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NAVIGATING NARRATIVES

September 28, 1804

Clark A I made many attempts in different ways to find our anchor without success. The sand had covered her up. We determined to proceed on today and after breakfast we with great difficulty got the chiefs out of the boat, and when we were about setting out the class called the soldiers took possession of the cable.  The 1st chief was still on board and intended to go a short distance up with us, was informed that the men set on the cable. He went out and told Captain Lewis who was at the bow, they wanted tobacco. The 2nd Chief demanded a flag and tobacco which we refused to give, stating proper reasons to them for it. After much wrangling, we gave a carrot of tobacco to the 1st chief and he to the men and jerked the cable from them and proceeded on under a breeze from the southeast. We took in the 3rd chief who was sitting on a sand bar 2 miles above. He told us the rope was held by order of the 2d chief who was a double spoken man. Soon after we saw a man riding full speed up the bank. We brought him on board and he proved to be the son of the 3rd chief. By him we sent a talk to the nation, explanatory of our hoisting the red flag under the white: if they were for peace, stay at home and do as we had directed them; and if they were for war or determined to attempt to stop us, we were ready to defend ourselves (as I had before said). We substituted large stones in place of an anchor. We came to at a small sand bar in the middle of the river and stayed all night. I am very unwell I think for the want of sleep.

Clark B Made many attempts in different ways to find our anchor but could not, the sand had covered it. From the misfortune of last night our boat was laying at shore in a very unfavorable situation. After finding that the anchor could not be found we determined to proceed on. With great difficulty got the chiefs out of our boat, and when we was about setting out the class called the soldiers took possession of the cable. The 1st chief which was still on board and intended to go a short distance up with us. I told him the men of his nation set on the cable. He went out and told Captain Lewis, who was at the bow, the men who set on the rope was soldiers and wanted tobacco. Captain Lewis said we would not agree to be forced into anything. The 2nd chief demanded a flag and tobacco which we refused to give stating proper reasons to them for it. After much difficulty—which had nearly reduced us to hostility—I threw a carrot of tobacco to 1st chief, spoke so as to touch his pride, took the port fire from the gunner. The chief gives the tobacco to his soldiers and he jerked the rope from them and handed it to the bows man. We then set out under a breeze from the southeast. About 2 miles up we observed the 3rd chief on shore beckoning to us. We took him on board. He informed us the rope was held by the order of the 2nd chief who was a double spoken man. Soon after we saw a man coming full speed through the plains, left his horse and proceeded across a sand bar near the shore. We took him on board and observed that he was the son of the chief we had on board. We sent by him a talk to the nation stating the cause of our hoisting the red flag under the white: if they were for peace stay at home and do as we had directed them; if the were for war or were determined to stop us we were ready to defend ourselves. We halted one hour and ½ on the right side and made a substitute of stones for a anchor, refreshed our men and proceeded on about 2 miles higher up and came too a very small sand bar in the middle of the river and stayed all night. I am very unwell for want of sleep. Determined to sleep tonight if possible. The men cooked and we rested well.

Gass This morning we dragged the river all around where the boat lay, but could not find the anchor. At 9 o'clock we made preparations to sail. Some of the chiefs were on board and concluded to go some distance with us. When we went to shove off, some of the Indians took hold of the rope and would not let it go. This conduct had like to be attended with bad consequences, as Captain Lewis was near giving orders to cut the rope and to fire on them. The chiefs, however, went out and talked with them. They said they wanted a carrot of tobacco and that if we gave that we might go. The tobacco was given them and we went off under a gentle breeze of wind. We passed high land on the north side and bottom on the south. We proceeded 4 miles and then saw an Indian following us along the beach, when Captain Lewis went in a pirogue and brought him on board. He informed us that 300 more Indians had come to their camp and desired we should stop and talk with them. We did not then stop, but proceeded on, and he remained on board. We passed a fine bottom covered with timber on the north side and bare hills on the south. We made two large stones serve the purpose of an anchor and at sunset anchored for the night near a small sand-bar in the middle of the river. ¶ While I was at the Indian camp yesterday they yoked a dog to a kind of car which they have to haul their baggage from one camp to another. The nation having no settled place or village but are always moving about. The dogs are not large, much resemble a wolf, and will haul about 70 pounds each.

