us otter Skins for fish hooks of which they wer fond We delayed 1½ hour & Set out the tide being up in & the river So Cut with Islands we got an Indian to pilot us into the main chanel    one of our Canoes Seperated from us this morning in the fog—    great numbers of water fowls of every descriptn. common to this river.
  • Side is a village of 4 houses    passed Several marshey Islands (Marsh (Seal) Island) on the Lard sd. an Indian village on one of those Islands.    they came and traded 2 beaver skins for fishing hooks and a fiew Wapto roots.
  • November 7, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
March 9, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Clatsop Indians
  • Wishram-Wasco Indians
  • we are visited by 3 Clatsop (Clatsop Indians) men who brought a Dog, Some fish and a Sea otter Skin for Sale.   
  • March 9, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
March 15, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • we were visited this afternoon by Delashshelwilt (Delashelwilt) a Chinnook (Chinook Indians) Chief his wife and six women of his nation which the old baud his wife had brought for market.   
  • The Clatsops (Clatsop Indians) who had brought a canoe for sale last evening left us early this morning.— Bratton (Bratton, William E.)
  • The name is Chinookan [i]tlaš x̣ilwilt, meaning unknown. The Clatsop (Clatsop Indians) chief's name is from Chinookan qatl, meaning also unknown.
  • March 15, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
April 9, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Clark Wednesday April 9th 1806 last night at a late hour the old amsiated [emaciated?] Indian who was detected in Stealing a Spoon yesterday, Crept upon his belley with his hands and feet, with a view as I Suppose to take Some of our baggage which was in Several defferent parcels on the bank.   
  • here we did not delay but proceeded on to Wah-clel-lah (Watlala Indians) Village on the North Side and brackfast    here one the men Colter (Colter, John) observed the Tomahawk which was Stolen from on the 4th of Novr. last as we decended the Columbia (Columbia River) , he took the tomahawk    the natives attempted to wrest it from him, he held fast the Tomahawk.
  • This Village appears to be the wintering Station of two bands of the Shah-ha-la (Watlala Indians) Nation. One band has already moved the Falls of the Multnomah (Multnomah Falls) which is the place they take their Salmon.
  • April 9, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 18, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • the colours of this bear was a mixture of light redish brown white and dark brown in which the bey or redish brown predominated, the fur was bey as well as the lower pertion of the long hairs, the white next succeeded in the long hairs which at their extremites were dark brown, this uncommon mixture might be termed a bey grizzle.— our indian woman was busily engaged today in laying in a store of the fennel roots for the Rocky mountains (Rocky Mountains) .    these are called by the Shoshones (Shoshone Indians) year-pah.    at 2 P. M. 3 Indians who had been hunting towards the place at which we met with Chopunnish (Nez Perce Indians) last fall, called by them the quawmash grounds (Weippe Prairie (Camas Flats, Quawmash Flats)) , called at our camp; they informed us that they had been hunting several days and had killed nothing; we gave them a small peice of meat which they told us they would reserve for their small children who were very hungary; we smoked with them and they shortly after departed.   
  • May 18, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Wishham fisherman Tlakluit Indian, standing on rock, fishing with dip net. LC-USZ62-46996 cph 3a47158 Photographer: Edward S.
  • N.D.
  • Images
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Batchese Studio portrait of an Indian, possibly Salish (Flathead), half-length, seated, facing right, wearing feathered headdress.
  • N.D.
  • Images
April 27, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Clark Friday 27.    prepareing to pack up Indians goods
  • April 27, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
February 13, 1805 - Clark, William
  • I saw Several old Villages near the Chisscheta River (Heart (Ches-che-tar and similar spellings) River)    on enquirey found they were Mandan (Mandan Indians) Villages destroyed by the Sous (Sioux Indians) & Small Pox, they noumerous and lived in [NB: 9] 6    Villages near that place.
  • Probably Clark (Clark, William) refers to another abandoned village, since he indicates that they stayed at "an old Indian lodge" on the second night out (see above). MRC maps 50, 51. Probably Drouillard (Drouillard, George) ; see Lewis's (Lewis, Meriwether) entry for February 12, above. Eight old Mandan (Mandan Indians) villages and an old hunting camp can be counted in the Heart River (Heart (Ches-che-tar and similar spellings) River) area on Atlas map 28.
  • February 13, 1805
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 7, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • we struck this creek at the distance of 5 ms. from the point at which we left the river our cours being a little to the S. of East. ascending the creek one mile on the S. E. side we arrived at an indian incampment of six lodges which appeared to have been recently evacuated.   
  • A historic Nez Perce (Nez Perce Indians) village site, texsehepu, which refers to a long v-shaped canyon, was located at the mouth of Bedrock Creek (Bedrock Creek) .
  • This location corresponds closely with the Nez Perce (Nez Perce Indians) site of pipuynima, which refers to a fringe-like hillside with many cuts in it.
  • May 7, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
August 11, 1806 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • in this state of anxiety and suspense remained about 20 minutes when the party returned with Cruzatte (Cruzatte, Pierre) and reported that there were no indians nor the appearance of any; Cruzatte (Cruzatte, Pierre) seemed much allarmed and declared if he had shot me it was not his intention, that he had shot an Elk in the willows after he left or seperated from me.
  • the ball had lodged in my breeches which I knew to be the ball of the short rifles such as that he had, and there being no person out with me but him and no indians that we could discover I have no doubt in my own mind of his having shot me.   
