Arikara Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

The Arikara War of 1823 and the Fur Trade

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 01:27:42 +0000

Nichols examines the 1823 military confrontation between the United States and the Arikara Nation along the upper Missouri River, connecting it to the diplomatic relationships and tensions established during the Lewis and Clark Expedition nearly two decades earlier. The article documents how the expedition’s promises and interventions in intertribal politics contributed to a deterioration of Arikara-American relations that eventually erupted into open conflict when Arikara warriors attacked William Ashley’s fur trading party. Nichols identifies several former expedition members — including Hugh Glass, Edward Rose, and possibly John Collins — who were involved in the 1823 events. The article analyzes Colonel Henry Leavenworth’s punitive expedition against the Arikara villages, its inconclusive outcome, and the broader implications for the Missouri River fur trade. Nichols argues that the 1823 conflict reveals the limitations and consequences of the expedition’s diplomacy, which prioritized American commercial interests over genuine understanding of intertribal dynamics.

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Clark: September 12, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:58 +0000

Friday 12th of September 1806 a thick fog a litile before day which blew
off at day light. a heavy Dew this morning. we Set out at Sunrise the
usial hour and proceeded on very well about 7 miles met 2 perogues from
St. Louis one contained the property of Mr. Choteau bound to the panias on
River Platt, the other going up trapping as high as the Mahars. here we
met one of the french men who had accompanied us as high as the Mandans he
informed us that Mr. McClellen was a fiew miles below the wind blew a head
Soon after we pased those perogues, we Saw a man on Shore who informed us
that he was one of Mr. McClellens party and that he was a Short distance
below, we took this man on board and proceeded on and Met Mr. McClellin at
the St. Michl. Prarie we came too here we found Mr. Jo. Gravelin the
Ricaras enterpreter whome we had Sent down with a Ricaras Chief in the
Spring of 1805 and old Mr. Durion the Sieux enterpreter, we examined the
instructions of those interpreters and found that Gravelin was ordered to
the Ricaras with a Speach from the president of the U. States to that
nation and some presents which had been given the Ricara Cheif who had
visited the U. States and unfortunately died at the City of Washington, he
was instructed to teach the Ricaras agriculture & make every enquirey
after Capt Lewis my self and the party Mr. Durion was enstructed to
accompany Gravelin and through his influence pass him with his presents
& by the tetons bands of Sieux, and to provale on Some of the
Principal chiefs of those bands not exceeding six to Visit the Seat of the
Government next Spring he was also enstructed to make every enquirey after
us. we made Some Small addition to his instructions by extending the
number of Chiefs to 10 or 12 or 3 from each band including the Yanktons
&c. Mr. McClellin receved us very politely, and gave us all the news
and occurrences which had taken place in the Illinois within his knowledge
the evening proveing to be wet and Cloudy we Concluded to continue all
night, we despatched the two Canoes a head to hunt with 5 hunters in them

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Clark: August 26, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:55 +0000

Tuesday 26th of August 1806 a heavy dew this morning the hunters or
Shannon & the 2 fields came up at Sunrise and we Set out, they had
killed only 2 Small deer one of which they had eat at 8 passed the place
the Tetons were encamped at the time they attempted to Stop us in Septr.
1804, and at 9 A.M. passed the enterance of Teton River. Saw Several black
tail or Mule deer and Sent out to kill them but they were wild and the
hunters Could not get a Shot at either of them. a fiew miles below the
Teton river I observed a buffalow Skin Canoe lying on the S Shore and a
Short distance lower a raft which induces me to Suspect that the Tetons
are not on the Missouri at the big bend as we were informed by the
Ricaras, but up the Teton river. at Meridn. we halted on the N E. Side
opposit a handsom leavel plain in which there is great quantities of
plumbs which are not yet ripe. we passed the enteranc of Smoke Creek and
landed and Continued two hours to Stop a leak in the perogue and fix the
Stearing oare, Saw great quantities of Grapes, they are black tho not
thurerly ripe. at 5 P M. we landed a Louisells fort on Ceder Island, this
fort is entire and every part appears to be in the Same state it was when
we passed it in Septr. 1804. I observed the appearance of 3 fires in the
houses which appeared to have been made 10 or 12 days past. we proceeded
on about 10 miles lower and encamped on the S. W. Side opposit our outward
bound encampment of the 21st of Septr. 1804, a fiew miles above Tylors
River. we had a Stiff breeze from the S. E. which continued to blow the
greater part of the night dry and pleasent. as we were now in the Country
where we were informed the Sceoux were assembled we were much on our guard
deturmined to put up with no insults from those bands of Seioux, all the
arms &. in perfect order. Capt. L. is Still on the mending hand he
walks a little. I have discontinued the tent in the hole where the ball
entered, agreeable to his request. he tells me that he is fully Convinced
that the wound is sufficiently heeled for the tents to be discontinued. we
made 60 miles to day with the wind ahead greater part of the day-

