Students will understand that both the United States and Teton Sioux were powerful nations in the early 1800s.
Students will understand that trade encounters, with both Euro-Americans and other Indigenous nations, were an important aspect of Plains Indian society.
This activity aligns to Common Core Literacy Standards in History/Social Studies:
RH.6-8.2. Determine the central ideas or information of a primary or secondary text.
RH.6-8.5. Determine how a text presents information.
Step 1. Hand out the John Ordway Describes Meeting the Teton Sioux document and the Analysis Worksheet. Ask students to read the document and complete the Ordway columns of Part I and II of the worksheet. (You could analyze this document as a whole class, or ask students to work in pairs or individually.)
Step 2. Hand out American Horse's Winter Count. Ask students to read the document on their own.
Check for understanding by discussing:
what were Lakota winter counts?
what was their connection to oral history?
who provided the descriptions of the images used in the winter count?
Step 3. Ask students, in pairs or individually, to complete the American Horse column of Part I and II of the worksheet.
Step 4. Complete Part III of the worksheet, either as a whole class or in small groups of 4 (if students were working in pairs, have two pairs do this part together).
If possible, use a smartboard or other presentation tool to project the worksheet and have students share their responses.
Review key content points:
trade was a regular part of life (and the main form of interaction between Euro-Americans and Plains Indians)
Review key structure points
oral history was the primary way that the Lakota recorded and remembered their past
Euro-Americans relied more on comprehensive and highly detailed written reporting
Step 5. Deepen the discussion by posing any of the following questions:
Why does it matter how history is recorded? What difference does it make for us today? (eg. the volume of written documents from Euro-Americans compared to the oral history and winter count traditions of Plains Indians means that we hear much more from one side than the other, and we don't have a great understanding of the American Indian perspective)
Which source is more accurate? More biased? (e.g., this is an open ended question since the Lewis and Clark document is more detailed, but one-sided with some biased language).
Carlos Martínez de Yrujo to Pedro Cevallos
2 December 1802
Most Excellent Señor
My Dear Sir: The President asked me the other day in a frank and confident tone, if our Court would take it badly, that the Congress decree the formation of a group of travelers, who would form a small caravan and go and explore the course of the Missouri River in which they would nominally have the objective of investigating everything which might contribute to the progress of commerce; but that in reality it would have the objective of investigating everything which might contribute to the progress of commerce; but in reality would have no other view than that of geography. He said they would give it the denomination of mercantile, inasmuch s only in this way would the Congress have the power of voting the necessary fund; it not being possible to appropriate funds for a society, or a purely literary expedition, since there does not exist in the constitution any clause which would give it the authority for this effect. I replied to him that making use of the same frankness with which he honored me, I would take the liberty of telling him, that I persuaded myself that an expedition of this nature could not fail to give umbrage to our Government. Then he replied to me that he did not see the motive why they [our government] should have fear, inasmuch as its object would not be other than to observe the territories which are found between 400 and 600 [north latitude] from the mouth of the Missouri to the Pacific Ocean, and unite the discoveries that these men would make with those which the celebrated Makensi made in 1793, and be sure if it were possible in that district to establish a continual communication, or little interrupted, by water as far as the South Sea. I told him then that this was already a determined point, as much by the fruitless attempts made with this objective . . . that all these examinations and attempts evidently prove there does not exist this passage of the Northwest, sought with so much anxiety by the most famous navigators of all the nations in the last two centuries, and that it has not existed except in the most exalted imaginations . . . the practical experienced Indians of the country could not give him news of any considerable river whatsoever which from those mountains, which must be without doubt the source of the waters of the west in that vicinity, empties into the Pacific Ocean. This account of useless and fruitless attempts it seems to me calmed his spirit….
