Fort Mandan, preparing for departure — John Ordway: February 28, 1805
Mr. Roie and another Frenchman arrived from the Arikara villages, accompanied by two Arikara Indians. They reported encountering the Sioux party of 106 warriors who had stolen two horses from the expedition's men, revealing that the Sioux had held a council debating whether to kill the men before they escaped. A trader named Mr. Tabeau sent a letter warning the captains and Mandan chiefs that the Sioux planned to attack them in the spring. That evening, the tree-cutting crew returned, having felled several good trees for pirogues but broken several axes.
Mr Roie 2 frenchman came up from the Rickarees 2 of the R. Ree
Indians came with them they all Informed us that they Saw the
Souix Savvages who Robed our men of the 2 horses, & they said
their was 106 in nomber and that they had a mind for to kill our
men & that they held a counsel over them whether to kill them
and take their arms and all or not. but while they were doing
that our men were off and got clear, but they Say if they can
catch any more of us they will kill us for they think that we are
bad medicine and say that we must be killed. Mr Tabbo a french-
man who is among them & RickaRees trading, Sent a letter up
to the commanding officers & Mandans chiefs to keep a good
lookout for he had beared the Souix Say that they Should Shurely
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 185
come to war in the Spring against us and Mandanes. in the even-
ing the men returned who had been cutting trees to day for the
perogues. they said they had several good trees cut, but had
Broke Several of their axes.
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Mr. Roie and two Frenchmen came up from the Rickarees (Arikaras). Two of the Rickaree Indians came with them. They all informed us that they saw the Sioux savages who robbed our men of the two horses, and they said there were 106 in number, and that they had a mind to kill our men. They held a council over them to decide whether to kill them and take their arms and everything, or not. But while they were doing that, our men were off and got clear. They say, however, that if they can catch any more of us, they will kill us, for they think we are bad medicine and say we must be killed.
Mr. Tabbo, a Frenchman who is among the Rickarees trading, sent a letter up to the commanding officers and the Mandan chiefs to keep a good lookout, for he had heard the Sioux say that they would surely come to war in the spring against us and the Mandans.
In the evening, the men returned who had been cutting trees today for the pirogues. They said they had several good trees cut, but had broken several of their axes.
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