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Clark: August 25, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:55 +0000

Monday 25th August 1806 a cool clear morning a Stiff breeze ahead we Set
out at the usial hour and proceeded on very well. I derected Shields
Collins Shannon and the two fieldses to proceed on in the two small Canoes
to the Ponia Island and hunt on that Island untill we came on, they Set
out before day light The Skirt of timber in the bend above the Chyenne is
not very Considerable the timber is Scattered from 4 to 16 miles on the S
W Side of the river, and the thickest part is at the distance of 6 &
10 miles from the Chyenne, a narrow bottom of Small Cotton trees is also
on the N E pt. at the distance of from 4 to 41/2 miles above the Chyenne
imediately at the enterance of that river I observe but fiew large trees
Some Small Growth and willows on the lower Side bottom on the Missouri
about 1/2 a mile and extends up the Chyen 1 mile about a quarter of a mile
above is a 2d bottom of Cotton timber, in the point above the Chyenne
there is a considerable bottom of about 2 miles on that river and a large
timbered bottom a Short distance above. at 8 A.M. we Came to at the mouth
of the Chyenne to delay untill 12 to make a meridian observation and
derected 3 hunters to proced up this river and hunt its bottoms untill
twelve at which hou we Shall proceed on. the hunters returned with 2 deer
the Chyenne discharges but little water which is much the colour of the
missouri tho not So muddy I observe a very eligable Situation on the bank
of the Chyenne on it’s lower Side about 100 paces from it’s enterance.
this Situation is above the high floods and has a perfect Command of each
river we obtained a Meridian altitude with the Sextt. and artificial
Horizon 112° 50′ 00″- after which we proceeded on passed the pania Island
and came up with Shields and Collins they had killed two deer only at 3 P
M we passed the place where we Saw the last encampement of Troubleson
Tetons below the old ponia village on the S W Side. a very large timbered
bottom on the N. E. Side imedialely below the Pania Island. Latd. of
Chyenne is ____ North. at Sunset we landed about the Center of a large
bottom on the N E Side a little below the enterance of No timber Creek and
below our Encampment of 29th of Septr. 1804. dreyer killed a deer after we
encamped. a little above our encampmt. the ricaras had formerly a large
village on each Side which was destroyed by the Seioux. there is the
remains of 5 other villages on the S W. Side below the Chyenne river and
one on Le ho catts Isld. all those villages have been broken up by the
Seioux. This day proved a fine Still day and the men played their oars and
we made 48 miles to day. The 2 fields and Shannon did not join this
evening which caused me to encamp earlier than usial for them. we Saw no
game on the plains today. the Tetons have been on the river not long Since

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Clark: August 22, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:54 +0000

Friday 22nd August 1806. rained all the last night every person and all
our bedding wet, the Morning cloudy, at 8 A M. I was requested to go to
the Chiefs, I walkd up and he informed me that he Should not go down but
would Stay and take Care of the village and prevent the young men from
doing rong and Spoke much to the Same porpt of the Grey Eyes, the 2d Chief
Spoke to the Same and all they Said was only a repitition of what they had
Said before. the Chief gave me some Soft Corn and the 2d Chief Some
Tobacco Seedthe Interpreter Garrow informed me that he had been
Speeking to the Chiefs & warriers this morning and assured me that
they had no intention of going down untill the return of the Cheif who
went down last Spring was a year. I told the Cheifs to attend to what we
had Said to them, that in a Short time they would find our words tru and
Councils good. they promised to attend Strictly to what had been Said to
them, and observed that they must trade with the Sieoux one more time to
get guns and powder; that they had no guns or powder and had more horses
than they had use for, after they got guns and powder that they would
never again have any thing to do with them &c. &c. I returned the
Canoes & derected the men to prepare to Set out. Some Chyennes from
two Lodges on the Main S E. Shore Came and Smoked with me and at 11 A. M
we Set out haveing parted with those people who appeared to be Sorry to
part with us. at this nation we found a french man by the name of Rokey
who was one of our Engagees as high as the Mandans this man had Spend all
his wages, and requested to return with uswe agreed to give him a passage
down. I directed 2 guns to be fired. we proceeded on passed the Marapa and
the We ter hoo Rivers, and landed to dry our bedding and robes &c
which were all wet. here we delayed untill 6 P M. and dryed our things
which were much Spoiled.