The President has been all his life a man of letters, very speculative and a lover of glory, and it would be possible he might attempt to perpetuate the fame of his administration not only by the measures of frugality and economy which characterize him, but also by discovering or attempting at least to discover the way by which the Americas may some day extend their population and their influence up to the coasts of the South Sea. I do not know what might be his final decision concerning this point, but I shall be on the lookout to see if it is attempted to realize or not this idea by the Congress, and in case of trying to carry it into effect I shall notify Your Excellency in order that it may please you to communicate to me His Majesty’s orders concerning this issue.
May God keep Your Excellency many years.
Washington December 2, 1802
Most Excellent Señor
Your most attentive and constant servant, kisses the hand of Your Excellency
Carlos Martínez De Yrujo
Washington, April 27. 1803
Dear Sir
We have received information that Connor cultivates in the first degree the patronage of the British government; to which he values ours as only secondary. As it is possible however that his passion for this expedition may overrule that for the British, and as I do not see that the British agents will necessarily be disposed to counterwork us, I think Connor’s qualifications make it desireable to engage him, and that the communication to him will be as useful, as it was certainly proper under our former impression of him. The idea that you are going to explore the Missisipi has been generally given out: it satisfies public curiosity, and masks sufficiently the real destination. I shall be glad to hear from you, as soon after your arrival at Philadelphia as you can form an idea when you will leave, & when be [here.]
Accept assurances of my constant & sincere affection.
Th. Jefferson
Louis Andre Pichon to the Minister of Foreign Affairs
Georgetown 13 Ventose Year 11 (4 March 1803)
Citizen Minister,
….Citizen Minister, the President, at whose residence I was yesterday, expressed the wish that, before his departure, I would grant him a passport, of which I have the honor to send you the attached copy, and the purpose of which I must explain to you. For a long time Mr. Jefferson has been concerned with the means of exploring the sources of the Missouri beyond which he supposes must be found those of the river Origan which flows into the Pacific Ocean, and of which only the mouth is known; I believe that is the river named, if I am not mistaken, the river Colombia by the explorer McKenzie. As a result he has planned an expedition destined to this discovery and for which he has obtained form Congress a small sum of money; this appropriation, however, could not be made directly for this purpose on account of the scruples they have over the right of the general Government to do anything which might tend toward the encouragement of the Sciences. The thing was voted through with the indefinite end of encouraging foreign trade, and they even assure me that the President’s personal influence was necessary to obtain this small appropriation which I believe [does not amount to] 5000 Dollars. The President, then, who has this expedition very much at heart, asked me for a passport yesterday. He explained his purpose to me, on the big map by Arrow Smith. Citizen Minister, the only observation I allowed myself to make was to ask Mr. Jefferson whether the Minister from Spain was granting a passport. He replied that he ought to grant one [qu’il devait le donner]. I asked him to give me a memorandum on how to carry it out. He entrusted me with that of the English charge d’affairs, Mr. Thornton. I copied mine almost exactly from that and I even copied the date, that of 1 March, which is what makes my passport appear antedated when compared to this letter. Citizen Minister, I did not think I should allow myself any other reflection on the wish which the President expressed to me and, truly, the request did not appear to demand it. As you see, Citizen Minister, the expedition is entrusted to a Capt. Merrywether; I have not been able to determine the number of men who are accompanying him. The President told me that it would be eight or ten, if my memory is correct. The travelers must return by sea. They will find an opportunity on the Northwest coast, even by American ships. That is perhaps the only detail of the expedition in which a French passport might be of some use.
Citizen Minister, accept my respects,
L. A. Pichon
Edward Thornton to Lord Hawkesbury
My Lord, Philadelphia 9th March 1803.
