Posecopsahe (Black Cat) Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Sioux Raid Mandans; Clark Crosses River with Twenty Men

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:57 +0000

last night, about 9 oClock A.M. an Indian came to the opposite
Side of the River and called to come across, our Intrepter Spoke
to him [and] found he was come to bring news from the village
So we brought him across in a pearogue. he Informed us that a
party of the Souix nation had atcked a party of the Mandans.
they killed 1 man on each Side Several more wounded, but the
Souix Robbed the party of Manden of their horses 5 or 6 this
being done lately our officers thought it best to offer the Mandens
Some assistance if they were disposed to fight the Souix. So
Captain Clark, myself & 20 more of the party turned out volun-
tarely and crossed the River and marched through a bottom
covered with Small Timber, willows & all kinds of thick brush for
ab* 3 miles, flanking parties out each Side & a rear Guard.
I being on the left flank found it difficult getting through the
brush, we raised a Steep bank back of this bottom which brot
us on the level prarie, then turned our course & went to the
first village of the mandens, Cap* Clark told the H. chief what
we had come for, and if he would Send a war party from his
village & the Black cat another from his village we would go with
them & fight the Souix but the chief declined Sending any at
present for he Sd the Snow too deep &.C. So we delayed in the
village ab* 2 hours they appeared to be pleased at our comming
to their assistance & used us friendly, they would have us to
Eat in every lodge we went in &.C. we then Set off from the
village & crossed the river on the Ice [a] little above the vil.
but the River was Shet up for Some distance below, we then
returned down to our Garrison, our officers Gave each man a
drink of Taffe,1 which we Stood in need off.

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Pirogue Returns with Twelve Bushels of Mandan Corn

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:56 +0000

with a pearogue to the 2nd village of the mandens for corn we
1 “all hands work at their huts untill 1 oClock at night.” Clark, November
15.
1 The Mandan chief, Black Cat, according to Clark. In addition to other
business “he made great inquiries respecting our fashions.” He was principal
chief of the second Mandan village. On Feb. 8, 180,r>, Clark characterizes
him as possessed of “more integrety, firmness, intiligence and perspicuety of
mine” than any other Indian he had met with in that quarter.
3 Charbbnneau, for whom sec ante, 164, note 1.
1804] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 167
completed building the backs of our chimneys, the pearogue
returned towards evening with ab* 12 bushels of mixed coullourd
corn in ears [word illegible] which the natives took out of the
Ground where they burry it in holes in their village.

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Blunderbusses Fired Announcing Return to Mandan Villages

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:53 +0000

Thursday 14th August 1806 Set out at Sunrise and proceeded on. when we
were opposit the Minetares Grand Village we Saw a number of the Nativs
viewing of we derected the Blunderbuses fired Several times, Soon after we
Came too at a Croud of the nativs on the bank opposit the Village of the
Shoe Indians or Mah-har-ha’s at which place I saw the principal Chief of
the Little Village of the Menitarre & the principal Chief of the
Mah-har-has. those people were extreamly pleased to See us. the Chief of
the little Village of the Menetarias cried most imoderately, I enquired
the Cause and was informed it was for the loss of his Son who had been
killed latterly by the Blackfoot Indians. after a delay of a fiew minits I
proceeded on to the black Cats Village on the N. E. Side of the Missouri
where I intended to Encamp but the Sand blew in Such a manner that we
deturmined not to continu on that Side but return to the Side we had left.
here we were visited by all the inhabitants of this village who appeared
equally as well pleased to See us as those above. I walked up to the Black
Cats village & eate some Simnins with him, and Smoked a pipe this
Village I discovered had been rebuilt Since I left it and much Smaller
than it was; on enquirey into the Cause was informed that a quarrel had
taken place and Lodges had removed to the opposd Side. I had Soon as I
landed despatched Shabono to the Minetarras inviting the Chiefs to visit
us, & Drewyer down to the lower Village of the Mandans to ask Mr.
Jessomme to Come and enterpret for us. Mr. Jessomme arived and I spoke to
the chiefs of the Village informing them that we Spoke to them as we had
done when we were with them last and we now repeeted our envitation to the
principal Chiefs of all the Villages to accompany us and to the U States
&c. &c. the Black Cat Chief of the Mandans, Spoke and informed me
that he wished to Visit the United States and his Great Father but was
afraid of the Scioux who were yet at war with them and had killed Several
of their men Since we had left them, and were on the river below and would
Certainly kill him if he attempted to go dow.i. I indeavered to do away
with his objections by informig him that we would not Suffer those indians
to hurt any of our red Children who Should think proper to accompany us,
and on their return they would be equally protected, and their presents
which would be very liberal, with themselves, Conveyed to their own
Country at the expence of the U. States &c. &c. The chief promised
us Some corn tomorrow. after the Council I directed the Canoes to cross
the river to a brook opposit where we Should be under the wind and in a
plain where we would be Clear of musquetors & after Crossing the Chief
of the Mah har has told me if I would Send with him he would let me have
some corn. I directed Sergt Gass & 2 men to accompany him to his
Village, they Soon returned loaded with Corn. the Chief and his wife also
came down. I gave his wife a fiew Needles &c.The Great Chif of
all the Menitarres the one eye Came to Camp also Several other Chiefs of
the different Villages. I assembled all the Chiefs on a leavel Spot on the
band and Spoke to them & see next book.