I derected 5 of the hunters to proceed on to Grouse Island a fiew miles
below and hunt on that island untill we arived, we proceded on to the main
N E Shore below the Island and encamped, the hunters joined us without any
thing. they Saw no game on the island. we made only 17 Miles to day. below
the ricaras the river widens and the Sand bars are emencely noumerous much
less timber in the bottoms than above

The Chyenne’s are portly Indians much the complections of the Mandans
& ricaras high Cheeks, Streight limbed & high noses the men are
large, their dress in Sumner is Simpelly a roab of a light buffalow Skin
with or without the hair and a Breach clout & mockerson Some ware
leagins and mockersons, their ornaments are but fiew and those are
composed principally of Such articles as they precure from other indians
Such as blue beeds, Shell, red paint rings of brass broaches &c. they
also ware Bears Claws about their necks, Strips of otter Skin (which they
as well as the ricaras are excessively fond of) around their neck falling
back behind. their ears are cut at the lower part, but fiew of them were
ornements in them, their hair is generally Cut in the forehead above their
eyes and Small ornimented plats in front of each Sholder the remainder of
the hair is either twisted in with horse or buffalow hair divided into two
plats over the Sholder or what is most common flow’s back, Their women are
homely, corse feetured wide mouthes they ware Simpially a leathe habit
made in a plain form of two pieces of equal length and equal weadth, which
is sewen together with Sinues from the tail to about half way from the hip
to the arm, a String fastens the 2 pieces together over the Sholders
leaveng a flap or lapells which fall over near half way ther body both
before and behind. those dresses usially fall as low as mid leg, they are
frequently ornemented with beeds and Shells & Elk tuskes of which all
Indians are very fond of. those dresses are als frequently Printed in
various regular figures with hot sticks which are rubed on the leather
with Such velosity as to nearly burn it this is very handsom. they were
their hair flowing and are excessively fond of ornamenting their ears with
blue beedsthis nation peacbly disposed they may be estimated at
from 350 to 400 men inhabetig from 130 to 150 Lodges, they are rich in
horses & Dogs, the dogs Carry a great preportion of their light
baggage. they Confess to be at war with no nation except the Sieoux with
whome they have ever since their remembranc been on a difencive war, with
the Bands of Sieoux. as I was about to leave the Cheifs of the Chyennes
lodge he requested me to Send Some traders to them, that their country was
full of beaver and they would then be encouraged to Kill beaver, but now
they had no use for them as they could get nothing for their skins and did
not know well, how to catch beaver. if the white people would come amongst
them they would become acquainted and the white people would learn them
how to take the beaver-. I promised the Nation that I would inform their
Great father the President of the U States, and he would have them
Supplied with goods, and mentioned in what manner they would be Supplied
&c. &c.

I am happy to have it in my power to Say that my worthy friend Capt Lewis
is recovering fast, he walked a little to day for the first time. I have
discontinud the tent in the hole the ball came out

I have before mentioned that the Mandans Maharhas Menetarras &
Ricarras, keep their horses in the Lodge with themselves at night.