One of the two Acts of Congress, passed in secret sessions of the two Houses, and discussed with closed doors, relates to the encouragement and extension of the external commerce of the United States, and appropriates the sum of two thousand five hundred dollars for that purpose; and it requires some explanation to make Your Lordship aware of the necessity of secrecy on a subject, which has been very often examined before, and which on the face of it does not present any circumstance requiring concealment. The President has for some years past had it in view to set on foot an expedition entirely of a scientific nature for exploring the Western Continent of America by the route of the Great River Missouri, and for tracing the proximity of the sources of this river to the streams, which fall on the other side into the Pacific Ocean. He supposes this to be the most natural and direct water-communication between the two Oceans, and he is ambitious in his character of a man of letters and of science, of distinguishing his Presidency by a discovery, now the only one left to his enterprize—the Northern Communication having been so ably explored and ascertained by Sir Alexander Mackenzie's journeys. But the constitution of the United States according to the comments of the most able jurists of the country does not permit the general government to offer bounties for the promotion of discoveries or for the advancement of science; and motives of prudence and humanity would equally prevent him from sending persons on an expedition of much peril and not strictly within the limits of legislative authority without apprizing the Congress of the real state of the case. A certain degree of secrecy was absolutely necessary before the commencement at least of the expedition: and it is with this view that the Congress have received the President's communication with closed doors, and have in the same manner authorized an appropriation with the ostensible object of extending the external commerce of the country, but with a complete understanding of the real nature of the plan in contemplation.
This is the state of the case, as the President himself represented it to me a day or two before I left Washington, requesting at the same time, if I felt it consistent with my duty, to furnish the Gentleman, whom he has selected for this enterprize, with a passport, that might secure him as far as related to His Majesty's subjects from groundless suspicions, and that would explain its real object, which is exclusively scientific. He assured me that it was in no shape his wish to encourage commerce with distant or indeed with any Indian tribes, which could only be done by attracting them towards the territory of the Union, or by withdrawing the white inhabitants from their proper business of agriculture, and that the Gentleman entrusted with the conduct of the business would carry no articles of commerce whatever except such as would be indispensably necessary to secure him a favourable reception and passage through the Indian tribes dispersed on the banks of the Missouri.
The Gentleman he has selected for the journey is his Secretary, Captain Merriwether Lewis, a person in the vigour of his age, of a hardy constitution, and already acquainted with the manners of the Indians by his residence in the Western Settlements. He is to be accompanied by a small party of eight or ten boatmen of his own selection, and such Indian hunters as he can prevail upon to accompany him. It did not appear to me that any injurious consequences could arise from granting a passport on the terms and with the views expressed by Mr. Jefferson, and I hope Your Lordship will not think that in paying this mark of personal attention to the President's wishes, I have materially exceeded the limits of my duty.
The apprehended occupation of Louisiana by the French seems to have accelerated the determination of the President, as he thinks it certain that on their arrival they will instantly set on foot enterprizes of a similar nature. I have the honour to be etc.
EDWD. THORNTON
September 01, 1805
in the afternoon we descended a Mountain nearly as Steep as the roof of a house.
September 02, 1805
the mountains on each Side of the Creek is verry Steep and high. the bottoms on the Creek narrow and Swampy a nomber of beaver dams. we Call this place dismal Swamp, and it is a lonesom rough part of the Country. we were obledged to climb Several hills with our horses, where it was So Steep and rockey that Some of the horses which was weak and their feet Sore they fell back 3 or 4 fell over backwards and roled to the foot of the hills. we were then obledged to carry the loads up the hills and then load again.
September 03, 1805
Some of the mountains was So Steep and rockey that Several of the horses fell back among the rocks and was near killing them. Some places we had to cut the road through thickets of bolsom fer...passed down a Steep hill in to the head of a cove and branch where we Camped after a dissagreeable days march of only 11 miles with much fatigue and hunger as nothing has been killed this day only 2 or 3 fessents, and have no meat of any kind. Set in to raining hard at dark So we lay down and Slept, wet hungry and cold. Saw Snow on the tops of Some of these mountains this day.
