Blackfeet Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Lewis Rejoins Party After Blackfeet Confrontation

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:18 +0000

Howard killed two deer, we proceeded on as usal about 9 A. M.
we discovred on a high bank a head Cap* Lewis & the three men
who went with him on horse back comming towards us on N. Side
we came too Shore and fired the Swivell to Salute him & party
we Saluted them also with Small arms and were rejoiced to See
them &C. Cap* Lewis took us all by the hand, and informed us
that they had good Sucksess in going to their journeys end and
crossd a number of branches & forks of Marriohs River and fol-
low11 up a North fork to Latitude [blank in Ms.]1 got his ob-
servations for the Lat but the cloudy weather prevented him from
gitting the Longitude &C. but found it was not much difference
from the Mouth of Morriah they then Set off on their return the
day before yesterday and met with eight of the Grousevauntares
Indians with bows & arrows and 2 guns, they at first appeared
afraid but after a little wrode up and Shook hands with Cap*
Lewis & party and appeared friendly & they desired Cap* Lewis
to go with them to their Nation which they said was under the
blanket Mountn Some distance about 2 days march, but Cap*
Lewis told them that he could not wait but desired them to come
down to the Mouth of Morriah promiseing them the horse if they
would comply but they were afraid of being killed v”by us. they
had upwards of 20 horses but they were ordinary ones or the
most of them, they Camped2 with Cap* Lewis & men as they
expected they were friends, though Cap* Lewis had a watch up
all night, and at day break yesterday morning the eight Savages
Seased all our mens guns and Cap* Lewises also, they Instantly
Sprung up out of their Sleep and Ruben Fields chased an Indian
who Cap* Lewis had made a chief gave him a meddle last evening
1 Wheeler (II, 303) locales this point, where Lewis remained encamped three
davs in the hope of obtaining an observation to determine his position, “on
the Cutbank Fork of Marias River, very close to the in1″ meridian.” It
was in Teton County, eight or ten miles northwest of Blackfoot, a station on
the (‘.real Northern Railway. Because the state of the weather prevented
the desired observations Lewis named the place, Camp Disappointment.
2 The she of this camp, and of the battle of the following morning, was on
Two Medicine River about four miles below the month of Badger Creek.
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 383
& he was running of[f] with R. Fields and his brothers J° Fields
Guns. Reuben overhalled him [and] caught hold of the 2 guns
had his knife drawn & as he Snatched away the guns perced his
knife in to the Indians heart he drew but one breath the wind of
his breath followed the knife & he fell dead they all Seased their
arms from the Indians and took one of the Indn guns and all their
bows and arrows and their Shields which they were [wear] on
their backs at war. they then went at running after our horses
Cap* Lewis wounded one more badly but the Indn partly raised
and fired back at him but missed him. they cleared out with
Some of our horses and Some of theirs, though Cap* Lewis took
as many as he wanted of theirs and left the rest & made all haste
towards us and had wrode 100 and 20 miles Since yesterday
morning, and [was] much fatigued and turned out the horses in
the plain & threw the Saddles in the River & came on board the
canoes, then we proced on with as much Speed as possable. Soon
overtook the 2 hunters who had killed Several Elk a buffaloe
& one beaver, we now keep to gether and are concerned about
Serg* Gass & willard who went down by land, about 1 P. M.
we arived at the forks of Morriah opened the carshes found all
except 4 Steel traps which were put in a carsh by themselves &
we could not find the place. Some beaver skin and Robes &c.
Spoiled, the other articles all Safe and dry &C. Serg* Gass and
willard joined us with the horses, we left the horses here crossed
to the N. Side found the red perogue Safe but too Rotten to take
down. So we took some of the nailes out of hir and Set out.
Serg* Gass & Willard had killed Several buffaloe and 7 antelopes
as they came down from the falls by land, we Soon had a hard
Shower of rain & large hail. Some larger than a musket Ball
Thunder and high winds a head but we procd on untill evening and
Camped on South Side1 and kept a Strict guard. Collins killed a
buffaloe. we got the best of the meat of it. late in the evening
we had a Shower of rain which lasted about a hour.

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Hunters Kill Four Buffalo at White Bear Camp