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Clark: August 21, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:54 +0000

Thursday 21st August 1806 Musquetors very troublesom in the early part of
last night and again this morning I directed Sergt. Ordway to proceed on
to where there was Some ash and get enough for two ores which were
wanting. Men all put their arms in perfect order and we Set out at 5 a.m.
over took Sergt. ordway with wood for oars &c. at 8 A.M. Met three
french men Comeing up, they proved to be three men from the Ricaras two of
them Reevea & Greinyea wintered with us at the mandans in 1804 we Came
too, those men informed us that they were on their way to the Mandans, and
intended to go down to the Illinois this fall. one of them quit a young
lad requested a passage down to the Illinois, we concented and he got into
a Canoe to an Ore. Those men informd us that 700 Seeoux had passed the
Ricaras on their way to war with the Mandans & Menitarras and that
their encampment where the Squaws and Children wer, was Some place near
the Big Bend of this river below. no ricaras had accompanied them but were
all at home, they also informed us that no trader had arived at the
Ricaras this Season, and that they were informed that the Pania or Ricara
Chief who went to the United States last Spring was a year, died on his
return at Smoe place near the Sieoux river &c. those men had nether
powder nor lead we gave them a horn of powder and Some balls and after a
delay of an hour we parted from the 2 men Reevey & Grienway and
proceeded on. the wind rose and bley from the N. W. at half past 11 a.m.
we arived in view of the upper Ricara villages, a Great number of womin
Collecting wood on the banks, we Saluted the village with four guns and
they returned the Salute by fireing Several guns in the village, I
observed Several very white Lodges on the hill above the Town which the
ricaras from the Shore informed me were Chyennes who had just arived-. we
landed opposit to the 2d Villages and were met by the most of the men
women and children of each village as also the Chyennes they all appeared
anxious to take us by the hand and much rejoiced to See us return. I
Steped on Shore and was Saluted by the two great Chiefs, whome we had made
or given Medals to as we assend this river in 1804, and also Saluted by a
great number both of Ricaras & Chyennes, as they appeared anxious to
here what we had done &c. as well as to here Something about the
Mandans & Minetarras. I Set my self down on the Side of the Bank and
the Chiefs & brave men of the Ricaras & Chyennes formed a Cercle
around me. after takeing a Smoke of Mandan tobacco which the Big white
Chief who was Seated on my left hand furnished, I informed them as I had
before informed the Mandans & Menitarras, where we had been what we
had done and Said to the different nations in there favour and envited
Some of their Chiefs to accompany us down and See their great father and
receve from his own mouth his good Councils and from his own hands his
bountifull gifts &c. telling pretty much the Same which I had told the
mandans and menitarras. told them not to be afraid of any nation below
that none would hurt them &c. a man of about 32 years of age was
intreduced to me as 1st Chief of the nation this man they Call the grey
eyes or ____ he was absent from the Nation at the time we passed up, the
man whome we had acknowledged as the principal chief informed me that the
Grey eyes was a greater Chief than himself and that he had given up all
his pretentions with the Flag and Medal to the Grey eyesThe
principal chief of the Chyenne’s was then introduced he is a Stout jolley
fellow of about 35 years of age whome the Ricaras Call the Grey Eyes I
also told the ricaras that I was very Sorrey to here that they were not on
friendly terms with their neighbours the Mandans & Menetarras, and had
not listened to what we had Said to them but had Suffered their young men
to join the Sieoux who had killed 8 Mandans &c. that their young men
had Stolen the horses of the Minetarras, in retaliation for those enjories
the Mandans & Menetarras had Sent out a war party and killed 2
ricaras. how could they expect other nations would be at peace with them
when they themselves would not listen to what their great father had told
them. I further informed them that the Mandans & Menetaras had opened
their ears to what we had Said to them but had Staid at home untill they
were Struk that they were Still disposed to be friendly and on good terms
with the ricaras, they then Saw the great Chief of the Mandans by my Side
who was on his way to see his great father, and was derected by his nation
& the Menetaras & Maharhas, to Smoke in the pipe of peace with you
and to tell you not to be afraid to go to their towns, or take the Birds
in the plains that their ears were open to our Councils and no harm Should
be done to a Ricara. The Chief will Speak presently The Grey eyes Chief of
the ricaras made a very animated Speach in which he mentioned his
williness of following the councels which we had given them that they had
Some bad young men who would not listen to the Councels but would join the
Seioux, those men they had discarded and drove out of their villages, that
the Seioux were the Cause of their Missunderstanding &c. that they
were a bad peoples. that they had killed Several of the Ricaras Since I
Saw them. That Several of the chiefs wished to accompany us down to See
their great father, but wished to see the Chief who went down last Sumer
return first, he expressed Some apprehention as to the Safty of that
Chiefs in passing the Sieoux. that the Ricaras had every wish to be
friendly with the Mandans &c. that every mandan &c. who chose to
visit the ricares should be Safe that he Should Continue with his nation
and See that they followed the Council which we had given them &c.The
Sun being very hot the Chyenne Chief envited us to his Lodge which was
pitched in the plain at no great distance from the River. I accepted the
invitation and accompanied him to his lodge which was new and much larger
than any which I have Seen it was made of 20 dressed Buffalow Skins in the
Same form of the Sceoux and lodges of other nations of this quarter. about
this lodges was 20 others Several of them of nearly the Same Size. I
enquired for the ballance of the nation and was informed that they were
near at hand and would arive on tomorrow and when all together amounted to
120 Lodges after Smokeing I gave a medal of the Small size to the Chyenne
Chief &c. which appeared to alarm him, he had a robe and a fleece of
fat Buffalow meat brought and gave me with the meadel back and informed me
that he knew that the white people were all medecine and that he was
afraid of the midal or any thing that white people gave to them. I had
previously explained the cause of my gveing him the medal & flag, and
again told him the use of the medal and the caus of my giveing it to him,
and again put it about his neck delivering him up his preasent of a roab
& meat, informing him that this was the medecene which his Great
father directed me to deliver to all the great Chiefs who listened to his
word and followed his councils, that he had done So and I should leave the
medal with him as a token of his cincerity &c. he doubled the quantity
of meat, and received the medal