September 04, 1805
the morning clear but verry cold our mockersons froze hard. the mountains covred with Snow. 2 mountain Sheep Seen by one of the men. we delayed untill about 8 oClock A. M. then Set out and assended a mountain without any thing to eat. the Snow lay on the mout. So that it kep on our mockisons the air verry cold our fingers aked with the cold. we [de]scended the mountain down a rough rockey way and along through a large thicket of bolsom fer timber in which we killed a dozen fessents then descended down in to a large valley on a branch and halted to dine our hunter killed a Deer. Saw fresh Indian Sign. we Eat our deer. ...
towards evening we arived at a large Encampment of the flat head nation which is a large band of the nation of about 40 lodges. they have between 4 and 500 well looking horses now feeding in this valley ... they received us as friends and appeared to be glad to See us.... the natives are light Complectioned decent looking people the most of them well cloathed with Mo. Sheep and other Skins. they have buffalow Robes leather lodges to live in, but have no meat at this time. but gave us abundance of their dryed fruit Such as Servis berrys cherries different kinds of roots all of which eat verry well. they tell us that we can go in 6 days to where white traders come and that they have Seen bearded men who came [from] a river to the North of us 6 days march but we have 4 mountains to cross before we come on that River.
September 05, 1805
... we could not talk with them as much as we wish, for all that we Say has to go through 6 languages before it gits to them and it is hard to make them understand all that we Say. these Savages has the Strangest language of any we have ever Seen. they appear to us to have an Empeddiment in their Speech or a brogue or bur on their tongue but they are the likelyest and honestst Savages we have ever yet Seen.
September 06, 1805
we take these Savages to be the Welch Indians if their be any Such from the Language. So Capt. Lewis took down the names of everry thing in their Language, in order that it may be found out whether they are or whether they Sprang or origenated first from the welch or not.
September 07, 1805
high mountains on the L. Side of the creek which are covred with pitch pine. Some of the highest are covred thick with Snow.
September 08, 1805
Saw Snow on the Mountains to our left. high barron hills to our right.
September 09, 1805
the Snow continues on the Mount. each Side of the valley. ... the afternoon pleasant, but the Snow Still continues on the Mountains as usal.
September 10, 1805
as our road leads over a mountain to our left, we conclu[de] our Captains conclude to Stay here this day to take observations, and for the hunters to kill meat to last us across the mountain and for our horses to rest &c. ... theo [though] the day is warm the Snow does not melt on the Mo. a Short distance from us. considerable of pitch pine on the mountains, but the Snow makes them look like the middle of winter. the valley and plains are pleasant. ... our guide tells us that these waters runs in to Mackinzees River as near as they can give an account, but he is not acquainted that way. So we go the road he knows.
September 12, 1805
... assended a high rough mountain rockey & a verry rough trail to follow. we proced. on along the ridge which was covred with pitch pine timber. night came on and we had to go through the thickets of pine and over logs &c. untill about 10 oClock at in the evening before we could git any water. then descended a Steep part of the mountain down on the Creek which we left at noon, and Camped on the bank of the creek where we had Scarsely room to Sleep. Came 17 1/2 miles this day. Saw high Mountains to the South of us covred with Snow, which appears to lay their all the year round. Scarsely any feed for our horses.
September 13, 1805
... passed a warm Spring, which nearly boiled where it Issued out of the rocks a Short distance below the natives has dammed it up to bathe themselves in, and the water in that place is considerable above blood heat. it runs out in Sundry places and Some places cooler than others. Several of us drank of the water, it has a little sulp[h]ur taste and verry clear. these Springs are very beautiful to See, and we think them to be as good to bathe in &c. as any other ever yet found in the United States.
September 14, 1805
a cloudy morning. we eat the last of our meat, and Set out as usal. ascended a mountain covred with pine. abt. 4 miles we descended it down on the Creek at a fork where it ran very rapid and full of rocks. we then ascended a verry high mountain, about 4 miles from the forks of the creek to the top of it went Some distance on the top then descended it about 6 miles. Some places verry Steep. ... Eat a little portable Soup, but the men in jeneral So hungry that we killed a fine Colt which eat verry well, at this time. ... Saw high mountan. a little to the South of us, which are covred with Snow.