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:17 +0000

hunters went on Shore to go across a bend after the buffaloe &
we proceeded on with the canoes round sd bend, about 11 A.M.
the hunters killed 4 buffaloe and a buck deer, we halted and took
the best of the meat or fat and proceed on about 3 PM. we
arived at the white bear Camp at the head of the portage. Serg1
Gass and five more of the party were Camped here, they in-
formed us that they had a fine road over.1 they followed up the
Tus-e-paw or buffaloe river2 a Smooth road, then crossed a low
dividing ridge came on Smooth plains, the blanket Mountains
to the left, they had a large road, a band of Indians had went
before them. Saw one of their Sculp poles &C. they Struck the
Meddison river above its forks and followed on down it about 3
days travvel to this place, considerable of cotten timber on its
bottoms, the plain Smooth Soil indifferent except Some of the
river bottoms are rich & good land, they arived here on the 11th
Ins* they had killed a number of fat buffaloe and fat buck deers.
Cap1 Lewis and party lost 7 fine horses at this place, they ex-
pect they were stole by the war parties they hunted for them
untill the 16th Ins1 then gave them out for lost, and then he set
out for to go up morriahs river Drewyer J° & R. Fields only with
him as he left 4 horses to hale the canoes past the portage, he had
not horses enofe to take any more men with him. they had
opened the cash or hole at this place & found Several Small articles
Spoiled and opened the one below the portage and found everry
thing Safe except some of the mens robes, they have geers fixed
for the horses. Mcneal was attacked by a white bear, his horse
threw him So near the bear that he had not time to shoote but
drew his gun and Struck the bear across the head and broke off
the brich of his gun and Stonded3 the bear So that he had time to
1 From the place at the mouth of Lolo Creek whence the parties of Lewis
and Clark had set out in opposite directions on July 3, Lewis down the Bitter
Root River, and Clark up that stream.
2 Modern Big Blackfoot River, a tributary of Hell Gate River, which Lewis
had first ascended to the mouth of the Big Blackfoot. From its upper course
the party crossed the mountains by the misnamed Lewis and Clark Pass to
one of the head streams of Dearborn River. Instead of following the trail
down this river, however, Lewis turned directly north to Medicine, or modern

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Musselshell Mouth Passed; Frost and Ice Return

