Clark: November 22, 1804
On a fine, warm day at Fort Mandan, Sergeant Pryor and five men were sent by pirogue to the second village to collect 100 bushels of corn arranged through Mr. Jessomme, but returned with only about 80. Around 10 a.m., a sentinel reported an Indian man threatening to kill his wife near the interpreter's fire. Clark intervened, learning the couple had quarreled days earlier and the woman had been beaten and stabbed. Clark forbade any of his men from having relations with the woman and counseled reconciliation. The Grand Chief arrived, lectured the husband, and stayed the night.
22nd of November Thursday 1804 a fine morning Dispatched a perogue and 5
Men under the Derection of Sergeant Pryor to the 2nd Village for 100
bushels of Corn in ears which Mr. Jessomme, let us have did not get more
than 80 bushelsI was allarmed about 10 oClock by the Sentinal, who
informed that an Indian was about to Kill his wife in the interpeters fire
about 60 yards below the works, I went down and Spoke to the fellow about
the rash act which he was like to commit and forbid any act of the kind
near the fort- Some missunderstanding took place between this man &
his wife about 8 days ago, and She came to this place, & Continued
with the Squars of the interpeters, 2 days ago She returned to the Villg.
in the evening of the Same day She came to the interpeters fire
appearently much beat, & Stabed in 3 placesWe Detected that no
man of this party have any intercourse with this woman under the penelty
of Punishmenthe the Husband observed that one of our Serjeants
Slept with his wife & if he wanted her he would give her to him, We
derected the Serjeant Odway to give the man Some articles, at which time I
told the Indian that I believed not one man of the party had touched his
wife except the one he had given the use of her for a nite, in his own
bed, no man of the party Should touch his Squar, or the wife of any
Indian, nor did I believe they touch a woman if they knew her to be the
wife of another man, and advised him to take his Squar home and live
hapily together in future,at this time the Grand Chief of the
nation arrived, & lecturd him, and they both went off apparently dis
The grand Chief continued all day a warm Day fair afternoonmany
Indian anickdotes one Chief & his familey Stay all night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
22nd of November, Thursday 1804. A fine morning. Dispatched a pirogue and 5 men under the direction of Sergeant Pryor to the 2nd Village for 100 bushels of corn in ears, which Mr. Jessomme let us have. We did not get more than 80 bushels. I was alarmed about 10 o'clock by the sentinel, who informed me that an Indian was about to kill his wife at the interpreter's fire about 60 yards below the works. I went down and spoke to the fellow about the rash act which he was likely to commit, and forbid any act of the kind near the fort.
Some misunderstanding took place between this man and his wife about 8 days ago, and she came to this place and continued with the squaws of the interpreters. 2 days ago she returned to the village. In the evening of the same day she came to the interpreter's fire apparently much beaten, and stabbed in 3 places. We had directed that no man of this party have any intercourse with this woman under the penalty of punishment. The husband observed that one of our sergeants slept with his wife, and if he wanted her he would give her to him. We directed Sergeant Ordway to give the man some articles, at which time I told the Indian that I believed not one man of the party had touched his wife except the one he had given the use of her for a night, in his own bed; that no man of the party should touch his squaw, or the wife of any Indian, nor did I believe they would touch a woman if they knew her to be the wife of another man. I advised him to take his squaw home and live happily together in future.
At this time the Grand Chief of the nation arrived, and lectured him, and they both went off apparently dis[satisfied]. The Grand Chief continued all day. A warm day, fair afternoon. Many Indian anecdotes. One chief and his family stayed all night.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