The Big White chief of the Mandans Spoke at some length explainin the
Cause of the misunderstanding between his nation and the ricaras,
informing them of his wish to be on the most freindly termes &c. the
Chyennes accused both nations of being in folt. I told to them all that if
they eve wished to be hapy that they must Shake off all intimecy with the
Seioux and unite themselves in a Strong allience and attend to what we had
told them &c. which they promesed all to do and we Smoked and parted
on the best terms, the Mandan Chief was Saluted by Several Chiefs and
brave men on his way with me to the riverI had requested the
ricaras & Chyennes to inform me as Soon as possible of their
intentions of going down with us to See their great father or not. in the
evening the Great Chief requested that I would walk to his house which I
did, he gave me about 2 quarts of Tobacco, 2 beaver Skins and a trencher
of boiled Corn & beans to eat (as it is the Custom of all the Nations
on the Missouri to give Something to every white man who enters their
lodge Something to eat) this Chief informed me that none of his Chiefs
wished to go down with us they all wished to See the cheif who went down
return first, that the Chyennes were a wild people and were afraid to go.
that they Should all listen to what I had Said. I gave him Some ribon to
Suspend his Medal to and a Shell which the Snake indians gave me for which
he was very much pleased.

The interpreter informed me that the Cheifs of those villages had no
intention of going down. one the Cheifs of the Village on the island
talkd. of going down. I returned to the boat where I found the principal
Chief of the lower vilege who had Cut part of his hair and disfigured
himself in Such a manner that I did not know him, he informed me the Sieux
had killed his nephew and that Was in tears for him &c. we deturmind
to proceed down to the Island and accordingly took the chief on board and
proceeded on down to the isd village at which place we arived a little
before dark and were met as before by nearly every individual of the
Village, we Saluted them and landed imediately opposit the town. The one
arm 2d Cheif of this village whome we had expected to accompany us down
Spoke to the mandan Cheif in a loud and thretening tone which Caused me to
be Some what alarmed for the Safty of that Cheif, I inform the Ricaras of
this village that the Mandans had opened their ears to and fold. our
Councils, that this Cheif was on his way to see their Great Father the P.
of U S. and was under our protection that if any enjorey was done to him
by any nation that we Should all die to a man. I told the Ricaras that
they had told us lies, they promised to be at peace with the mandans &
Menetarras. that our back was Scrcely turned before they went to war &
Killd. them and Stole their horses &cThe Cheif then envited me
& the Mandan Chief to his house to talk there. I accompanied him,
after takeing a very Serimonious Smoke the 2d Cheif informd. me that he
had opened his ears to what we had Said to him at the time we gave him the
medal that he had not been to war against any Natn. Since, that once been
to See the mandans and they were going to kill him, they had not killed
the Mandans, it was the Seeoux who killed them and not the ricaras, he
Said that the Mandan Cheif was as Safe as if he was in his own Vilg that
he had opened his ears and Could here as well as the mandans. I then
informd them what I had told the upper villages and we all become
perfectly reconsiled all to each other and Smoked in the most perfect
harmony we had invatations to go into their lodges and eate. I at length
went to the grand Chiefs Lodge by his particelar invitation, the Mandan
Chief Stuck close to me the Chief had prepd. a Supper of boiled young
Corn, beens & quashes of which he gave me in Wooden bowls. he also
gave me near 2 quarts of the Tobacco Seed, & informed me he had always
had his ears open to what we had Said, that he was well convinced that the
Seeoux was the caus of all the trouble between the Mandans & them the
Ricars had Stolen horses from the Mandan which had been returned all
except one which could not be got, this mischief was done by Some young
men who was bad. a long Conversation of explanations took place between
the Ricara & mandan Chiefs which appeared to be Satisfactory on both
Sides. the Chief gave a pipe with great form and every thing appeared to
be made up. I returned to the river & went to bead. the Indians contd
on board. made 22 miles today only.