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:45:22 +0000

as usal. one of the hunters or trapers caught a large beaver last
night, about nine o. Clock A.M. we passed the mouth of a large
Creek on the S. Side & a handsom bottom of C. wood timber, pro-
ceeded on passed pitch pine & ceeder hills on each Side of the
River, the river narrow and crooked at 11 oClock we arived
at the mouth of Shell River on the Lard Side and formed a Camp
for the present, the large Creek which we passed about 4 miles
1 Named Wiser’s Creek for one of the members of the expedition. It is
modern Fourchette Creek, according to Coues. It is shown on the M. R. C.
map in Valley County, twenty-five miles below the mouth of Musselshell
River.
2 In Valley County, seven miles below the mouth of Musselshell River.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 215
below on the Lard Side we Call Blowing fly Creek1 from the
emence quantities of those insect which geather on our meat in
Such nombers that we are obledged to brush them off what we
eate Mussel Shell River falls in on Lard Side 2270 miles2 up
[It] contains a greater perportion of water than River[s] of its
Size below. Cap* Clark measured it and found it to be 110
yards wide, the water of a greenish yallow coulour and appears
to be navagable for Small crafts, the natives Inform us that this
river heads in the 1st rocky mountains & passes through a broken
Country, its head at no great distance from the Yallow Stone
river3 the Country about this river as described yesterday, our
Captains took the Meridian altitude and found the Latd to be
47° 024″ the Missourie at the mouth of Shell River is 222 yds
wide with a Small current, the Missourie water is not So muddy
as below but retains nearly the usal colour, and the Sands prin-
cipily confined to the points. Cap* Clark killed two Deer and
Elk. the hunters killed Several Elk and Several Deer, mearly
for the Skins to make Leagins [two or three words illegible] &. C.
Some men was Sent out in the Direction the Country generally
verry broken Some level plains up the Shell river, the bottoms
of the Shell River is well timberd as also a Small river4 which
falls into that river on the upper Side 5 miles ab° its mouth the
hills on the Lard Side contain Scattering Pine and ceeder but of
no great value. Small & Scrubby, (came 7 miles to day)
May 21Bt Tuesday 1805. a butiful morning, wind from the
west, river falling a little, we Set out at an eairly hour and pro-
ceeded on in the usal way by the assistance of the chord prin-
cipally, but little use use for the oars & less with the poles, as the
bottom as the bottom are muddy, we See no great bodies of
pure Sand the bars & points are rich mud mixed with fine Sand.
Cap* Clark walked on Shore Stard Side the river makes a great
bend to the South in a Northerly direction is a rich vallie [which]
contain[s] Some Short grass, and prickly pears without timber
the Country on the South Side of the Missourie is high Soil and
1 Modern Squaw Creek, in Dawson County.
2 According to the M. R. C. map the mouth of Musselshell River is 2,076
miles above the mouth of the Missouri.
3 Musselshell River rises in the Little Belt Mountains in Meagher County.
It flows first eastwardly and then almost due north to the Missouri, forming,
in the latter portion of its course the boundary, first between Musselshell and
Rosebud, and finally between Fergus and Dawson counties.
* The explorers named this stream Sacajawea, or Bird Woman’s River.
With less gallantry the present generation calls it Crooked Creek.
216 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 22
mineral appearence as usal Some Scatering pine & R. ceeder on
the hills. The wind which [blew] moderately all the fore part of
the day increased and about dusk Shifted to the N. W. and blew
high & Stormed all night Several loose articles were blown over-
board, our Camp which was on a Sand bar on the Stard Side at the
lower point of an Island1 we were obledged to move under the
hills the dust & Sand blew in clouds, the bends of the river are
Short and points covered with cotton wood under grooths wild
rose bush. Cap* Clark killed 2 Elk to day. Several deer killed
and a buffaloe cow. we Came 20 miles to day.
May 22nd Wednesday 1805. the wind continued to blow so
violently hard we did not think it prudent to Set out untill
it luled a little about 11 oClock we Set out the cold. passed
a Small Island in the bend of the river to the Lard Side, and pro-
ceeded on at 5 miles higher passed a Isld in a bend to the Stard
Side. & a creek a Short distance above on the Stard. Side Cap4
Lewis walked on Shore and killed a deer in the fore part of the
day, after dinner Cap* Clark walked out a fiew miles to view the
Country, which he found verry rich Soil produceing but little
vigitation of any kind except the prickly pairs but little grass
& that verry bad. a great deal of Scatering pine on the Lard
Side & Some fiew on the Stard Side, the mineral production as
described yesterday or in the proceeding days, the game not
So a bundant as below the river continues about the Same
width, a fiew Sand bars, and current more regular. River falls
about an Inch a day, we Camped on the Stard Side eairlier than
we intended on account of Saveing the oil of a yallow bear which
the party killed late this afternoon. Came 16£ miles to day.
Many of the creeks which appear to have no water near their
mouths have Streams of running water high up which rise &
waste in the Sand or gravel the water of those creeks are so
much impregnated with the Salt Substance that it cannot be
drank with pleasantness.
May 23rd Thursday 1805. a Severe frost last night, the Thur-
momiter Stood at the freezing point this morning wind s. w.
the water freezes on the ore Ice on the edge of the river, we Set
out at an eairly hour and passed the mouth of a Creek at 1 mile
1 Which they named Windy Island. By the explorers’ measurements it
was twenty miles above Musselshell River. It should be noted that Lewis
and Clark’s measurements in this portion of their route differ materially from
tln.se of the M. R. G. map. The distance from Musselshell to Judith River,
winch they give as 181. J miles, the latter represents as only 120 miles.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 217
on the Stard Side which heads in a mountain N. W. of its mouth
10 miles the country on each Side is as passed yesterday, passed
2 Small creeks Stard & 2 on the Lard Side to day. a Mountain1
which appears to be 60 or 70 miles long bearing E. & W. is about
25 miles distant from this river on the Stard Side. Northerly of
us passed an Island. Cap* Clark walked on Shore and killed 4
Deer one Elk & a beaver, in the evening we killed a large fat
brown or yallow bear, which we unfortunately lost in the River
after being Shot [it] took the water & was carried under a drift
passed in course of this day three Islands two of them covered
with tall timber & a 3rd with willows the after part of this day
was warm & the Musquetoes troublesome Saw but fiew buffalow
a nomber of Elk & Deer & 5 bear & 2 antilopes to day. the river
begining to rise, & current more rapid than yesterday in many
places we Saw Spruce on the hills Sides Camped on Stard Side
Came 27 miles to day.
May 24th Friday 1805. a cold night the water in the Small
vessels froze | of an Inch thick & the Thurmo* Stood this morning
at the freezeing point we Set out at an eairly hour and pro-
ceeded [on] at 9 oClock we had a breeze of wind from the S. E.
which continued all day this Breeze aforded us good Sailing