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Chiefs Decline Washington Journey, Citing Sioux Danger

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:37:53 +0000

Thursday August 15th 1806 Continued Mandans Vilg after assembling the
Chiefs and Smokeing one pipe, I informed them that I Still Spoke the Same
words which we had Spoken to them when we first arived in their Country in
the fall of 1804. we then envited them to visit their great father the
president of the U. States and to hear his own Councils and receive his
Gifts from his own hands as also See the population of a government which
Can at their pleasure protect and Secur you from all your enimies, and
chastize all those who will Shut their years to his Councils. we now offer
to take you at the expense of our Government and Send you back to your
Country again with a considerable present in merchendize which you will
recive of your great Father. I urged the necessity of their going on with
us as it would be the means of hastening those Supples of Merchindize
which would be Sent to their Country and exchanged as before mentioned for
a moderate price in Pelteries and furs &c. the great Chief of the
Menetaras Spoke, he Said he wished to go down and See his great father
very much, but that the Scioux were in the road and would most certainly
kill him or any others who Should go down they were bad people and would
not listen to any thing which was told them. when he Saw us last we told
him that we had made peace with all the nations below, Since that time the
Seioux had killed 8 of their people and Stole a number of their horses. he
Said that he had opened his ears and followed our Councils, he had made
peace with the Chyennes and rocky mountains indians, and repieted the same
objecctions as mentioned. that he went to war against none and was willing
to receive all nations as friends. he Said that the Ricaras had Stolen
from his people a number of horses at different times and his people had
killed 2 Ricaras. if the Sieoux were at peace with them and Could be
depended on he as also other Chiefs of the villages would be glad to go
and See their great father, but as they were all afraid of the Sieoux they
Should not go down &c.

The Black Cat Chief of the Mandans Village on the North Side of the
Missouri Sent over and requested me to go over to his village which
envertation I axceptd and crossed over to his village. he had a parcel of
Corn about 12 bushuls in a pile in his lodge. he told me that his people
had but little corn part of which they had given me. after takeing a Smoke
he informed me that as the Sieoux were very troublesom and the road to his
great father dangerous none of this village would go down with us. I told
the Cheifs and wariers of the village who were there present that we were
anxious that Some of the village Should go and See their great father and
hear his good words & recve his bountifull gifts &c. and told them
to pitch on Some Man on which they could rely on and Send him to See their
Great father, they made the Same objections which the Chief had done
before. a young man offered to go down, and they all agreeed for him to go
down the charector of this young man I knew as a bad one and made an
objection as to his age and Chareckter at this time Gibson who was with me
informed me that this young man had Stole his knife and had it then in his
possession, this I informed the Chief and directed him to give up the
knife he delivered the knife with a very faint apology for his haveing it
in his possession. I then reproached those people for wishing to Send Such
a man to See and hear the words of So great a man as their great father;
they hung their heads and Said nothing for Some time when the Cheif Spoke
and Said that they were afraid to Send any one for fear of their being
killed by the Sieux. after Smoking a pipe and relateing Some passages I
recrossed to our Camp-. being informed by one of our enterpreters that the
2d Chief of the Mandans Comonly Called the little Crow intended to
accompany us down, I took Charbono and walked to the Village to See this
Chief and talk with him on the Subject. he told me he had deturmined to go
down, but wished to have a council first with his people which would be in
the after part of the day. I smoked a pipe with the little Crow and
returned to the boat. Colter one of our men expressed a desire to join
Some trappers who offered to become Shearers with and furnish traps &c.
the offer a very advantagious one, to him, his Services Could be dispenced
with from this down and as we were disposed to be of Service to any one of
our party who had performed their duty as well as Colter had done, we
agreed to allow him the prvilage provided no one of the party would ask or
expect a Similar permission to which they all agreeed that they wished
Colter every Suckcess and that as we did not wish any of them to Seperate
untill we Should arive at St. Louis they would not apply or expect it
&c. The Maharha Chief brought us Some Corn, as did also the Chief of
the little village of the Menetarras on mules of which they have Several.
The evening is Cool and windy. great number of the nativs of the different
villages Came to view us and exchange robes with our men for their Skinswe
gave Jo Colter Some Small articles which we did not want and Some powder
& lead. the party also gave him Several articles which will be usefull
to him on his expedittion.This evening Charbono informed me that
our back was scercely turned before a war party from the two menetarry
villages followed on and attacked and killed the Snake Indians whome we
had Seen and in the engagement between them and the Snake indians they had
lost two men one of which was the Son of the principal Chief of the little
village of the menitarras. that they had also went to war from the
Menetarras and killed two Ricaras. he further informed me that a
missunderstanding had taken place between the Mandans & minetarras and
had verry nearly come to blows about a woman, the Menitarres at length
presented a pipe and a reconsilliation took place between them

