Teton Sioux confrontation near Pierre, SD — John Ordway: September 26, 1804
The expedition set off early and traveled four or five miles along the Missouri before anchoring 100 yards offshore near a Teton Sioux encampment. Captain Lewis visited the village of about 100 white buffalo-hide lodges, home to 200-300 people who had recently warred with the Omahas, holding 65 scalps and 25 women prisoners. The Sioux honored Lewis by carrying him on a white buffalo robe and served soup, buffalo meat, and dog. That evening the captains and several men watched an elaborate dance with drums and singing, briefly disrupted when a warrior grew angry over tobacco distribution. Chiefs slept aboard the boat.
Set off eairly. proceeded on 4 or 5 miles the Indians Strung along
the shore the most of the way. We then halted2 ankered out 100
1 Clark’s account of this dispute is equally vivid. In response to the Indian
insults he drew his sword, while his followers sprang to assist him. With equal
readiness the warriors strung their bows, and drew their arrows from the quivers.
“The situation was critical indeed,” observes Coues, “much more so than one
unfamiliar with Sioux might gather from either of the printed texts [of Biddle
and Gass]. Sioux string bows as cowboys draw their six-shooters — that is
for instant use. Clark had red hair and had been insulted; both officers were
dauntless, and their men were well disciplined. Several lives, possibly the
further progress of the expedition, hung as it were upon the first twang of a
bowstring.”
2 In order “to let their Squars & boys see the Boat and Suffer them to treat
us well.” Clark. The place where the party spent this night and the follow-
ing one was 5^ miles, by Clark’s calculations, above the mouth of Bad River.
140 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Sept. 26
yards from Shore. Cap1 Lewis went out with the chiefs to where
they had fixed their lodge in the neatest manner near the river,
and their whole lodge had assembled, brought with them their
horses, women & children. Some of their women are verry hand-
some & friendly, the nomber of Indians at this lodge of the Teton
tribe is between 2 & 300 they had been lately at war with the
Mahars. we [they] have Sixtyfive of the Sculps and 25 prisonrs
Squaws of the Mahars nation which they had with them, they
told us that they had 23 Squaws prisoners more at a lodge above
this, their lodge is verry handsome in a circle and about 100
cabbins in nomber and all white, made of Buffalow hides dressed
white one large one in the center, the lodge for the war dances,
they Gave Cap* Lewis Some fine Soup made of what they call
white apples, they sent all the party Some fat Buffaloe meat
cooked and some dryed and pounded fine, the marrow of the
Buffalow Bones, mixed together, which Eat verry well. Cap*
Clark went out with some of them, and they made Great prep-
perations for a dance this evening, they Sent for Cap* Lewis to
come and see them he went over to the shore they Spread a
Buffaloe robe dressed white on the Ground for him to Git on as
soon as he landed he Set on it 8 of the Savages carried him to
the lodge which is a Great Mark of friendship, they killed Several
dogs and cooked them in a decent manner to treat our people with,
in the evening the 2 Captains myself and a nomber more of the
party went to their village to see them dance, they had a fire in
the center of their lodge, the Band formed a line which were the
men. the Squaws formed on each Side of the fire. & danced and
Sang as the drumm and other ratles &.C. were playing, they
danced to the center untill they met, then the rattles Shook
and the houp was Given, then the Squaws all fell back to their
places, when the mens music Seaced the womens voice Sounded
one part of the tune delightful, then the other Music would
commence again, our Captains Gave them some Tobacco to
Smoke during the dance, one of the warries thought he had not
received a Small peace of the last tobacco they had he Got mad
and broke one of their drumms, hove 2 in the fire and left the
line. Some of the rest took them out, they then took a Buffaloe
Robe & held up in their hands and beat on it and continued on
their dance till late in night. The chiefs came on [board] & Selept
with us in a friendly manner.
1804] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 141
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Set off early. Proceeded on 4 or 5 miles, with the Indians strung along the shore most of the way. We then halted and anchored out 100 yards from shore. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) went out with the chiefs to where they had fixed their lodge in the neatest manner near the river, and their whole lodge had assembled, having brought with them their horses, women, and children. Some of their women are very handsome and friendly. The number of Indians at this lodge of the Teton tribe is between 200 and 300. They had been lately at war with the Mahars. They have sixty-five of the scalps and 25 prisoner squaws of the Mahar nation, which they had with them. They told us that they had 23 more squaw prisoners at a lodge above this. Their lodge is very handsome, set in a circle and about 100 cabins in number, all white, made of buffalo hides dressed white. One large one in the center is the lodge for the war dances.
They gave Capt Lewis some fine soup made of what they call white apples. They sent all the party some fat buffalo meat cooked, and some dried and pounded fine, mixed together with the marrow of the buffalo bones, which ate very well. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) went out with some of them, and they made great preparations for a dance this evening. They sent for Capt Lewis to come and see them. He went over to the shore. They spread a buffalo robe dressed white on the ground for him to get on as soon as he landed. He sat on it, and 8 of the savages carried him to the lodge, which is a great mark of friendship. They killed several dogs and cooked them in a decent manner to treat our people with.
In the evening the 2 captains, myself, and a number more of the party went to their village to see them dance. They had a fire in the center of their lodge. The band formed a line, which were the men. The squaws formed on each side of the fire and danced and sang as the drum and other rattles, etc., were playing. They danced to the center until they met; then the rattles shook and the whoop was given. Then the squaws all fell back to their places. When the men's music ceased, the women's voices sounded one part of the tune delightfully, then the other music would commence again. Our captains gave them some tobacco to smoke during the dance. One of the warriors thought he had not received a small piece of the last tobacco they had. He got mad and broke one of their drums, threw 2 in the fire, and left the line. Some of the rest took them out. They then took a buffalo robe and held it up in their hands and beat on it, and continued on their dance till late in the night. The chiefs came on board and slept with us in a friendly manner.
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