the River riseing fast current verry rapid passed Several Small
Islands [and] two large & 2 Small creeks the 1st of these creeks
or small rivers a mile above our Camp is 30 y63 wide and contains
water and appears to take its rise in the North Mountain2 which
is Situated in a Northerly direction ab* 20 miles distant. 1 miles
higher up a creek falls in on the Lard Side opposite a large village
of Barking Squerrells 3 miles Still higher a Small Creek falls in
on the Lard. Side which is 40 yards wide & has running water
this Stream appears to take its rise in the South Mountains which
is Situated in a Southerly direction 30 or 40 miles distant.3
Cap* Clark walked on the high Country, on the Stard Side found
it broken & dry Some pine, Spruce & Dwarf ceeder on the hills
1 Little Rocky Mountains, in Blaine County, Mont.
2 From this circumstance it was named North Mountain Creek. North
Mountain is the Little Rocky Mountains already noted by Ordway, and the
creek is modern Rocky (or Little Rocky Mountain) Creek. Opposite its mouth
is the town of Wilder.
3 The creek is modern Armel, while “South Mountain” is now called Judith
Mountains, in Fergus County. Ordway is in error in locating Armel Creek
three miles above Rocky Creek. Two creeks intervening between these streams
are noted by Lewis. On the M. R. C. map Armel Creek is shown approxi-
mately thirteen miles above Rocky Creek.
218 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 25
Sides, one man went 10 miles out he reported a Simelarity of a
country back. Cap* Clark killed a fat buffalow a Short distance
below the place we dined 2 canoes & 6 men waited & got the
best of the meat, did not joine the party this evening Camped
on the Lard Side on [a] point1 the cotton wood in this point is
begining to put out a Second time the first being killed by the
frost. Came 24^ miles to day.
May 25th Saturday 1805. the 2 canoes left for meat did not
join us untill 8 oClock this morning at which time we Set out.
the morning cool & pleasant wind a head all day from the S. W.
we passed a creek on the Lard. Side about 20 yards wide which
does not run we also passed 7 Islands. Cap* Clark walked on
Shore and killed a female Ibex or big hornd animel of a blackish
colour or dark duskey colour over the body, they have great
resemblance of the deer kind, especally the leggs, but the head
& huffs resemble a Sheep, they are verry active & keep freequently
on the Sides of Steep bluffs & places where wolves & bears cannot
hurt them.2 the Country on each Side is high broken [and]
rocky the rocks are soft Sand Stone and of a dark brown hard
& rough, the hills also contain Coal Coal &. C. the bars in the
river [are] covered with corse gravel the bottom of the river are
Small as we Saw a pole cat to day being the first we have Seen for
a long distance, the air of this country is pure & healthy [and]
the water of the Missourie fine and cool. Came 18 miles to day.
May 26th Sunday 1805. Set out eairly. wind from s. w. the
river nearly closed by the high hills on boath sides, the Country
thro which borders the River is high broken & rockey generally
imbeded with a Soft Sand Stone higher up the hills the Stone are
of a brownish yallow, hard & gritty those Stone wash in to the
River down the brooks and cause the Shore to be rockey for some
distance in the water which we find troublesome to assend. their
is Scarce any bottom under the hills, & but fiew trees to be Seen,
on either Side except a fiew pine on the hills, we passed 2 creeks
on the Starbord Side boath of them had running water in one
of them saw Soft Shell Turtle. Cap* Lewis in his walk killed a
fat Buffalow, which we were in want of the hunters killed 2
Mountain Rams, or big horned animel in the evening late we
1 In Fergus County, 5$ miles above the mouth of Armel Creek.
2 This was the first Rocky Mountain sheep taken by the explorers. Both
Gass and Lewis describe it with much care, due regard being had to their respec-
tive descriptive capacities. Clark embellishes his journal with a rude picture
of the animal.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 219
passed a rapid which extended quite across the river, the waves
roled for Some distance below, we ascended it by the assistance
of the chord & poles except one which with Some difficulty got
up the Lard the crafts all crossed on Starbord Side we Saw a
dow Elk & faun, which gave rise to the name of Elk & faun riffle,
bluffs on Labord Side, and jist over the opposite Side is a livel
plain, we Camped a little above in a Small grove of Cotton trees
on the Lard Side.1 we had a flew drops of rain at dark, the Salts
coal & burnt hills Still continue. Game Scarcer, this country
may with propriety be called the Deserts of North america for I
do not conceive any part of it can ever be Sitled as it is deficient
of or in water except this River, & of timber & too Steep to be
tilled, we passed old Indian Camps & lodges in the woody points
everry day, & 2 at our Camp &. C. we Came 22f miles this day.
May 27th Monday 1805. the wind blew hard from the S. W.
which detained us untill about 10 oClock at which time we Set
out & proceeded on. passed a Small necked Island on the Lard
Side immediately above the timber in which we Camped the river
is verry Shoaley and the bad places are verry numerous, at the
mouth of every dreen the rocks is thrown Some distance in the
river which causes the riffles, this day is verry warm, we Saw
only a fiew herds of Big horned animel on the hills, & 2 Elk,
one of which we killed, we Camped at 2 dead top trees on the
Larbord Side, the river is generally about 200 yards wide &
current verry Swift, to day, and has a verry prosperous falls in
all its course it rises a little. Came 14 miles to day.2
May 28th Tuesday 1805. a cloudy morning. Some fiew drops of
rain & Smokey wind from the S. W. we Set out at an eairly
hour, the Shoaley places are verry numerous & Some bad to git
around, we have to make use of the cords & poles, our cords are
1 The M. R. C. map shows a series of rapids beginning near the 2,169 mile
point of the river. Their location corresponds with the point now reached
by the expedition. Camp was in Fergus County at or near the 2,170 mile point.
This afternoon Lewis ascended the hills bordering the river and from the
elevation thus gained enjoyed his first view of the Rocky Mountains. His
first joyful emotion was tempered, he records, by reflections upon the difficulties
“which this snowey barrier would most probably throw in my way to the Pacific,
and the sufferings and hardships of myself and party in thim.”
2 Gass pauses at this point in his journal for some “general observations”
upon the country passed through by the expedition since its departure from
the mouth of River Dubois a year earlier. He concludes with the dolorous
observation that this day’s journey has been through “the most dismal country
I ever beheld.”
220 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 29
all except one made of Elk Skin & Stretch & Some time[s] broke
[break] which indanger the Pirogues or canoe, as it immediately
turns and if any rock Should chance to be below the rapidity of
the water would turn hir over if Should Strike, we observe great
caution at these places. Cap4 Clark walked on Shore, found the
country ruged and as described yesterday, he saw great nombers
of the Big hornned animels, one of which he killed their faun
are nearly half grown, one of the party saw a verry large bear,
we picked up a pole on the Shore which has been made use of by
the natives for a lodge pole & hailed by dogs & it is new & a