Ordway A clear and pleasant morning. Captain Clark went with the pirogues early this morning to hunt for the anchor. Searched some time with the boat hook and poles; could not find it. They took a chord and put sinkers to the middle and took each end to the 2 pirogues and dragged the river diligently a long time but could not find it. Took breakfast about 10 o'clock. The whole lodge of Indians were waiting on the bank to see us start as we intended if the accident had not of happened last night. We gave up the idea of finding our anchor. We then were about to set off. Some of the chiefs were onboard insisting on our staying until the others came. We told them we could not wait any longer. They then did not incline to let us go on. They said we might return back with what we had or remain with them, but we could not go up the Missouri any further. About 200 Indians were then on the bank. Some had firearms. Some had Spears. Some had a kind of cutlashes, and all the rest had bows and steel or iron pointed arrows. Several of the warriors set by the chord where our boat the big barge was tied. The 2 pirogues were tied on the outside of the barge. Captain Clark was speaking to the chiefs in the cabin. Captain Lewis asked the chiefs if they were going out of the boat. They did not incline to. Then Captain Lewis came out, ordered every man to his place, ordered the sail hoisted. Then one man went out and untied the chord which the warrior had in his hand. Then 2 or 3 more of their warriors caught hold of the chord and tied it faster than before. Captain Lewis then appeared to be angry and told to go out of the boat and the chief then went out and said we are sorry to have you go. But if you will give us one carrot of tobacco we will be willing for you to go on and will not try to stop you. Captain Lewis gave it to them. The head chief said then that we must give him one more carrot of tobacco more for his warriors who held the chord and then we might go. Both of our captains told him that we did not mean to be trifled with, nor would not humor them any more, but would give him 1 carrot more for the warriors if he would be a man of his word and stand to his word like a man. The chief said he was mad too, to see us stand so much for 1 carrot of tobacco, if we would give it we might go on. Captain Lewis gave it to him. He then took the chord in his hand and gave it to us. We then set off under a gentle breeze which happened to be favorable.  We proceeded on, passed bottom prairie on south side, high land on north side. Went 4 miles and halted. We fixed 2 large stones to our boats to answer as anchors as we did not intend to camp on shore again until we got to another nation. We saw one of the four mentioned chiefs coming up the river south side. We took him on board. He informed us that their was 300 Indians around which was the other lodge. They wished to have us stop. We told his son to tell them that we should not stop. This old chief said he was our friend and wished to go with us for a while. The captains allowed him to stay on board. We then proceeded on. At sunset we cast anchor near a small sand bar in the middle of the river where we stayed all night. Heard some Indians on both sides of the river. Corn cooked on the little sand bar for the next day. All but the cooks slept on board.

Whitehouse A We dragged the river in hopes to find our anchor but it was in vain. About 9 o'clock we went to set off. Some of the chiefs was then on board and concluded to go a little ways with us. When we were about to shove off a number of warriors on shore caught hold of our cable and another whipped off the children. The women went off also. Only about 60 warriors on the edge of the bank and we just under the bank. Some of them had firearms and the rest had good bows and arrows ready for war. The consequence had like to have been bad as Captain Lewis was near cutting the cable with his sword and giving orders for the party to fire on them. Then the chiefs went out and spoke to them. They said if we would give them a carrot of tobacco they would loose the rope. We gave them tobacco. The chief after some hesitation loosed the rope himself. We then Set off under a fine breeze of wind. Passed high land on north side and bottom on south side. Saw an Indian coming up the shore. We hoisted a white flag and a red flag for peace or war and was determined to fight our way, if we could not go without. Captain Lewis got into a pirogue and went on shore to see what the Indian wished. Brought him on board. He informed us that 300 more of savages had arrived at the village, they wished us to stop and talk with them, but we did not stop. He remained on board. About sunset we anchored out near a small sand bar in the middle of the river for to stay all night.

Whitehouse B his morning the hands were all employed, (excepting the guard) in dragging for our anchor and cable, but without any success. About 9 o'clock A. M. we went to set off. Some of the Indian chiefs was then on board of the boat and concluded to go a little way with us. We then proceeded to shove off the boat. A number of their warriors who were on the shore caught fast hold of the cable. One of their warriors drove off their women and children from the boat, whilst about sixty of their warriors stood on the edge of the bank of the river; and our boat lay just under the bank of it. The warriors were all armed. Some of them had firearms and the remainder bows and arrows. They appeared all ready for war, which would have been attended with dangerous consequences to us, they having such a superiority to us in regard to number. Captain Lewis was going to cut the cable of the boat with his sword and to give orders for our party to fire on the Indians. When their chiefs who were on board the boat went out and spoke to them, they told our officers that if they would give the warriors that held the rope a few carrots of tobacco that they would loose the rope. The officer then threw some carrots of tobacco among them and they left the rope and ran to get it. One of the chiefs which had been on board the boat after some hesitation loosed the cable. ¶ We then set out with a fair breeze of wind and passed some high land lying on the north side of the river and fine bottoms of land lying on the south side of the river. We proceeded on. When we spied an Indian coming running up the shore, the officers ordered a white flag and one of red to be hoisted as a sign to the Indians that we were either for peace or war, they being determined if we could not proceed on without fighting that it should be the case, but if possible, to get on peaceably. Captain Lewis got on board one of the pirogues and proceeded to shore to see what the Indian wanted, and to gain what information he could from him respecting the intention of the Indians toward us. Captain Lewis soon returned and brought the Indian on board with him. ¶ This Indian told the officers that three hundred more Indians had arrived at the village that we had just left and that they wished us to stop and have a talk with them and that he had come to us for that purpose. Our officers proceeded on with the boat and pirogues, not wishing to have any further connection with such a bandit of villains. The Indian remained on board the boat with us. At sunset we anchored the boat and pirogues out near a sand bar lying in the middle of the river where we remained 'till the morning. The tribe of the Teton Indians are part of the Sioux nation. They inhabit on both sides and near the Missouri River. They are a fierce looking set of savages and chiefly delight in war, plundering etc. They are stout well made Indians and their women are in general handsome, if I may be allowed to judge from those which I saw in the lodges that we left yesterday.