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Lewis Pipes with Black Cat Before Marching On

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:35:11 +0000

April 8th Set out early this morning, the wind blew hard against us from
the N. W. we therefore traveled very slowly. I walked on shore, and
visited the black Cat, took leave of him after smoking a pipe as is their
custom, and then proceeded on slowly by land about four miles where I
wated the arrival of the party, at 12 Oclock they came up and informed me
that one of the small canoes was behind in distress. Capt Clark returned
foud she had filled with water and all her loading wet. we lost half a bag
of hisquit, and about thirty pounds of powder by this accedent; the powder
we regard as a serious loss, but we spread it to dry immediately and hope
we shall still be enabled to restore the greater part of it. this was the
only powder we had which was not perfectly secure from geting wet. we took
dinner at this place, and then proceed on to oure encampment, which was on
the S. side opposite to a high bluff. the Mandan man came up after we had
encamped and brought with him a woman who was extreemly solicitous to
accompany one of the men of our party, this however we positively refused
to permit.

From the upper point on an island (being the point to which Capt. Clark
took his last course when he assended the river in surch of a place for
winter quarters 1st November last) to a point of wood land Stard side,
passing a high bluff on the Lard. N 40° W. 31/2

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Black Cat and Big White Bring Meat; Horse Requested

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:35:06 +0000

Fort Mandan 4th March Monday 1805 a Cloudy morning wind from the N W the
after part of the day Clear, visited by the Black Cat & Big White, who
brought a Small present of meat, an Engage of the N W Co. Came for a
horse, and requested in the name of the woman of the princapal of his
Department Some Silk of three Colours, which we furnished-. The
Assinniboins who visited the Mandans a fiew Days ago returned and
attempted to take horses of the Minetarres & were fired on by them

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Black Cat and Hidatsa Chief Visit the Fort

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:35:05 +0000

3rd of March Sunday 1805 a fine Day wind from the W, a large flock of
Ducks pass up the Rivervisited by the black Cat, Chief of the Mandans 2d
Cheif and a Big Belley, they Stayed but a Short time we informed those
Chiefs of the news recved from the Ricaras, all hands employd

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Pirogues Hauled Up; Elk-Skin Rope Breaks

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:35:04 +0000

25th of February Monday 1805 we fixed a Windlass and Drew up the two
Perogues on the upper bank and attempted the Boat, but the Roap which we
bade made of Elk Skins proved too weak & broke Several times night
Comeing on obliged us to leave her in a Situation but little advanced- we
were Visited by the Black mockerson Chief of the little Village of Big
Bellies, the Cheef of the Shoe Inds and a number of others those Chiefs
gave us Some meat which they packed on their wives, and one requested a ax
to be made for hies Sun, Mr. Bunch, one of the under traders for the
hudsons Bay Companeyone of the Big Bellies asked leave for himself
& his two wives to Stay all night, which was granted, also two Boys
Stayed all night, one the Sun of the Black Cat.

The Day has been exceedingly pleasent

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Black Cat Visits; Lewis Praises the Mandan Chief

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:34:58 +0000

8th February Friday 1805. This morning was fair wind S. E. the weather
still warm and pleasent- visited by the black-Cat the principal chief of
the Roop-tar-he, or upper mandane vilage. this man possesses more
integrety, firmness, inteligence and perspicuety of mind than any indian I
have met with in this quarter, and I think with a little management he may
be made a usefull agent in furthering the views of our government. The
black Cat presented me with a bow and apologized for not having completed
the shield he had promised alledging that the weather had been too could
to permit his making it, I gave him som small shot 6 fishing-hooks and 2
yards of ribbon his squaw also presented me with 2 pair of mockersons for
which in return I gave a small lookingglass and a couples of nedles. the
chief dined with me and left me in the evening. he informed me that his
people suffered very much for the article of meat, and that he had not
himself tasted any for several days.

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Black Cat and Coal Chiefs Stay the Night

Tue, 10 Feb 2026 20:34:54 +0000

11th January Friday 1805 verry Cold, Send out 3 men to join 3 now below
& hunt,

Pose-cop se ha or Black Cat came to See us and Stay all night

Sho sa har ro ra or Coal also Stayd all night, the inturpeter oldst wife
Sick, Some of our men go to See a war medison made at the village on the
opposit Side of the river, this is a

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