September 15, 1805
we crossed a creek a Small pond a little below, then assended a high mountain. Some places So Steep and rockey that Several of the horses fell backward and roled down among the rocks 20 or 30 feet but did not kill them. we got on to the ridge of the mot and followed it riseing over Several high knobs, where the wind had blown down the most of the timber. we found a Small Spring before we came to the highest part of the mountain where we halted and drank a little portable Soup, and proceeded on up on the top of the mountain, which is covred with timber Spruce &c. and Some Spots of Snow and high clifts of rocks. it is about 10 miles from the foot of this mountain to the top and the most of the way verry Steep. we marched on top of this mountain untill after dark in hopes to find water, but could not find any, So we Camped on the top ridge of the mountain without finding any water, but found plean[ty] of Snow, which appear to have lain all the year we melted what we wanted to drink and made or mixd. a little portable Soup with Snow water and lay down contented.
September 16, 1805
when we awoke this morning to our great Surprise we were covred with Snow which had fallen about 2 Inches the latter part of last night, and continues a verry cold Snow Storm. Capt. Clark Shot at a deer but did not kill it. we mended up our mockasons. Some of the men without Socks raped rags on their feet, and loaded up our horses and Set out without anything to eat, and proceeded on. could hardly See the old trail for the Snow. kept on the ridge of the mountain Several high knobs to pass over but had more down hill than up. about one oClock finding no water we halted and melted Snow and made a little more Soup, and let our horses graze 1 hour & a half. then proceeded on the Snow is fell So fast that it is now in common 5 or 6 Inches deep. Some places is considerable of old Snow on the moutn. towards evening we descended the mountain down in a lonesome cove on a creek where we Camped in a thicket of Spruce pine & bolsom fir timber. all being tired & hungry, obledged us to kill another colt and eat the half of it this evening. it has quit Snowing this evening, but continues chilley and cold. Came about 15 miles to day over a rockey rough road.
September 12, 1805
the mare which owned the colt, which we killed, went back & led 4 more horses back to where we took dinner yesterday.
the Snow melted So that the water Stood in the trail over our mockasons in Some places. verry Slippery bad travvelling for our horses. we assended verry high mountains verry rockey. ... we being hungry obledged us to kill the other Sucking colt to eat. one of the hunters chased a bear in a mountn. but killed nothing. we expect that their is game near a head. we hear wolves howl & Saw Some deer Sign &c.
September 18, 1805
about 3 oClock P. M. we halted on a ridge of the mountn. to let our horses feed a little, and melt a little Snow as we found no water to make a little Port. Soup as we have nothing else to eat. ... the mountains appear a head as fer as we can See. they continue much further than we expected. we proceeded on down a verry Steep part of the mount. then up on the side of another before we found any water, and Campd. at dark on the Side of the motn. where we found a Spring by going down a Steep hill where it was dangerous to take our horses to water. we Suped on a little portable Soup and lay down on this Sideling mountn.
September 19, 1805
a clear pleasant morning. we Set out as usal and assended up to the top of Sd mout. and discovered a plain in a valley about 20 miles from us where we expect is the Columbian River. which puts us in good Spirits again. we descended down the mountn. which was verry Steep descent, for about three miles. then assended another as bad as any we have ever been up before. it made the Sweat run off of our horses & ourselves. on the top the ground was froze a little and the ground mostly covred with Snow. ... halted to bate our horses and to drink a little portable Soup. one of the men killed a fessent. their is not any kind of game or Sign of any to be Seen in these mout. Scarsely any birds itself. ... one of our horses fell backward and roled about 100 feet down where it was nearly Steep and a Solid rock & dashed against the rock in the creek, with a load of Ammunition. but the powder being in canisters did not git damaged nor the horse killed, but hurt. we proceeded on. ... we Suped [on] a little portable Soup. the most of the party is weak and feeble Suffering with hunger. our horses feet are gitting Sore and fall away in these mountains, but we are in hopes to git out of them Soon.
