Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: February 15, 1805

who [were] dispatched yesterday returned and informed us that
they were Stoped about 25 mh down the River by about 105 of the
Souix Savages, they emediately Seized the horses cut of[f] the
collars (hooping and yelling) jurked the halters from one to
another through Several hands, then they jumped on two of them
and rode of[f] uppon the run, our men with much difficulty kept
the Gray mare which had a coalt at the Fort, one of the horses
which they took was a fine large Gilding which belong[s] to one of
the N. W. Compy tradors by the name of Mackinzie. the other
was a publick horse as soon as we was informed of this Cap*
Lewis and 20 odd of the party vollunterily [volunteered] to go and
fight. Sent word up to the 1st village to See if they would turn
out the head chief & a nomber of warries came emediately to
the Fort, we Got ready to Start directly but did not set out untill
after Sunrise I then Set out with Cap1 Lewis and 20 odd more of
the party. Several warries of the Mandans Set out with us
but their was only 3 or 4 remained with us the whole day. we
walked about 18 mls and halted. Got Some meat that our hunters
had left hanging upon a tree & boiled & eat Some then proceeded
on to the place where the horses was taken, we found a Sled their
which they had cut the horse out of. found also a nomber pair
of moccasons at their camp, we took the Sled and proceeded on
their trale untill late in the evening, we then arived at 2 old
Indian lodges which we Some expected to find them their we
sent in a Spy but found none so we went to the lodges and Slept
all night Some of the mens feet were sore walking 30 odd mis
on the Ice to day.