The post Clark: August 21, 1806 appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

Clark: August 20, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:54 +0000

Wednesday 20th of August 1806 a violent hard rain about day light this
morning. all wet except myself and the indians. we embarked a little after
Sun rise wind moderate and ahead. we proceeded on at meridn. passed the
enterance of Cannonball river imediately above is the remains of a large
Sieoux encampment which appears to have been made this Spring. at 3 P M
passed the enterance of Wardepon River Saw great number of wolves on the
bank Some Buffalow & Elk, tho not so abundant as near the River
Rochejhone. passed the place where we left the last encampment of Ricaras
in the fall 1804 and encamped on a Sandbar from the N. E. Side, having
made 8 miles only, the wind blew hard all day which caused the waves to
rise high and flack over into the Small Canoes in Such a manner as to
employ one hand in throwing the water out. The plains begin to Change
their appearance the grass is turning of a yellow colour. I observe a
great alteration in the Corrent course and appearance of this pt. of the
Missouri. in places where there was Sand bars in the fall 1804 at this
time the main Current passes, and where the current then passed is now a
Sand bar Sand bars which were then naked are now covered with willow
Several feet high. the enteranc of Some of the Rivers & Creeks Changed
owing to the mud thrown into them, and a layor of mud over Some of the
bottoms of 8 inches thick.

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Clark: August 18, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:54 +0000

Monday 18th August 1806. moderate rain last night, the wind of this
morning from the S. E. as to cause the water to be So rough that we Could
not proceed on untill 8 a.m. at which time it fell a little & we
proceeded on tho the waves were yet high and the wind Strong. Saw Several
Indians on either Side of the river. at 9 A.M. I saw an Indian running
down the beech and appd. to be anxious to Speak to us I derected the
Canoes to land. this Indian proved to be the brother of the Chief we had
on board and Came down from his Camp at no great distance to take his
leave of his brother. the Chief gave him a par of Legins and took an
effectunate leave of his brother and we procedeed on haveing previously
Sent on 2 canoes with hunters to kill Some meat at 2 P. M we overtook the
Canoe hunters, they had killed three deer which was divided and we halted
and Cooked Some dinner on the Sandbar. wind Still high and from the Same
point. The Chief pointed out Several places where he Said his nation
formerly lived and related Some extroadinary Stories of their tredition.
after Dinner we proceeded on, to a point on the N E. Side opposit the
remains of an old Mandan village a little below the enterance of Chiss-che
for River and the place we Encamped as we assended this river 20th of
October 1804 haveing come 40 miles today. after landing which was a little
before night the hunters run out into the bottom and Killed four deer. The
winds blew hard from the S. E. all day which retarded our progress very
much after the fires were made I set my self down with the big white man
Chiefe and made a number of enquiries into the tredition of his nation as
well as the time of their inhabiting the number of Villages the remains of
which we see on different parts of the river, as also the cause of their
evacuation. he told me his nation first Came out of the ground where they
had a great village. a grape vine grew down through the Earth to their
village and they Saw light Some of their people assended by the grape vine
upon the earth, and Saw Buffalow and every kind of animal also Grapes
plumbs &c. they gathered Some grapes & took down the vine to the
village, and they tasted and found them good, and deturmined to go up and
live upon the earth, and great numbers climbed the vine and got upon earth
men womin and children. at length a large big bellied woman in climbing
broke the vine and fell and all that were left in the Village below has
remained there ever Since (The Mandans beleive when they die that they
return to this village) Those who were left on earth made a village on the
river below and were very noumerous &c. he Said that he was born in
the Village Opposit to our Camp and at that time his nation inhabited 7
villages as large as that and were full of people, the Sieoux and Small
pox killed the greater part of them and made them So weak that all that
were left only made two Small villages when Collected, which were built
near the old Ricaras village above. their troubles with the Scioux &
Pawnees or Ricaras Compelled them to move and build a village where they
now live.