  • this I fear puts an end to our prospects of obtaining the Sioux (Sioux Indians) Cheifs to accompany us as we have not now leasure to send and enjage Mr.
  • August 11, 1806
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
July 23, 1804 - Clark, William
  • Drewyer (Drouillard, George) & Peter Crusett (Cruzatte, Pierre) ½ Indn. to the Otteaus (Oto Indians) Village about 18 ms. West of our Camp, to invite the Chiefs & principal men of that nation to come & talk with us &. &., also the panis (Pawnee Indians) if they Should meet with any of that nation (also on the S. Side of the Plate (Platte River (Nebr.)) 30 ms. higher up) (at this Season of the year all the Indians in this quater are in the Plains hunting the Buffalow from Some Signs Seen by our hunter and the Praries being on fire in the derection of the Village induce a belief that the Nation have returned to get green Corn)    raised a flag Staff    put out Some provisions which got wet in the french Perogue to Sun & Dry—    I commenced Coppying may map of the river to Send to the Presdt. of U S. by the Return of a pty of Soldiers, from Illinois (Illinois)    five Deer Killed—    one man a bad riseing on his left breast.   
  • July 23, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
September 5, 1804 - Clark, William
  • dispatched two men to the Poncaries (Ponca Indians) Village Situated in a handsom Plain on the lower Side of this Creek about two miles from the Missourie (Missouri River)    (the Poncasars (Ponca Indians) nation is Small and at this time out in the praries hunting the Buffalow[)], one of the men Sent to the Village Killed a Buffalow in the town, the other, a large Buck near it, Some Sign of the two men who is a head.   
  • S We passed under a Bluff of Blue earth, under which Seveal Mineral Springs broke out of the water of which had a taste like Salts, we Came too on the upper point of a large Island (which I call No preserves Island)    here we made a Ceeder Mast, our hunters brought in three bucks, and two elks this evening which we had jurked One of the hunter Shields (Shields, John) , informed that he Saw Several black tailed Deer, near the Poncaser (Ponca Indians) Village— Clark (Clark, William) evidently started to write "Shannon (Shannon, George) and Colter (Colter, John) " and changed his mind.
  • September 5, 1804
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
July 23, 1805 - Whitehouse, Joseph
  • Clark (Clark, William) and 3 men Set out in order to go on to the 3 forks (Missouri River, Three Forks of the) , expecting to find the Snake (Shoshone Indians) nation, near that place.    Some cloudy.    the Musquetoes verry troublesome.   
  • &c.— Tuesday July 23rd    This morning Cloudy, Captain Clark (Clark, William) and three of our party, set out in Order to go to the three forks of the Mesouri River (Missouri River, Three Forks of the) , where they expect to find the Snake (Shoshone Indians) Nation of Indians residing, at or near that place.—    We set out early, and found the current run very rapid, and the River spreading wide, and full of Islands, we passed the mouth of a small River, which came in behind an Island lying on the South side of the River, & passed level smooth large plains, lying on each side of the River, having fine Grass on it & Flax now going to seed, Thistles high & in bloom, the Timber plenty growing along the Shores, and on the sides of the hills, some distance from the Shores.—    Our hunters that had staid out all last night came to us at noon.— We delayed at the place that the hunters came to us, to dry the articles that was wet in the Canoes, the hunters had killed several deer & had saved most of the meat,—    We hoisted our flags on board our Canoes & proceeded on at 2 oClock P.
  • July 23, 1805
  • Journals
  • Whitehouse, Joseph
March 1, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Kuskalar (Cus-ka-lah) &c. left us about noon. The boy which this Indian offered to Sell to me is about 10 years of age.    this boy had been taken prisoner by the Kil a mox (Tillamook Indians) from Some Nation on the Coast to the S. East of them at a great distance.    like other Indian nations they adopt their Slaves in their famelies and treat them very much like their own Children.
  • March 1, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
February 25, 1806 - Clark, William
  • Clark Tuesday February 25th 1806 It continued to rain and blow So violently that there was no movement of the party to day.    the Indians left us in the morning on their return to their village. Willard (Willard, Alexander) Somewhat worse the others are on the recovery.   
  • I purchased of the Clatsops (Clatsop Indians) this morning about half a bushel of Small fish which they had cought about 40 miles up the Columbia (Columbia River) in their scooping nets.   
  • I found them best when cooked in Indian Stile, which is by rosting a number of them together on a wooden spit without any previous preparation whatever.   
  • February 25, 1806
  • Journals
  • Clark, William
May 8, 1805 - Lewis, Meriwether
  • Fort Peck Indian Reservation
  • This root forms a considerable article of food with the Indians of the Missouri (Missouri River) , who for this purpose prepare them in several ways.   
  • Porcupine Creek (Poplar (Porcupine) River) , and the Milk (Milk (Ah-mâh-tâh ru-shush-sher, River Which Scolds at All Others) River) below the fork, form the western boundary of Fort Peck Indian Reservation (Fort Peck Indian Reservation) . Atlas maps 37, 49, 58.
  • May 8, 1805
  • Journals
  • Lewis, Meriwether
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Hidatsa man Hidatsa Indian posed, standing, full-length, draped with blanket, facing front; with mountain in background.
  • N.D.
  • Images
Images from the Library of Congress
  • Hidatsa woman Hidatsa Indian woman posed, head and sholders, facing front. "Mrs. White Duck" on verso.
  • N.D.
  • Images

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