certain Sign of the Indians being on the River above a foot ball
& Several other articles are also found to Substantiate this
oppinion. at 1 oClock we had a fiew drops of rain & Some Thunder
which is the first Thunder we have had Since we Set out, from
Fort Mandans, at 10 miles the river the hills begin to widen & the
river Spreads and is crouded with Islands, the bottoms contain
Some Scatering cottonwood the Islands also contain timber,
passed a creek1 of running water on the Stard Side about 35
yards wide, and Camped imediately opposite to a Small Creek2
on Lard Side. Came 21 miles to day.
May 29th Wednesday 1805. in the course of last night we were
alarmed by a Buffalow Swimming across from the opposite Shore
& landed opposite the white perogue in which our Captains Stay.
he crossed the perogue, & went with great forse up the bank to
the fire where the men were Sleeping & was within 18 Inches of
their heads when one man setting up alarmed him and he turned
his course along the range of men as they lay, passing between
4 fires & within a fiew Inches of Several mens heads, it was Sup-
posed if he had trod on a man it would have killed him dead,
the dog flew at him which turned him from running against the
lodge, [in] which the officers layd he passed without doeing more
damage than bend a rifle & breaking hir Stalk & injuring one of
the blunderbusses in the perogue as he passed through, we Set
out this morning at the usal hour and proceeded on. at 2| miles
passed the mouth of a river [blank in Ms.] yards3 wide, discharge-
1 Named Thompson’s Creek, for one of the members of the expedition.
It is modern Birch Creek, in eastern Chouteau County.
– Named Bull Creek by (lie explorers, but now known as Dog Creek. It is
in Fergus County, about two miles below Judith River. •
•One hundred yards. Lewis. Clark named the stream Judith’s River,
in honor of thirteen-year-old Julia Hancock of Pincastle, Va., who 2$ years
later was to become liis wife. Happily the name thus bestowed by the gallant
Captain lias been retained by his white successors in this region.
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 221
ing a great quantity of water, and containing more wood in its
bottom than the Missourie. this river Cap* Lewis walked up a
Short distance and he Saw an old Indian encampment, we Saw
also great encampments on the Stard Side at the mouth of a small
creek of about 100 lodges, which appeared to be about 5 or 6
weeks past, our Indian woman examined their moccasons &. C.
and told us that they were the Indians which resided below the
rockey Mountains, and to the North of the river that hir nation
made their moccasons, differently, at 65 miles passed a consider-
able rapid at which place the hills approach near the river on both
Sides, leave a narrow bottom on the Starbord Side (ash rapid)1
and continue close all day [with] but little timber, we Saw the
remains of a nomber of buffalow which had been drove down a
steep clift of rocks, from appearence their was upwards of 100
of these animels all picked off in a drove, great nombers of wolves
were about this place & verry gentle Cap* Clark killed one of
them with his Sphere [spear], the hills above ash rapid contain
more rocks & coal, and the more rapid points, we come too for
dinner at or opposite the entrance of a Small River2 which falls
in on the Lard Side, & no timber for Some distance, has a bold
running Stream. Soon after we came too it began to rain, and
blew hard, and as we were in a good harbour a point of wood on
the Stard Side, & no timber for Some distance above, induced the
Captains to Stay all night, they gave each man a dram though
Small [it] was enofe to efect Several of the men3 one of the
hunters killed an Elk in the evening Cap1 Clark killed 2 beaver
on the Side of the bank. Some of the hunters who went out on
the high land, said it Snowed & hailed on the hills.
May 30th Thursday 1805. the rain commenced yesterday even-
ing & continued moderately through the course of the night,
more rain has now fallen than we have experenced Since the 15th
of September last, the rain continued this morning, and the wind
too high for us to proceed, untill ab* 11 oClock at which time we
Set out & proceeded on with great labour we were oblidged
to make use of the tow rope & the banks were So muddy & Slippery
that the men could Scarsely walk notwithstanding [this] we
1 Modern Drowned Man’s Rapid, about three miles above the mouth of
Judith River.
2 Arrow River; it forms the boundary, for a portion of its course, between
Fergus and Chouteau counties.
3 “such is the effects of abstaining for some time from the uce of sperituous
liquors; they were all very merry.” Lewis.
222 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [May 31
proceeded as well as we could, wind hard from the N. W. in
attempting to assend a rapid our toe cord broke of the white
perogue, they turned without injury, those rapids are Shallow
points & are numerous & diffecult one being at the mouth of
every dreen. Some little rain at times all day. one man ascended
the high country & it was raining & Snowing on those high hills,
the day has proved to be raw and cold back from the river is
tollarably level, no timber of any kind on the hills, & only a fiew
Scatering trees of cottonwillows &. C. we discover in many
places old encampments of large bands of Indians, a fiew weeks
past & appear to be makeing up the River, those Indians we
believe to be the Blackfoot Indians or Manetaws [Minitareel
who Inhabit the Country on the heads of the Saskashoarr [Sas-
katchewan] North of this place & trade alitto [a little] in the Fort
Deprare [De Prairie] establishments.1 we Camped in a hand-
som Grove of cotton trees on the Stard. Side.2 River rise \.
Came 8 miles to day.
May 31st Friday 1805. a Cloudy morning, the canoes all
dispached eairly to collect the meat of 2 buffalow killed last
night, the perogues proceeded on it continued to rain moder-
ately untill about 12 oClock when it ceased & continued cloudy,
the Stones on the edges of the river continue to form very con-
siderable rapids we find them difficult to pass, the tow rope
of the white perogue which we were oblidge to make use of
broke & was in Some danger of turning over, we landed at
12 oClock the cap*8 gave the or refreshed the party with a
dram we are oblidged to undergo great labour and fatigue in
ascending this part of the Missourie as they [we] are compelled
from the rapidity of the current in many places to walk in the
water & on Slippery hill sides on the Sides of rocks &. c. on gravel
& thro Stiff mud, bear footed and we cannot keep on moccasons
from the Stiffness of the mud & decline of the Steepp hill sides3
— the hills and river clifTts of this day exhibit a most romantick
appearence on each Side of the river is a white soft sand Stone
bluffs which rises to about half the hight of the hills, on the top
of this Clift is a black earth, on points in many places this
sand Stone appears like antient ruins Some like elegant build-
1 The North West Company’s fort on the site of Edmonton, Alta.
2 In Chouteau County, eight miles above the mouth of Arrow River.
3 Lewis paints a more vivid picture of the hardships of the men, and con-
eludes: “in short their labour is incredibly painfull and great, yet those faith-
full fellows bear it without a murmur.”
1805] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 223
ings at a distance, Some like Towers &.C. &.C. in many places
of this days march we observe on either Side of the river extro-
ardanary walls of a black semented stone which appear to be
regularly placed one Stone on the other. Some of those walls