he Said that the Menitarras Came out of the water to the East and Came to
this Country and built a village near the mandans from whome they got Corn
beens &c. they were very noumerous and resided in one village a little
above this place on the opposit Side. they quarreled about a buffalow, and
two bands left the village and went into the plains, (those two bands are
now known bye the title Pounch, and Crow Indians.) the ballance of the
Menetaras moved their village to where it now Stands where they have lived
ever Since-

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Clark: August 16, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:53 +0000

Friday 16th August 1806 a cool morning. Sent up Sergt. Pryor to the mandan
village, for Some Corn which they offered to give us. he informed that
they had more Corn collected for us than our Canoes Could Carry Six load
of which he brought down. I thanked the Chief for his kindness and
informed him that our Canoes would not Carry any more Corn than we had
already brought down. at 10 A. M the Chiefs of the different villages came
to See us and Smoke a pipe &c. as our Swivel Could no longer be
Serveceable to us as it could not be fireed on board the largest Perogue,
we Concluded to make a present of it to the Great Chief of the Menetaras
(the One Eye) with a view to ingratiate him more Strongly in our favour I
had the Swivel Charged and Collected the Chiefs in a circle around it and
adressed them with great ceremoney. told them I had listened with much
attention to what the One Eye had Said yesterday and beleived that he was
Sincere & Spoke from his heart. I reproached them very Severely for
not attending to what had been Said to them by us in Council in the fall
of 1804 and at different times in the winter of 1804 & 5, and told
them our backs were Scercely turned befor a party followed and killed the
pore defenceless snake indians whom we had taken by the hand & told
them not to be afraid that you would never Strike them again &c. also
mentioned the ricers &c. The little Cherry old Chief of the Menetarras
Spoke as follows Viz: “Father we wish to go down with you to See our Great
Father, but we know the nations below and are afraid of the Scioux who
will be on the river and will kill us on our return home. The Scioux has
Stolen our horses and killed 8 of our men Since you left us, and the
Ricaras have also Struck us. we Staid at home and listened to what you had
told us. we at length went to war against the Scioux and met with Ricaras
and killed two of them, they were on their way to Strike us. We will
attend to your word and not hurt any people all Shall be Welcom and we
Shall do as you direct-.” The One Eye Said his ears would always be open
to the word of his great father and Shut against bad Council &c. I
then a good deel of Ceremony made a preasent of the Swivel to the One Eye
Chief and told him when he fired this gun to remember the words of his
great father which we had given him. this gun had anounced the words of
his great father to all the nations which we had Seen &c. &c.
after the council was over the gun was fired & delivered, they Chief
appeared to be much pleased and conveyed it immediately to his village
&c. we Settled with and discharged Colter. in the evening I walked to
the village to See the little Crow and know when he would be ready, took
with me a flag intending to give him to leave at his lodge but to my
astonishment he informed me he had declined going down the reason of which
I found was through a jellousy between himself and the principal Chief he
refused a flag & we Sent for Mr. Jessomme and told him to use his
influn to provail on one of the Chiefs to acompany us and we would employ
him. he informed us soon after that the big white Chief would go if we
would take his wife & Son & Jessoms wife & 2 children we wer
obliged to agree to do

