The post Corps of Discovery II: 200 Years to the Future appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

The post The Mandan and Hidatsa on the Upper Missouri: An Archaeological and Historical Analysis appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

The post Clark: March 10, 1805 appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

7 Chiens Came to the Village with a pipe & the 3 Ricares who Came here
a fiew days ago & Sent off yesterday have returned and Say that the
Sieaux & ricares are Camped together

—

1st of December Satturday 1804 wind from the N W. all hands ingaged in
pitting pickets &. at 10 oClock the half brother of the man who was
killed Came and informd. us that after my departure last night Six Chiens
So Called by the french Shar ha Indians had arrived with a pipe and Said
that The mandans apprehended danger from the Shar has as they were at
peace with the Seaux; and wished to Kill them and the Ricarees (or
Parties) but the Cheifs informed the nation “it was our wish that they
Should not be hurt, and forbid being Killed &c.” we gave a little
Tobacco &c. & this man Departed well Satisfied with our councils
and advice to him in the evening a Mr. G Henderson in the imploy of the
hudsons bay Company Sent to trade with the Gros ventre-or big bellies So
Called by the french traders

The post Clark: December 1, 1804 appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

[Clark, October 24, 1804]
24th October Wednesday 1804
Set out early a Cloudy day Some little Snow in the morning I am
Something better of the Rhumutim in my necka butifull Countrey on
both Sides of the river. The bottoms Covd. with wood, we have Seen no
game on the river to day a prof of the Indians hunting in the
neighbourhod (1) passed a Island on the S. S. made by the river Cutting
through a point, by which the river is Shortened Several mileson this
Isld. we Saw one of the Grand Chiefs of the Mandins, with five Lodges
hunting, this Cheif met the Chief of the Ricares who accompanied us
with great Cordiallity & Sermony Smoked the pipe & Capt. Lewis with the
Interpeter went with the Chiefs to his Lodges at 1 mile distant, after
his return we admited the Grand Chief & his brother for a few minits on
our boat. proceeded on a Short distance and Camped on the S. S. below
the old Village of the Mandins & ricares.Soon after our landg. 4
Mandins Came from a Camp above, the Ricares Chief went with them to
their Camp,
25th of October Thursday 1804.
a Gentle Breeze from the S. E by E passed an (1) old Village on a high
Plain where the Mandans onced lived & after they left the Village &
moved higher the Ricaras took possession & live until 1799 when they
abandoned it & flew from the just revenge of the Mandans, a verry
extensive Bottom above the Village above the Center of which (2) the
Mandans lived in the 2 villages on the L. 5., but little timber-
Several parties of Indians on each Side of the River going up. in view
in every directionswe are informed that the Sioux has latterly taken
horses from the Big Bellies or Minitaries and on their way homerwards
they fell in with the Assinniboins who killed them and took the horses
& a frenchman Menard who resided with the Mandan for 20 years past was
Killed a fiew days ago on his way from the Britishment astablishments
on the Assineboin River, 150 miles N. of this place to the mandans by
the assinniboin Indianswe were frequently Called to by parties of
Indians & requested to land & talk, passed a verry bad place & Camped
on a Point S S. opposit a high hill Several Indians visit us this
evening the Sun of the late great Chief of the Mandans who had 2 of his
fingers off and appeared to be pearced in maney places on inquiring the
reason, was informed that it was a testimony to their grief for
Deceased freinds, they frequently Cut off Sevral fingers & pierced
themselves in Different parts, a Mark of Savage effection, wind hard
from the S. W. verry Cold R Fields with a Rhumitisum in his Neck one
man R. in his hips my Self much better, Those Indians appear to have
Similar Customs with the Ricaras, their Dress the Same more mild in
their language & justures &c. &c.

The post Clark: October 24, 1804 appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

The Hidatsa were skilled warriors and hunters who ranged widely across the Northern Plains. It was a Hidatsa raiding party that had captured the young Sacagawea from the Shoshone several years before the expedition — an event that would have profound consequences for American history.

The expedition gathered valuable geographic intelligence from the Hidatsa, who had traveled far to the west on war and hunting expeditions. Their descriptions of the Missouri’s upper reaches and the mountains beyond proved essential for planning the route to the Pacific.

Le Borgne (One Eye), the principal Hidatsa war chief, was one of the most formidable leaders the expedition encountered. The Hidatsa, like the Mandan, were devastated by the 1837 smallpox epidemic.

The post Hidatsa appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

“Our present camp is precisely on the spot that the Snake Indians were encamped at the time the Minnetares of the Knife river first came in sight of them five years since.”

The three forks were named Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin after the President, the Secretary of State, and the Secretary of the Treasury. The expedition followed the Jefferson fork, the westernmost branch, as they searched for the Shoshone people and the horses they desperately needed to cross the mountains.

Sacagawea’s recognition of the landscape confirmed the expedition was nearing Shoshone territory and increased hopes of making contact soon.

The post Sacagawea Recognizes Home — Three Forks appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

“Many men, women & children flocked down to see us. Capt Lewis and my Self walked up to the village.”

The expedition would spend the winter of 1804-1805 here, building Fort Mandan near the villages. During this time they gathered invaluable geographic intelligence about the route ahead, hired Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter, and thus gained the services of his wife Sacagawea — whose presence would prove essential to the journey’s success.

Chief Sheheke (Big White) of the Mitutanka village became a particularly important ally, sharing detailed maps and geographic knowledge of the upper Missouri country.

The post Arrival at the Mandan Villages appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.

“A Mr. Chaubonee interpreter for the Gross Ventre nation came to See us, and informed that he came Down with Several Indians from a Hunting expedition up the river.”

Sacagawea had been captured by a Hidatsa raiding party as a young girl and brought to the Mandan villages, where Charbonneau won her (or purchased her) in a gambling game. The captains recognized that a Shoshone speaker would be invaluable when they reached the Rocky Mountains and needed to obtain horses.

This seemingly routine personnel decision would prove to be one of the most consequential of the entire expedition.

The post Toussaint Charbonneau Hired — Sacagawea Joins the Expedition appeared first on Lewis & Clark Research Database.