rise to the hight of 100 feet, they are from about 9 foot to 12
feet deep or thick and are perpinticular. those walls commence
at the waters edge & in some places meet at right angles those
walls appear to continue thier course into the Sand clifts. the
Stone which for those walls are of different Sizes [are] all Square
edged great nombers has fallen from the walls near the river
which causes causes the wall of unequal hite, in the hollars &
gullies I Saw Some Scrubby ceddr. the low walls Strait White &
handsom, like ancient elegant buildings, towards evening the
country becomes lower and the bottoms wider, no timber on the
uplands, except a fiew ceddr & pine on the clifts. a fiew Scatering
cottonwood trees on the points in the river bottoms. The appear-
ence of coal continues. Cap* Lewis walked on Shore & observed a
Species of pine we had never before Seen, with a Shorter leaf than
common & The burr different, he also collected Some of the Stone
of one of the walls which appears to be a Siment of Sun glass black
earth, we Camped on the Stard Side in a Small timberd handsom
bottom above the mouth of a creek1 on the Stard Side, the hunt-
ers killed 2 animels with big horns. 2 ‘buff alow an Elk & a black
taild or mule deer, we Saw a nomber of those big horned animels
on the clifts. but fiew buffalow or Elk, no antilope, a fiew mule
Deer. Saw a fox to day. the river rises a little it is from 150 to
250 yards wide. Came 18 miles to day.2
June 1st Saturday 1805. a Cloudy morning, we Set out at an
eairly hour and proceeded on as usal with the toe rope, the
country appears to be lower and the clifts not so high or common,
a Mountain or a part of the north Mountain about 8 or 10 miles N.
of this place, more cotton trees scatering along the river & Islands
than yesterday, no timber on the high land. The river from 2 to
400 yards wide & current more jentle than yesterday, but fiew
bad rapids points to day. the wild animels not so pleanty as
below we only killed a ram & mule deer to day. we Saw buffalow
at a distance in the plains, perticularly near a lake on the Lard.
Side about 8 eight miles off from the river, we passed Six Islands and
1 Which they named Stonewall Creek. Now called Eagle Creek, in Chouteau
County.
2 The night’s camp was “just above the mouth” of Eagle Creek. Lewis.
224 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS
Camped on the 7th all night.1 all those Islands are Small but con-
tain Some timber on them. The river riseing a little wind to day
from S. W. Some fiew drops of rain in the morning and also in
the evening, flying clouds all day. Saw Several Indians Camps
made of Sticks & Set up on end and do not appear to be long
evacuated. The roses in full bloom we saw yallow berry, red
berry bushes great nombers wild or choke Cherries, prickly pairs
are in the blossom we Saw great nombers of them. Came 23
miles to day.
June 2nd Sunday 1805. we had a hard wind & a little rain last
night, this morning fair, we Set out at an eairly hour, wind from
S. W. Some little rain to day wind hard a head, the Country
much like that of yesterday, as described. Cap* Lewis walked on
Shore, himself and the hunters killed 6 Elk a bear2 and 2 mule
Deer, and 2 buffalow, which was all in good order a beaver also
killed this evening, passed 9 Islands to day. the current Swift but
regular, we Camped on the Larboard Side at the mouth or at
the forks of the river.3 the current & Sizes of them we could not
examine this evening, a fair night. The Captains took Some
Lunr observations, of moon & Stars. Came 18 miles to day.
1 Five miles, according to Coues, above the mouth of Little Sandy Creek.
The distances given by Lewis and Clark in this portion of their route mater-
ially overrun the M. R. C. map measurements.
2 The bear, a grizzly, undertook to do some killing on its own account. It
came “very near catching Drewyer,” and pursued Charbonneau so hotly that
he was forced to secrete himself “very securely” in some bushes until it was
slain. Lewis.
3 At the mouth of Marias River. For the name given it see post, 228,
note 1. On the problem which its discovery presented to Lewis and Clark for
solution see Ordway’s entry for June 3 and post, 226, note 1.
i hi: t’.u.i.s .,.•>„ /-o/< r.uif-: THE FALLS AN!) THE PORTAGE ROUTE Krom the Dublin, 1X17, reprinl of the Biddle History of the Lewis and Clark Expedition CHAPTER VIII From Marias River to the Great Falls, June 3 — July 14, 1805 June 3rd Monday 1805. we formed a Camp on the point in the junction of the two rivers, & two canoes & 3 men were dispached up each river to examine and find if possable which is the most probable branch, the left fork which is the largest we are doubtful of. the Indians do not mention any river falling in on the right in this part of the Missourie Missourie. The Scolding river,1 if their is Such a one Should have fallen in below agreeable to their acct8 men were dispached also in different directions by land, to a mountain covred with Snow to the South. & others up each river, the Captains walked out & assended the hill in the point, they observed a level Country to the foot of the mountains which lye South of this, also a River2 which falls into the Right hand fork about 1| miles above its mouth on the Larboard Side, this little river descharges a great deal of water & contains as much cotton timber in its bottoms as either of the others, they Saw buffalow & antilopes wild Cherries red & yallow berrys, Goose berrys &.C. abound in the river bottoms, prickley pairs on the high plains, the Capts had a meridian altitude and the Latitude produced was 27° 24' 12" North, the after part of the day proved Cloudy. Cap* Clark measured each river & found the one to the Right hand 186 yards wide of water, & the left hand fork 372 yards wide and rapid, the right hand fork falling the other at a Stand, and clear the right fork and the river which fall into it is couloured & a little muddy. Several of the party complain of their feet being Sore by walking in the Sand, & their being cut by the Stones we to be Sure have a hard time of it oblidged to walk on Shore & hawl the rope and fo of their time barefooted, in the evening the parties all returned to Camp had been about 15 1 Milk River; for the name see ante, 209, note 1. 2 "called Rose river." Gass. It is modern Teton River, a considerable stream which rises in Teton County and flows almost due east to its junction with Marias River. 225 226 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [June 4 miles up each river, but could not determine which would be our most probable branch for our Course &.C. our officers are not Satisfied in their minds which River will be best to for us to take. So they determine to leave the crafts & the most of the men here & go one day & a half up each river with a Small party to find out which will be the most probable River for us to take &.C the hunters killed 4 buffalow 3 Elk 3 beaver & Several Deer our officers Gave Each man a Dram. June 4th Tuesday 1805. Cap' Lewis and 6 men Set out to go up the right hand fork. Cap' Clark & 5 more Set out at the Same time to go up the left hand fork in order to go one day & a halfs march up the River and see if they can find out which will be our best River to proceed on. Some of the men at camp killed 2 faun Elk near the point for their Skins to dress, the day proved Cloudy. 2 men who had been from Camp a hunting returned to- wards evening, had killed one Elk & a Deer & Set traps for beaver, &.C. a fiew drops of rain towards evening & high cold wind from the North.

