November 14-20, 1804


	"Mandan Village" by George Catlin. Image from Lewis & Clark by Daniel Thorp. Original artwork at National Museum of American Art.

The Mandan villages were a major trade center for the Indians on the Great Plains. As Clark reported, the different tribes set aside all conflicts, shared in common cerimonies, and commenced trading. Clark continued to keep detailed statistics about the tribes in the area, which would later be compiled in one large report.

a cloudy morning, ice runing verry thick, river rose 1/2 Inch last night Some snow falling, only two Indians visit us to day owing to a Dance at the Village last night in Concluding a serimoney of adoption, and interchange of property, between the Ossinboins, Christinoes and the nations of this neighbourhood. we Sent one man by our hunters, this evening 2 frenchmen who were traping below Came up with 20 beaver. we are compelled to use our Pork which we doe Spearingly for fear of some falur in precureing a Sufficiency from the woods.

our Interpeter informs that 70 Lodges one of 3 bands of Assinniboins & Some Crestinoes, are at the Mandan Village. The Crestinoes are abt. 300 men Speak the Chipaway Language, the[y] live near Fort De prari

Sources: Moulton, 3:236, Thwaites, 1:221

November 15, 1804
Navigating on the Icy River

As the weather continued to get colder, navigating the river become more and more difficult. This would become a bigger problem, as the expedition's food supply was exhausted, and it was necessary to haul meat from great distances. On this day, Clark devised a metal device for the boat to help cut the ice on the river.

a cloudy morning, the ice run much thicker than yesterday. at 10 oClock G. Drewyer & the frenchman we Dispatched yesterday came up from the Hunters, who is incamped about 30 mile below. after about one hour we Dispatched a man with orders to the hunters to proceed on without Delay thro the floating ice, we sent by the man Tin, to put on the parts of the Perogue exposed to the ice & a toe roape. The wind Changeable all hands work at their huts untill 1 oClock at night. Swans passing tothe South–but fiew fowls to be Seen not one Indian came to our fort to day

Sources: Moulton, 3:236, Thwaites, 1:222

November 16, 1804
A Heavy Frost and Horse Theft

Awakening to a very thick frost, an impressed John Ordway attempted a description of the spectacle. He also commented on some of the daily chores that kept most of the men busy.

a cold frosty night. the Trees were covered with frost which was verry course white & thick even on the Bows of the trees all this day. Such a frost I never Saw in the States. we continued building. raised a provision & Smoak house 24 feet by 14 f. the air verry thick with fogg from the R.

As a keen observer of the Indians, Clark wrote that he had heard of horse theft in the Hidatsa villages.

. . . . Several Indians come to camp to day, The Ossiniboins is at the Big bellie Camp [Hidatsas], some trouble like to take place between them from the loss of horses &c. as is Said by an old Inian who visited us with 4 Buffalow robes & corn to trade for a Pistol which we did not let him have. . . . Some horses Sent down to Stay in the woods near the fort, to prevent the Ossniboins Steeling them.

Sources: Moulton, 3:237, 9:96; Quaife, 166; Thwaites, 223

November 17, 1804
A Brief Thaw

While the sun melted off the frost from the previous day, Ordway wrote of the men moving into the huts of Fort Mandan.

a cold clear morning. the forst [frost] fell from the trees by the Sun Shineing upon them. at 11 o.C. the frenchman arived with a fat Elk from our pearogue we have Several evenings back to make our Sevels [selves] comfotable. the party all moved in to the huts.

Sources: Moulton, 9:97; Quaife, 166

November 18, 1804
Black Cat Consults with Clark

Clark recorded the proceedings of a meeting with Mandan chief, Black Cat. The Mandans were were still hesitant to comply with Lewis and Clark's absolute demands for peace. Black Cat stated that similar propositions were made by Evans and Mackay, but now trade had resulted. Clark assured Black Cat that although it would take some time for trade to be established, it would be best for the Mandans to keep peace with the "Ossiniboins & Chrisinoes."

a cold morning Some wind the Black Cat, Chief of the Mandans came to see us, he made great inquiries respecting our fashions, he also Stated the Situation of their nation, he mentioned that a Council had been held the day before and it was thought advisable to put up with the resent insults of the Ossiniboins & Christinoes untill they were convinced that what had been told them by us, Mr. Evins had deceived them & we might also, he promised to return & furnish them with guns & amunition, we advised them to remain at peace & that they might depend upon Getting Supplies through the Channel of the Missourie, but it required time to put the trade in opperation. The Ossiniboins &c. have the trade of those nations in their power and treat them badly, as the Soux does the Ricarees, and they cannot resent, for fear of loseing their trade.

Ordway reported on the continued construction of a smoke house.

. . . . we raised the roof of the meat & Smoak house bringing it up with Timber cross drawing in, So as to answer with chinks & dobbing & covering with earth & ashes for the covering without plank, as it is Troulesom to Git any more than to cover our huts. . . .

Sources: Moulton, 3:237, 9:97; Thwaites, 1:223; Quaife, 166

November 19, 1804
Continued Work on the Smokehouse

Finding enough food to last the winter was a major task for the expedition. Ordway wrote of the quantity of meat that the party's hunters were able to acquire, and the plans for preserving the meat.

the River Riseing the wind from S.W. the weather moderated as the day is pleasant. we dobbed the Store & Smoak house. all hands employed at different Sort of work. abt 3o.C. P.M. our hunters arived with the pearogue loaded with meat consisting of 5 buffalow 11 Elk & 30 Deer also Several kinds of Small Game of which they brought the Skins, all the meat we put up on poles in the Roofs of our meat & Smoak houses.

Sources: Moulton, 9:97; Quaife, 166

November 20, 1804
Alliances and Warfare

As Mandans continued to visit the fort, Clark recorded more information about alliances and warfare among the tribes.

Capt Lewis & my Self move into our huts, a verry hard wind from the W. all the after part of the day a temperate day Several Indians Came Down to Eat fresh meat, three Chiefs from the 2d Mandan Village Stay all Day, they are verry Curious in examining our works. Those Chiefs informs us that the Souix settled on the Missourie above Dog River, threten to attacked them this winter, and have treated 2 Ricares who Carried the pipe of peace to them Verry roughly. whiped & took their horses from them &c. &c. & is much displeased with Ricares for makeing a peace with the Mandans &. &. through us, &. we gave them a Sattisfactory answer. &c. &c.

Ordway provided a brief note about Charbonneau.

at 11 oC. a frenchman who is to be our Inter for Grovantares arived with 4 horses loaded with peltry meat &.C. brough another of his wifes with him

Sources: Moulton, 3:238, 9:97, Thwaites, 1:224, Quaife, 166