Fort Mandan, North Dakota — John Ordway: November 30, 1804
Around 9 a.m., an Indian arrived across the river with news that a Sioux war party had attacked the Mandans, killing one man on each side, wounding others, and stealing several horses. Captain Clark, Ordway, and 20 volunteers crossed the river and marched about three miles through thick brush and prairie to the first Mandan village, offering to join a war party against the Sioux. The head chief declined, citing deep snow, but welcomed the men hospitably. After two hours, the party returned to the garrison and received a ration of taffia.
last night, about 9 oClock A.M. an Indian came to the opposite
Side of the River and called to come across, our Intrepter Spoke
to him [and] found he was come to bring news from the village
So we brought him across in a pearogue. he Informed us that a
party of the Souix nation had atcked a party of the Mandans.
they killed 1 man on each Side Several more wounded, but the
Souix Robbed the party of Manden of their horses 5 or 6 this
being done lately our officers thought it best to offer the Mandens
Some assistance if they were disposed to fight the Souix. So
Captain Clark, myself & 20 more of the party turned out volun-
tarely and crossed the River and marched through a bottom
covered with Small Timber, willows & all kinds of thick brush for
ab* 3 miles, flanking parties out each Side & a rear Guard.
I being on the left flank found it difficult getting through the
brush, we raised a Steep bank back of this bottom which brot
us on the level prarie, then turned our course & went to the
first village of the mandens, Cap* Clark told the H. chief what
we had come for, and if he would Send a war party from his
village & the Black cat another from his village we would go with
them & fight the Souix but the chief declined Sending any at
present for he Sd the Snow too deep &.C. So we delayed in the
village ab* 2 hours they appeared to be pleased at our comming
to their assistance & used us friendly, they would have us to
Eat in every lodge we went in &.C. we then Set off from the
village & crossed the river on the Ice [a] little above the vil.
but the River was Shet up for Some distance below, we then
returned down to our Garrison, our officers Gave each man a
drink of Taffe,1 which we Stood in need off.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Last night, about 9 o'clock A.M., an Indian came to the opposite side of the river and called to come across. Our interpreter spoke to him and found he had come to bring news from the village, so we brought him across in a pirogue. He informed us that a party of the Sioux nation had attacked a party of the Mandans. They killed 1 man on each side and several more were wounded, but the Sioux robbed the party of Mandans of their horses, 5 or 6. This being done lately, our officers thought it best to offer the Mandans some assistance if they were disposed to fight the Sioux.
So Captain Clark, myself, and 20 more of the party turned out voluntarily and crossed the river and marched through a bottom covered with small timber, willows, and all kinds of thick brush for about 3 miles, with flanking parties out each side and a rear guard. I, being on the left flank, found it difficult getting through the brush. We climbed a steep bank back of this bottom which brought us onto the level prairie, then turned our course and went to the first village of the Mandans.
Capt. Clark told the head chief what we had come for, and that if he would send a war party from his village, and the Black Cat another from his village, we would go with them and fight the Sioux. But the chief declined sending any at present, for he said the snow was too deep, etc. So we delayed in the village about 2 hours. They appeared to be pleased at our coming to their assistance and treated us in a friendly manner. They would have us eat in every lodge we went into, etc.
We then set off from the village and crossed the river on the ice a little above the village, but the river was shut up for some distance below. We then returned down to our garrison. Our officers gave each man a drink of taffia, which we stood in need of.
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