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Court-Martial of John Newman at Stone Idol Creek

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:43 +0000

bottom covered with Timber on S. S. passd a creek6 & Black
1 In council the chief, Lassel, had requested the white men to take one of
the Arikara chiefs on with them to the Mandan and the other nations above
on the river in order that peace might be made between them and the Arikara.
1 In Campbell County, about the 1,334 mile point of the Missouri.
8 Clark calls this Stone Idol Creek, from three stone images found in the
vicinity, and relates an interesting legend concerning them. Here as frequently
there is some confusion as to which side of the Missouri the stream comes in.
It is modern Spring, or Hermaphrodite Creek, in northern Campbell County.
4 The trial of John Newman and Moses B. Reed, who had been confined
the day before. Here as in earlier similar cases there is an evident disinclina-
tion on the part of the diarists to speak of the matter. Ordway alone, even
mentions Reed’s name in connection with it. The Orderly Book discloses
that Newman was charged with “having uttered repeated expressions of a
highly criminal and mutinous nature,” to the obvious subversion of discipline
and loyalty on the part of the members of the expedition. He was convicted
by a jury of nine of his peers and sentenced to receive seventy-five lashes on
his bare back and to be “henceforth discarded from the perminent party en-
gaged for North Western discovery.”
6 The last camp in South Dakota, on or near the site of former Vanderbilt
post office.
8 “this creek we call after the third chief Pisheto (or Eagles feather).”
Clark. Laid down as Eagle Feather Creek

