Joseph Whitehouse: September 25, 1804
The expedition waited through the morning for a council with Teton Sioux leaders, who arrived around 10 o'clock with about 50 men. The officers named three chiefs, presenting them with medals and gifts. Tensions flared when Captain Clark escorted several Indians ashore by pirogue: the Sioux grabbed the cable, demanded a pirogue be left behind, and claimed they had warriors of their own. Clark warned that his men and weapons could destroy them, and the standoff eased. The party moved a mile upstream and anchored at an island, with four Indians staying aboard overnight.
E delayed to wait for the Indian chiefs and warrie[r]s
) to comé which we expected. about 10 oClock they
came about 50 in nomber. our officers made three
of them chiefs, and Gave them meddels & Some presents. 5
of them came on board & Stayed a long time. Cap! Clark and
Some men took [them] to Shore in a perogue. the Indians did
not incline to let us Go on any further up the river. they held
the cable of the perogue and Said that they wanted one perogue
at least to Stay as they were poor. Cap! Clark insisted on Go-
ing on board but they resisted for a long time. they S* they
had Soldiers on Shore as well as he had on board. Cap! Clark
told them that he had men and medican on board that would
kill 20 Such nations in one day. they then began to be Still
and only wished that we would Stop at their lodges untill their
women & children would see us. 4 of them came on board
again, & we proceeded on 1 mile and ankered out at the lower
point of an Island in the middle of the river. the 4 Indians
stayed with us all night.
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We delayed to wait for the Indian chiefs and warriors to come, which we expected. About 10 o'clock they came, about 50 in number. Our officers made three of them chiefs, and gave them medals and some presents. 5 of them came on board and stayed a long time. Capt Clark (Capt. Clark) and some men took them to shore in a pirogue. The Indians did not want to let us go any further up the river. They held the cable of the pirogue and said that they wanted one pirogue at least to stay, as they were poor. Capt Clark insisted on going on board, but they resisted for a long time. They said they had soldiers on shore as well as he had on board. Capt Clark told them that he had men and medicine on board that would kill 20 such nations in one day. They then began to be still, and only wished that we would stop at their lodges until their women and children could see us. 4 of them came on board again, and we proceeded on 1 mile and anchored out at the lower point of an island in the middle of the river. The 4 Indians stayed with us all night.
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