September 20, 1805
a cold frosty morning. we eat a fiew peas & a little greece which was the verry last kind of eatables of any kind we had except a little portable Soup.... dined Sumptiously on our horse meat. ... the mountains not So high as back but verry broken. Came about 14 miles this day. the plains appear Some distance off yet. it is twice as far as we expected where we first discovred it from a high mountain.
September 21, 1805
on Some of the ridges the timber has been killed by fire and fell across the trail So that we had Some difficulty to git a long the trail. ... Capt. Lewis killed a wolf. Some of the men killed a duck and three Phesants. we caught Some craw fish in the creek, and eat them.
September 22, 1805
met R. Fields who Capt. Clark Sent back to meet us with Some Sammon and other kinds of food which they had purcd. from Some Indians which they found Encamped about 8 miles from this. we halted and divided out the food and eat it found it verry good. ... these Savages was verry glad to See us the men women & children ran meeting us & Seemed rejoiced to See us. we Camped near [the] village ... the natives gave us Such food as they had to eat, consisting of roots of different kinds which was Sweet and good also red & black haws &c. the principal roots which they made use off for food are pleanty. this praries are covred with them they are much like potatoes when cooked, ...
(Long description of how to cook camas)
the natives gave us Some excelent fat Sammon to eat with the root or potatoe bread.
September 02, 1805
passed through verry bad thickets where we were oblidged to cut a road for our horses to pass through. handsom tall strait pine and balsom fer and a little cotton [wood] intermixed. crossed Several branches. Some places muddy. we call this place dismal Swamp. Several beaver dams in it &C. Some places Steep along the edge of the mountains and verry rough and rockey. the mountains make close on each side of the creek and [are] high covred with pine. this is a verry lonesome place. some opf our weak horses fell backward climeing the steep rockey hills, and mountains. we had considerable of trouble this day carr[y]ing several of the horses loads up the steep rockey mont one of the horses gave out so that he could not carry his load. ... nothing killed this day by the hunters only a fiew fessents [pheasants]. no game of any kind to be seen in these mountains.
September 03, 1805
went up and down rough rockey mountains all day. Some places so steep and rockey that some of the horses fell backwards and roled to the bottom. one horse was near being killed. ... eat the last of our pork &.C. some of the men threaten to kill a colt to eat they being hungry, but puts it off untill tomorrow noon hopeing the hunters will kill Some game. ... so we lay down wet hungry and cold came with much fatigue 11 miles this day
September 04, 1805
the morning clear, but very cold. the ground covred with frost our mockasons froze the mountains covred with snow. ... the Snow over our mockasons in places. we had nothing but a little pearched corn to eat the air on the mountains verry chilley and cold. our fingers aked with the cold
(Flathead Indians) -- these natives are well dressed, descent looking Indians. light complectioned. ... they have the most curious language of any we have seen before. they talk as though they lisped or have a bur on their tongue. we suppose that they are the welch Indians if their is any Such from the language. ... they tell us that they or Some of them have Seen bearded men towards the ocean, but they cannot give us any accurate accoun of the ocean, but we have 4 mountains to cross to go where they saw white men which was on a river as we suppose the Columbian River.
September 05, 1805
the Indian dogs are so ravinous that they eat several pair of the mens Moccasons. ... our officers took down Some of their language found it verry troublesome Speaking to them as all they Say to them has it go through Six languages, and hard to make them understand. these natives have the Stranges language of any we have ever yet seen. they appear to us as though they had an Impedement in their Speech or brogue on their tongue. we think perhaps that they are the welch Indians, U. C. they are verry friendly to us. they Swaped to us some of their good horses and took our worn out horses, ...
