Teton Sioux confrontation near Pierre, SD — John Ordway: September 27, 1804

most of the party went to the village in the course of the day
5 or 6 at a time, as the chiefs desired us to Stay this day as they
Sayd that another lodge would came to day (600 men) (and
7 chiefs) the chiefs and chiefs Sons came on board several times
in the course of the day and [visited] with the officers &.C. Serg*
Gass informed me as he was at the village to day that he counted
80 Lodges (of the Teton Tribe) which contain ten persons each,
which were built round with poles about 15 or 20 feet high &
covered with dressed Buffalo hides painted Some of them red
&.C. they draw them from one place to another with their dogs,
they tackled one to day which carried about 80 weight with ease —
about 2 thirds are women and children, the women are employed
in dressing Buffaloe Skins for cloathes and lodges &.c. they
appear to be verry friendly. But will Steel & pilfer if they have an
oppertunity the vessells they carry their warter in are Deers
pouches & other kinds. Some woven Bows which they make, the
chiefs promised our Captains that they would Send the prisoners
back to their nation again towards evening they made preppara-
tions for another dance this evening, at dark the officers and 7 or 8
of the party went over to the dance and See them dance and carry
on mostly as the evening before only the men danced and made
Speaches after the women had danced a while &.C. the dance
lasted till about 12 oClock at night, at which time the Captains
returned to the boat brought with them 2 Chiefs, the men all
returned also, an accident happened as they came on board by the
neglect of the men at the helm of the pearogue, who Steared hir
above the big boat. She Swung round with the current and She
came full force down against the Bow of the Barge [and] Broke
the cable of hir. we found we were all on float, roused all hands
and got Safe to Shore on S.S. the Indians hearing us, and
expected that the Mahars Indians had come to attack us they all
ran to our assistance on the bank of the river & fired Several
guns for an alarm only.1 we informed them the cause &.C. Some
of them remained with us the remainder part of the night, we
examined the pearogue that met with the Stroke found that She
had Sprung a leak at one place, we corked it and bailed the
pearogue. found her not verry much damaged, but if the cable
of the Boat had not Gave way the pearogue must have broke in
1 Lewis and Clark looked upon this alarm as evidence of the intention of
the Sioux to prevent their farther progress and, if possible, to rob them.
142 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Sept. 28
too or turned over. I being on duty set up the remainder part
of the night, and had all the party on their Guards.