Teton Sioux confrontation near Pierre, SD — John Ordway: September 27, 1804
The party spent the day visiting a Teton Sioux village at the chiefs' request, as another lodge of 600 men and 7 chiefs was expected. Sergeant Gass counted 80 hide-covered lodges holding about ten people each, noting the Sioux used dogs to haul loads and that women dressed buffalo skins. The Sioux seemed friendly but prone to pilfering. That evening officers attended another dance lasting until midnight. Returning with two chiefs, a pirogue swung into the barge and broke its cable; the boats drifted but reached shore safely with only minor damage. Guards were posted overnight.
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.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
Most of the party went to the village during the day, 5 or 6 at a time, as the chiefs asked us to stay this day. They said that another lodge would arrive today (600 men and 7 chiefs). The chiefs and the chiefs' sons came on board several times during the day and visited with the officers, etc. Sergeant Gass told me that while he was at the village today he counted 80 lodges (of the Teton Tribe), each holding ten persons. They were built round with poles about 15 or 20 feet high and covered with dressed buffalo hides, some of them painted red, etc. They drag them from one place to another with their dogs. They harnessed one today that carried about 80 pounds with ease.
About two thirds are women and children. The women are employed in dressing buffalo skins for clothes and lodges, etc. They appear to be very friendly, but will steal and pilfer if they have an opportunity. The vessels they carry their water in are deer pouches and other kinds, along with some woven bowls that they make. The chiefs promised our captains that they would send the prisoners back to their nation again.
Toward evening they made preparations for another dance this evening. At dark, the officers and 7 or 8 of the party went over to the dance and saw them dance and carry on mostly as the evening before, only the men danced and made speeches after the women had danced a while, etc. The dance lasted until about 12 o'clock at night, at which time the captains returned to the boat, bringing with them 2 chiefs. The men all returned also.
An accident happened as they came on board, due to the neglect of the men at the helm of the pirogue, who steered her above the big boat. She swung round with the current and came full force down against the bow of the barge and broke its cable. We found we were all afloat, roused all hands, and got safely to shore on the south side. The Indians, hearing us and expecting that the Mahar Indians had come to attack us, all ran to our assistance on the bank of the river and fired several guns as an alarm only.1 We informed them of the cause, etc. Some of them remained with us the rest of the night.
We examined the pirogue that met with the strike and found that she had sprung a leak at one place. We caulked it and bailed out the pirogue, and found her not very much damaged. But if the cable of the boat had not given way, the pirogue must have broken in two or turned over. Being on duty, I sat up the remainder of the night and had all the party on their guard.
1 Lewis and Clark looked upon this alarm as evidence of the intention of the Sioux to prevent their further progress and, if possible, to rob them.
This modernization is AI-generated for accessibility. The original above is the authoritative version.
Entities mentioned in this entry
Auto-extracted from the entry text. Hover any entity for context.