September 07, 1805
high mountains a little to the Lard Side which is covred thick with Snow.
September 08, 1805
Saw Snow on the mount to our left. high barron hills to our right.
September 09, 1805
this creek has got to be a Small handsome River and gentle current we have to wade it often and find it as deep as the horses bellys.
September 13, 1805
... came to a warm Spring which run from a ledge of rocks and nearly boiled and issued out in several places it had been frequented by the Savages. a little dam was fixed and had been used for a bathing place. we drank a little of the water and washed our faces in it.
September 14, 1805
(Colt-Killed Creek) had nothing to eat but Some portable Soup we being hungry for a fat colt which eat verry well at this time a little Thunder hail and rain. Saw high Mountains covred with Snow and timber.
September 15, 1805
Some places so Steep and rockey that Some of our horses fell backwards and roled 20 or 30 feet among the rocks, but did not kill them. ... we travvelled untill after dark in hopes to find water. but could not find any. we found Some Spots of Snow so we Camped on the top of the Mountain and melted Some Snow. this Snow appears to lay all the year on this Mount we drank a little portable Soup and lay down without any thing else to Satisfy our hunger.
September 16, 1805
when we a woke this morning to our great Surprize we were covred with Snow, which had fell about 2 Inches deep the later part of last night, & continues a cold Snowey morning. Capt Clark Shot at a deer but did not kill it. we mended up our mockasons and Set out without any thing to eat, and proceeded on could Scarsely keep the old trail for the Snow. ... the Snow is now about 4 Inches deep ... the clouds so low on the Mount that we could not see any distance no way. it appeared as if we have been in the clouds all this day. we all being hungry and nothing to eat except a little portable soup which kept us verry weak, we killed another colt & eat half of it.
September 17, 1805
the Snow melted of[f] the timber. ... we came up and down bad Steep places of the Mountain, the afternoon clear and pleasant & warm. the snow melted fast. the water Stood on the trail over our mockns Some places Slippery. ... we being verry hungry oblidged us to kill another colt the last we had one of the hunters chased a bear up the Mountain but could not kill it. we hear wolves howl some distance a head.
September 18, 1805
the Mountains continues as fer as our eyes could extend. they extend much further than we expeted.
September 19, 1805
a clear morning. we eat the verry last morcil of our provision except a little portable Soup, and proceeded on to the top of Sd mountain and as we were descending the Same we discovred a very large plain a long distance a head, which we expect is on the Columbia River, which puts us in good Spirits again. ... one of our horses fell backwards out of the trail and rolled down over the steep rocks abt 200 feet with 2 boxes of Ammunition and plunged in to the creek with Some difficulty we got the horse up again and load it hurt the horse but did not kill him.
September 20, 1805
a cold frosty morning we found a handful or 2 of Indian peas and a little bears oil which we brought with us we finished the last morcil of it and proceeded on half Starved and very weak. our horses feet gitting Sore.
September 21, 1805
Capt Lewis killed a wolf Some of the party killed three pheasants and a duck. we eat them and caught a fi[e]w craw fish in the creek and eat them.
September 22, 1805
we met Reuben fields who Capt Clark Sent back to meet us, with a bag of Sammon and excelent root bread which they purshed from a nation of Indians who are Camped on a plain at the foot of the Mount about 8 or 10 miles distance from this place we halted about one hour and a half eat hearty of the Sammon and bread, and let our horses feed. then we proceeded on ...these natives have a large quantity of this root bread which they call Commass. the roots grow in these plains. they have kills engeaniously made where they Sweet [sweat] these roots and make them Sweet and good to the taste.
September 03, 1805
we pursued our journey up the creek, which still continued fatiguing almost beyond description. The country is very mountainous and thickly timbered; ... Having gone nine miles we halted for dinner, which was composed of a small portion of flour we had along and the last of our pork, which was but a trifle. -- Our hunters had not killed any thing.
