Clark: February 15, 1805

15th Capt. Lewis with a party of men & 4 Indians went in pursute of
the Sioux, the Indians returned the next Day & informed me that the
Sioux had Burnt all my meat & Born home (they Saw me but was afraid to
attact me) Capt Lewis returned the 21st with 2400 l. of meat, haveing
Killed 36 Deer & 14 Elk, the Sioux burnt one of my meet houses; they
did not find the other

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15th of February Friday 1805 at 10 oClock P M. last night the men that
dispatched yesterday for the meat, returned and informed us that as they
were on their march down at the distance of about 24 miles below the Fort
about 105 Indians which they took to be Souis rushed on them and Cut their
horses from the Slays, two of which they carried off in great hast, the
3rd horse was given up to the party by the intersetion of an Indian who
assumd Some authority on the accasion, probably more thro fear of himself
or Some of the Indians being killed by our men who were not disposed to be
Robed of all they had tamely, they also forced 2 of the mens knives &
a tamahawk, the man obliged them to return the tamahawk the knives they
ran off with G Drewyer Frasure, S Gutterage, & Newmon with a broken
Gun

we dispatched two men to inform the mandans, and if any of them chose to
pursue those robers, to come down in the morning, and join Capt Lewis who
intended to Set out with a party of men verry early, by 12 oClock the
Chief of the 2ed Village Big white Came down, and Soon after one other
Chief and Several menThe Chief observed that all the young men of
the 2 Villages were out hunting, and but verry fiew guns were left,Capt.
Lewis Set out at Sunrise with 24 men, to meet those Soues &c. Several
Indians accompanied him Some with Bows & arrows Some withe Spears
& Battle axes, a 2 with fuseesthe morning fine the Thermometer
Stood at 16° below 0, Nought, visited by 2 of the Big Bellies this
evening,one Chief of the Mandans returned from Capt Lewises Party
nearly blindthis Complaint is as I am infomd. Common at this Season
of the year and caused by the reflection of the Sun on the ice & Snow,
it is cured by jentilley Swetting the part affected by throweng Snow on a
hot Stone

verry Cold part of the nightone man Killed a verry large Red Fox to
day