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Overnight Buffalo Stampede Damages Arms, Terrifies Camp

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:41:01 +0000

Some clouday. a large buffaloe Swam the river last night,
and came out across one of the perogues & broke a blunder-
buss, & bent a rifle & came up the bank through the Camp
& like to have tramped on Several of the men as they were
a Sleep. we Set off as usal & proceeded on. passed the
Mouth of a large Creek or 2, on the S.S. & bottoms of
timber. about 10 oC. A. M. we passed a handsom bottom
on the N.S, where about 100 lodges of Indians had lately
1805] WHITEHOUSE’S JOURNAL
been camped. we Suspect it was a nation called the blackfoot
Indians which live back from the River, to the Northward.
we got Some of their dog poles. we proceeded on passed
over hard rifles which was So rapid that caused high waves for
Some distance below. passed Several Creeks on each Side of
the river. about one oC. P. M. we passed high Steep clifts
of rocks on the N.S. where the natives had lately drove a
gang of buffaloe off from the plains. they fell So far on the
uneven Stone below that it killed them dead. they took what
meat they wanted, & now the wolves & bears are feasting on
the remains, which causes a horrid Smell. Cap! Clark killed
a wolf with a Sphere [spear] near that place. we Saw Several
brown bear on the mountains on the S. Side. about 3 oC.
P. M. we passed the mouth of a large Creek or Small river
on S.S. we halted [a] little above at a handsom bottom of
timber on the N.S. began to rain, the wind rose high from
N. W. So we Camped for the night. Some of the hunters
went out in the plains. they Soon returned & Said it Snowed
& hailed on the hills back from the river. our officers gave
each man a draughm of ardent Spirits. one of the hunters
killed an Elk. hard rain this evening. we had come 18
miles to day through a Mountaneous desert Country. Saw
a nomber of geese on the river. one man killed one of them.

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Cold Rain and Northwest Wind; Towing Eight Hard Miles

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:41:01 +0000

Cloudy & rain, the wind high from the N. W. we de–
layed untill about 10 oC. then Set off, though disagreeable
working. passed white Straight range of Clifts on the S. S.
proceeded on with the towing lines about 5 miles & halted to
dine on the N.S. Some of the hunters Shot an Elk. cold
chilly wind & rain. passed a Camp wher 29 lodges of the
blackfoot Indians had lately been & left piles of mussel Shells
at each fire. Came 8 miles. we Camped at a handsom narrow
bottom covered with thin c. wood timber, where 50 or 60
lodges of Indians had lately been Camped. they were gone
as we expect up the river. they left Several lodge poles &
considerable of fire wood gathered. 2 of the hunters went
across the river on the hill & killed 2 buffaloe.

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Treaty with the Indians of Blackfoot agency, 1888

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:47:34 +0000

Land cession by the Indians of Blackfoot agency. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Flathead, Glacier, Pondera.

Present-Day Tribes

Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana

Citations

Tiller 474

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Treaty with the Gros Ventre and Piegan, 1888

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:47:34 +0000

Land cession by the Gros Ventre, Piegan. Region: Montana 2. Covering 9 counties across MT.

Present-Day Tribes

Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana
Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana

Citations

2 Hodge 246; DeMallie 677

Tiller 473; Tiller 481

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Treaty with the Blackfoot et al., 1875

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:47:33 +0000

Land cession by the Blackfoot, Blood, Gros Ventre, Piegan, River Crow. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt. Associated dates: 1875-04-13, 1880-07-13.

Present-Day Tribes

Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana
Crow Tribe of Montana
Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana

Citations

1 Hodge 367-68; 2 Hodge 246; DeMallie 677; Hodge II, 643; Tiller 473

Tiller 473; Tiller 481; Waldman 37-39; Waldman 87-88

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Treaty with the Blackfoot et al., 1855

admin — Thu, 19 Feb 2026 13:47:25 +0000

Land cession by the Blackfoot, Blood, Gros Ventre, Piegan, River Crow. Region: Montana 1. Covering 13 counties across MT. Associated dates: 1855-10-17, 1873-07-05, 1874-04-15.

Present-Day Tribes

Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana
Crow Tribe of Montana
Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana

Citations

1 Hodge 367-68; 2 Hodge 246; DeMallie 677; Hodge II 643; Tiller 473

Tiller 473; Tiller 481; Waldman 37-39; Waldman 87-88

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