Teton Sioux confrontation near Pierre, SD — Joseph Whitehouse: September 28, 1804
The party dragged the river unsuccessfully searching for a lost anchor before preparing to depart around 9 a.m. As they tried to shove off, about 60 Sioux warriors seized the boat's cable, some armed with guns and others with bows. Captain Lewis nearly cut the cable with his sword and ordered the men to prepare to fire, but the chiefs intervened and negotiated release of the rope for a carrot of tobacco. The expedition continued upriver under sail, met another Indian who reported 300 more warriors had gathered, and anchored overnight near a sandbar.
we draged the river in hopes to find our anker but it was in
vain. about g oClock we went to Set off Some of the chiefs
was then on board and concluded to go a little ways with us.
when we were about to Shove off a nomber of warrie[r]s on
Shore caught hold of our cable and another whiped of[f] the
children the women went off also only about 60 warries on
the edge of the bank and we jest under the bank Some of
them had fire arms and the rest had Good bows and arrows
ready for war. the consequence had like to have been bad as
Cap‘ Lewis was near cutting the cable with his Sword and giv-
ing orders for the party to fire on them. then the chiefs went
out and Spoke to them. they Said if we would Give them a
carrit of tobacco they would loose the rope. we gave them
tobacco. the chief after Some hesitation loosed the rope him-
self. we then Set of under a fine breese of wind. passed high
land on N.S. & bottom on S. S. Saw an Indian comming up
the Shore. we hoisted a white flag, and a red flag for peace or
war, and was; determined to fight our way, if we could not Go
without. Cap‘ Lewis Got into a perogue and went on Shore to
See what the Indian wished [and] brought him on board. he
Informed us that 300 more of Savages had arived at the village
they wished us to Stop and talk with them, but we did not
Stop. he remained on board. about Sunset we ankered out
near a Small Sand bar in the middle of the river for to Stay all
night.
5 Saturday 29% Sept 1804.
we Set off eairly. proceeded on passed bluffs on S. S. Saw
Several Indians on Shore 1 or 2 of the brave men as they called
themselves, wanted Some tobacco. the Officers gave them
2 carrits of tobacco but told them that we Should not Stop
untill we Got to the RickRee I. Nations. passed an old vil-
lage on S. S. where the RickaRees had lived 5 years ago, had
raised corn beans [illegible word] Camped on a Sand beach
on the S. Side.
VOL. VII.— 5 [ 65 ]
Read this entry in modern English AI-translated
We dragged the river in hopes of finding our anchor, but it was in vain. About 9 o'clock we prepared to set off. Some of the chiefs were then on board and decided to go a little ways with us. When we were about to shove off, a number of warriors on shore caught hold of our cable, and another whipped off the children; the women went off also. Only about 60 warriors were on the edge of the bank, and we were just under the bank. Some of them had firearms, and the rest had good bows and arrows ready for war. The consequence had nearly been bad, as Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) was close to cutting the cable with his sword and giving orders for the party to fire on them. Then the chiefs went out and spoke to them. They said that if we would give them a carrot of tobacco, they would loose the rope. We gave them tobacco. The chief, after some hesitation, loosed the rope himself.
We then set off under a fine breeze of wind. We passed high land on the north side and bottomland on the south side. We saw an Indian coming up the shore. We hoisted a white flag and a red flag for peace or war, and we were determined to fight our way through if we could not go without. Capt Lewis got into a pirogue and went on shore to see what the Indian wished, and he brought him on board. He informed us that 300 more of the natives had arrived at the village, and they wished us to stop and talk with them, but we did not stop. He remained on board. About sunset we anchored out near a small sandbar in the middle of the river to stay all night.
Saturday, 29th Sept. 1804.
We set off early. We proceeded on and passed bluffs on the south side. We saw several Indians on shore. One or two of the brave men, as they called themselves, wanted some tobacco. The officers gave them 2 carrots of tobacco but told them that we should not stop until we got to the Rickree (Arikara) Nations. We passed an old village on the south side where the Rickarees (Arikaras) had lived 5 years ago and had raised corn and beans [illegible word]. We camped on a sand beach on the south side.
VOL. VII.— 5 [65]
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