September 04, 1805
A considerable quantity of snow fell last night, ... After eating a few grains of parched corn, we set out at 8 o'clock; ... We killed some pheasants on our way, and were about to make use of the last of our flour, when, to our great joy, one of our hunters killed a fine deer.
September 05, 1805
The Indian dogs are so hungry and ravenous, that they eat 4 or 5 pair of our mockasons last night. ... and made 4 or 5 of this nation of Indian chiefs. They are a very friendly people; have plenty of robes and skins for covering, and a large stock of horses, some of which are very good; but they have nothing to eat but berries, roots and such articles of food. This band is on its way over to the Missouri or Yellowstone river to hunt buffaloe. They are the whitest Indians I ever saw.
September 14, 1805
... none of the hunters killed any thing except 2 or 3 pheasants; on which, without a miracle it was impossible to feed 30 hungry men and upwards, besides some Indians. So Capt. Lewis gave out some portable soup, which he had along, to be used in cases of necessity. Some of the men did not relish this soup, and agreed to kill a colt; which they immediately did, and set about roasting it; and which appeared to me to be good eating.
September 15, 1805
Having breakfasted on colt, we moved on down the river 3 miles, and again took the mountains. In going up, one of the horses fell, and required 8 or 10 men to assist him in getting up again. We continued our march to 2 o'clock when we halted at a spring and dined on portable soup and a handful of parched corn. We then proceeded on our journey over the mountains to a high point, where, it being dark, we were obliged to encamp. There was here no water; but a bank of snow answered as a substitute; and we supped upon soup.
September 16, 1805
Last night about 12 o'clock it began to snow. We renewed our march early, though the morning was very disagreeable, and proceeded over the most terrible mountains I ever beheld. It continued snowing until 3 o'clock P.M. when we halted, took some more soup, and went on till we came to a small stream where we encamped for the night. Here we killed another colt and supped on it. The snow fell so thick, and the day was so dark, that a person could not see to a distance of 200 yards. In the night and during the day the snow fell about 10 inches deep.
September 17, 1805
It was a fine day with warm sunshine, which melted the snow very fast on the south sides of the hills, and made the travelling very fatiguing and uncomfortable. We continued over high desert mountains, where our hunters could find no game, nor signs of any except a bear's tract which they observed to day -- At dark we halted at a spring on the top of a mountain; killed another colt, and encamped there all night.
September 19, 1805
One of our horses fell down the precipice about 100 feet, and was not killed, nor much hurt: the reason was, that there is no bottom below, and the precipice, the only bank, which the creek has; therefore the horse pitched into the water, without meeting with any intervening object, which could materially injure him. ... Having heard nothing from our hunters, we again supped upon some of our portable soup. The men are becoming lean and debilitated, on account of the scarcity and poor quality of the provisions on which we subsist: our horses' feet are also becoming very sore. We have however, some hopes of getting soon out of this horrible mountainous desert, as we have discovered the appearance of a valley or level part of the country about 40 miles ahead. When this discovery was made there was as much joy and rejoicing among the corps, as happens among passengers at sea, who have experienced a dangerous and protracted voyage, when they first discover land on the long looked for coast.
September 20, 1805
Having proceeded about a mile, we came to a small glade, where our hunters had found a horse, and had killed, dressed and hung him up.
September 21, 1805
A great portion of the timber through which we passed along this ridge is dead, and a considerable part fallen; and our horses are weak and much jaded. ... We went down this creek about a mile, and encamped on it for the night in a small rich bottom. Here we killed a duck and two or three pheasants; and supped upon them and the last of our horse meat. We also killed a wolf and eat it.
September 22, 1805
The Indians belonging to this band, received us kindly, appeared pleased to see us, and gave us such provisions as they had. We were at a loss for an interpreter, none of our interpreters being able to understand them.