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Clark: August 15, 1806

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:53 +0000

Thursday August 15th 1806 Continued Mandans Vilg after assembling the
Chiefs and Smokeing one pipe, I informed them that I Still Spoke the Same
words which we had Spoken to them when we first arived in their Country in
the fall of 1804. we then envited them to visit their great father the
president of the U. States and to hear his own Councils and receive his
Gifts from his own hands as also See the population of a government which
Can at their pleasure protect and Secur you from all your enimies, and
chastize all those who will Shut their years to his Councils. we now offer
to take you at the expense of our Government and Send you back to your
Country again with a considerable present in merchendize which you will
recive of your great Father. I urged the necessity of their going on with
us as it would be the means of hastening those Supples of Merchindize
which would be Sent to their Country and exchanged as before mentioned for
a moderate price in Pelteries and furs &c. the great Chief of the
Menetaras Spoke, he Said he wished to go down and See his great father
very much, but that the Scioux were in the road and would most certainly
kill him or any others who Should go down they were bad people and would
not listen to any thing which was told them. when he Saw us last we told
him that we had made peace with all the nations below, Since that time the
Seioux had killed 8 of their people and Stole a number of their horses. he
Said that he had opened his ears and followed our Councils, he had made
peace with the Chyennes and rocky mountains indians, and repieted the same
objecctions as mentioned. that he went to war against none and was willing
to receive all nations as friends. he Said that the Ricaras had Stolen
from his people a number of horses at different times and his people had
killed 2 Ricaras. if the Sieoux were at peace with them and Could be
depended on he as also other Chiefs of the villages would be glad to go
and See their great father, but as they were all afraid of the Sieoux they
Should not go down &c.

The Black Cat Chief of the Mandans Village on the North Side of the
Missouri Sent over and requested me to go over to his village which
envertation I axceptd and crossed over to his village. he had a parcel of
Corn about 12 bushuls in a pile in his lodge. he told me that his people
had but little corn part of which they had given me. after takeing a Smoke
he informed me that as the Sieoux were very troublesom and the road to his
great father dangerous none of this village would go down with us. I told
the Cheifs and wariers of the village who were there present that we were
anxious that Some of the village Should go and See their great father and
hear his good words & recve his bountifull gifts &c. and told them
to pitch on Some Man on which they could rely on and Send him to See their
Great father, they made the Same objections which the Chief had done
before. a young man offered to go down, and they all agreeed for him to go
down the charector of this young man I knew as a bad one and made an
objection as to his age and Chareckter at this time Gibson who was with me
informed me that this young man had Stole his knife and had it then in his
possession, this I informed the Chief and directed him to give up the
knife he delivered the knife with a very faint apology for his haveing it
in his possession. I then reproached those people for wishing to Send Such
a man to See and hear the words of So great a man as their great father;
they hung their heads and Said nothing for Some time when the Cheif Spoke
and Said that they were afraid to Send any one for fear of their being
killed by the Sieux. after Smoking a pipe and relateing Some passages I
recrossed to our Camp-. being informed by one of our enterpreters that the
2d Chief of the Mandans Comonly Called the little Crow intended to
accompany us down, I took Charbono and walked to the Village to See this
Chief and talk with him on the Subject. he told me he had deturmined to go
down, but wished to have a council first with his people which would be in
the after part of the day. I smoked a pipe with the little Crow and
returned to the boat. Colter one of our men expressed a desire to join
Some trappers who offered to become Shearers with and furnish traps &c.
the offer a very advantagious one, to him, his Services Could be dispenced
with from this down and as we were disposed to be of Service to any one of
our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done, we
agreed to allow him the prvilage provided no one of the party would ask or
expect a Similar permission to which they all agreeed that they wished
Colter every Suckcess and that as we did not wish any of them to Seperate
untill we Should arive at St. Louis they would not apply or expect it
&c. The Maharha Chief brought us Some Corn, as did also the Chief of
the little village of the Menetarras on mules of which they have Several.
The evening is Cool and windy. great number of the nativs of the different
villages Came to view us and exchange robes with our men for their Skinswe
gave Jo Colter Some Small articles which we did not want and Some powder
& lead. the party also gave him Several articles which will be usefull
to him on his expedittion.This evening Charbono informed me that
our back was scercely turned before a war party from the two menetarry
villages followed on and attacked and killed the Snake Indians whome we
had Seen and in the engagement between them and the Snake indians they had
lost two men one of which was the Son of the principal Chief of the little
village of the menitarras. that they had also went to war from the
Menetarras and killed two Ricaras. he further informed me that a
missunderstanding had taken place between the Mandans & minetarras and
had verry nearly come to blows about a woman, the Menitarres at length
presented a pipe and a reconsilliation took place between them

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