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The Expedition's Journey
Continues:
Previously, we have been sampling journals from 1806. We
now go back to 1804 to journals from the first year of the expedition, not
long after it's beginning. We see a definite change in the tone of the
captains when the journey was fresh and hopes were high:
After the Indians got their breakfast, the chiefs
met and arranged themselves in a row, with elegant pipes of peace all
pointing to our seats. We came forward, and took our seats. The great
chief, The Shake Hand, rose, and spoke at some length, approving what we
had said, and promising to pursue the advice.
Martoree, second chief (White Crane) rose and made
a short speech, and referred to the great chief, Parnarnearparbe (Struck
by the Pawnees). Third chief rose and made a short speech, Areawecharche
(The Half Man). Third chief rose and spoke at some length to the same
purpose. The other chief said but little. One of the warriors spoke,
after all were done, and promised to support the chiefs. They promised
to go and see their Great Father in the spring with Mr. Dorion, and to
do all things we advised them to do. And all concluded by telling the
distresses of their nation by not having traders, and wished us to take
pity on them. They wanted powder, ball, and a little milk. [Rum: "milk
of Great Father" means spirits.]
Last night the Indians danced until late in their
dances. We gave them [threw in to them as is usual] some knives,
tobacco, and bells, tape, and binding, with which they were satisfied.
We gave a certificate to two men of war, attendants
on the chief. Gave to all the chiefs a carrot of tobacco. Had a talk
with Mr. Dorion, who agreed to stay and collect the chiefs from as many
bands of Sioux as he could this fall, and bring about a peace between
the Sioux and their neighbors, &c.
After dinner, we gave Mr. Peter Dorion a commission
to act with a flag and some clothes and provisions and instructions to
bring about a peace with the Sioux, Mahas, Pawnees, Poncas, Otos, and
Missouris, and to employ any trader to take some of the chiefs of each,
or as many of those nations as he could, particularly the Sioux, down to
Washington. I took a vocabulary of the Sioux language, and the answer to
a few queries such as referred to their situation, trade, number, war,
&c. This nation is divided into twenty tribes, possessing separate
interests. Collectively, they are numerous-say from two to three
thousand men. Their interests are so unconnected that some bands are at
war with nations with which other bands are on the most friendly terms.
This great nation, whom the French have given the
nickname of Sioux, call themselves Dakota-Darcotar. Their language is
not peculiarly their own, they speak a great number of words which are
the same in every respect with the Maha, Ponca, Osage, and Kansas, which
clearly proves that those nations, at some period not more than a
century or two past, are of the same nation. Those Darcotars, or Sioux,
inhabit or rove over the country on the Red River of Lake Winnipeg, St.
Peters, and the west of the Mississippi, above Prairie du Chien, head of
River Des Moines, and the Missouri and its waters on the N. side for a
great extent. They are only at peace with eight nations, and, agreeable
to their calculation, at war with twenty-odd. Their trade comes from the
British, except this band and one on Des Moines who trade with the
traders of St. Louis. The Sioux rove and follow the buffalo, raise no
corn or anything else, the woods and prairies affording a sufficiency.
They eat meat, and substitute the ground potato, which grows in the
plains, for bread.
In the evening, late, we gave Mr. Dorion a bottle
of whiskey, and he, with the chiefs, and his son, crossed the river and
camped on the opposite bank. Soon after night, a violent wind from the
N.W. with rain. The rain continued the greater part of the night. The
river a-rising a little.
Captain Clark, 31 August 1804
A cloudy morning. Horses very stiff. Sent two men
back with the horse on which Captain Lewis rode, for the load left back
last night-which detained us until 8 o'clock, at which time we set out.
The country is timbered with pine generally. The bottoms have a great
variety of shrubs, and the fir trees in great abundance. Hills high and
rocky on each side. In the after part of the day, the high mountains
closed the creek on each side and obliged us to take on the steep sides
of those mountains-so steep that the horses could scarcely keep from
slipping down. Several slipped and injured themselves very much. At dusk
it began to snow; at 3 o'clock some rain. The mountains [we had passed]
to the east covered with snow. We met with a great misfortune in having
our last thermometer broken by accident. This day we passed over immense
hills, and some of the worst roads that ever horses passed. Our horses
frequently fell. Snow about 2 inches deep when it began to rain, which
terminated in a sleet storm.
Captain Clark, 3 September 1805
We set out early, the morning cloudy, and proceeded
on down the right side of Kooskooskee River, over steep points, rocky
and bushy as usual, for 4 miles to an old Indian fishing place. Here the
road leaves the river to the left and ascends a mountain, winding in
every direction to get up the steep ascents and to pass the immense
quantity of falling timber which had been falling from different causes-i.e.,
fire and wind-and has deprived the greater part of the southerly sides
of this mountain of its green timber.
Four miles up the mountain I found a spring and
halted for the rear to come up, and to let our horses rest and feed. ln
about 2 hours, the rear of the party came up much fatigued, and horses
more so. Several horses slipped and rolled down steep hills, which hurt
them very much. The one which carried my desk and small trunk turned
over and rolled down a mountain for 40 yards and lodged against a tree.
Broke the desk; the horse escaped and appeared but little hurt. Some
others very much hurt.
Captain Clark, 15 September 1805
Captain Clark has a full supply of gifts to share with
visitors and he seems a bit more discerning in his feelings for these
peoples he has not previously met. When the expedition passes this way
again in two years' time, he is much more matter-of-fact.
Go to our Corps of Discovery Expedition
Bicentennial Index page
to see all links in this series. Or click
here
to go directly to the next installment of our
journey.
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Bringing history alive:
Struck By The Ree, also known as
Strikes the Ree, was a chief of the Native American Yankton
Sioux tribe. The Chief is shown here with a Calumet or Pipe
of Peace.
In 1804, a great pow-wow was held
for the Lewis and Clark Expedition at Calumet Bluff/Gavins
Point (near present-day Yankton, South Dakota) that included
the "Shunka" sacred dog feast ceremony. During the
festivities, the explorers learned that a boy had just been
born, and they asked to see the infant. They wrapped the
baby in an American flag, held him up, and proclaimed him as
destined to be a great "American". According to the
traditions of the Yankton people, that baby boy was Struck
by the Ree, who in manhood became a leader among the
Yankton, and traveled to Washington DC. For his efforts in
promoting peace between whites and Native Americans, he
received medals from U.S. Presidents Franklin Pierce,
Ulysses S. Grant and James Garfield..
From
www.en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Struck_by_the_Ree |
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