Fort Mandan (winter) — John Ordway: February 10, 1805
Snow flurries fell at Fort Mandan. The previous evening, a soldier returning from the Mandan village climbed over the back wall of the fort instead of hailing the guard, and a young Indian followed him over. Captain Lewis scolded the Indian, gave him tobacco, and sent him off, then confined the soldier for setting a bad example. A court-martial held at noon sentenced him to 50 lashes, but Lewis pardoned him. Charbonneau returned from the hunting party, reporting 13 elk, 33 deer, and 3 buffalo killed, with three loaded horses left downriver because the icy footing required shoes.
flights of Snow, an Instance happned last evening a little Singular
one of our men returning from the Mandans village 2 or 3 young
Indians followed him the Gate being Shut in Stead of calling to
the Guard he went round back of the Fort and Scaled over, one
of the Indians followed him over. Cap* Lewis ordered the Indian
away after Giving him a Scolding at the Same time telling him
that he was not so much to blame as the white man Setting the
example, & Gave him a piece of tobacco & Started him & confined
the man for Setting Such a pernicious example to the Savages,
to day at 12 oClock he was tried by a court martial, towards
evening Mr Sharboner a frenchman who had been with the
hunting party returned to the Fort and Informed us that he left
3 horses loaded with meat about 8 mis down the River, the Ice
being Smoth the horses could not Go on Ice with out Shoes, he
Informed us also that the hunting party had killed 13 Elk 33
Deer & 3 bufTaloe, one of the hunters killed 2 deer at one Shot
at Sunset the proceedings of The court martial came out the
prisoner was Sentenced 50 lashes & laid to the mercy of the com-
manding officer who was pleased to forgive him the punishment
awarded by the court.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Flurries of snow. An incident happened last evening that was a little unusual. One of our men was returning from the Mandan village, and 2 or 3 young Indians followed him. The gate being shut, instead of calling to the guard, he went around to the back of the fort and climbed over, and one of the Indians followed him over. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) ordered the Indian away after giving him a scolding, at the same time telling him that he was not so much to blame as the white man for setting the example. He gave him a piece of tobacco and sent him on his way, then confined the man for setting such a harmful example to the natives. Today at 12 o'clock he was tried by a court martial.
Toward evening, Mr Sharboner (Mr. Charbonneau), a Frenchman who had been with the hunting party, returned to the fort and informed us that he had left 3 horses loaded with meat about 8 miles down the river. The ice being smooth, the horses could not travel on it without shoes. He also informed us that the hunting party had killed 13 elk, 33 deer, and 3 buffalo, and that one of the hunters killed 2 deer with one shot.
At sunset the proceedings of the court martial came out. The prisoner was sentenced to 50 lashes, but the matter was left to the mercy of the commanding officer, who was pleased to forgive him the punishment awarded by the court.
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