Building Fort Mandan — Patrick Gass: October 29, 1804

principal men came from each village of the Mandans, from
the Watasoons, Sioux, and one from the Grossventers; and
all sat in council together. At 11 o’clock, when the Council
met, a shot was fired from our bow piece, and the command-
ing officers took the chiefs by the hand. Captain Lewis,
through an interpreter, delivered a speech; gave a suit of
clothes to each of the chiefs and some articles for their vil-
lages. He also sent a suit to the chief of the Grossventers.
At three o’clock another gun was fired at the breaking up of
the council, and they all appeared satisfied. Captain Lewis
gave an iron mill to the Mandan nation to grind their corn,
with which they were highly pleased.