Yankton Sioux Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Meeting Robert McClellan's Heavily Laden Party

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:25 +0000

and procd on about 9 A. M. we met 2 two canoes and 11 french-
man 1 of which was loaded with Mr Shotoes [Chouteau’s] goods
from S* Louis the others going up trapping one of the men was
along which accompanied us to the Mandans in 1804. he in-
formed us that Mr McLanen2 is but a Short distance a head below
the hunters killed a bear we then procd on Soon met one of
JVTLanens Hunters who gave us a fat buck he came on board,
and we procd a Short distance and met Mr McLanen with a large
keel Boat which [was] roed with 12 oars he was rejoiced to see
us only two Englishmen besides Mr McLanen the rest french-
man. Mr Gravveleen [Gravelines] & Mr Drewyong3 was with
him. this keel Boat was well loaded down with Marchandizes
and is going up to the Marhars and yanktons to winter their, we
mooved across the the river and Camped on N. S. 2 Small canoes
Sent on a head to hunt. AT McLanen gave our officers wine and
the party as much whiskey as we all could drink. Mr McLanen
informed us that the people in general in the united States were
concerned about us as they had heard that we were all killed then
again they heard that the Spanyards had us in the mines &C.
Mr Gravveleen & Mr Drewyong had orders to make all enquiries
for us. Mr Gravveleen took a chief of the Rickarees on to the
Seat of government & he died their and Mr Gravveleen has got
the presents for his nation. Mr Drewyong took Several Indians
1 About four miles above the (‘.rand Nemaha River, and a short distance
above the southern boundary of Nebraska.
– Robert McClellan, whom both Lewis and Clark had known as a scout in
General Wayne’s campaign against the Northwestern tribes a dozen years
earlier. He was now engaged in the western fur trade with headquarters at
St. Louis, in the years 1811-13 he followed in the track of Lewis and Clark
across the continent to Astoria. lie died at St. Louis in 1815.
3 Pierre Dorion. Lewis and Clark’s erstwhile interpreter.
1806] SERGEANT ORDWAY’S JOURNAL 399
of the yanktons and Mahars down to Sl Louis and as Cap1 Stod-
dard was absent who had orders to send all Indians on they were
not Sent on and are now on their return. Mr McLanen informed
us that the Spanyards or Spain towards Mexico had broke out
against the u. states United States and have killed a party of
americans who went to See their country, and that all or a great
number of troops had gone down to Neworleans and up red
river where a great number of Spaniards have gathred in a body
for war. Some of our party exchanged robes &C. for Shirts, we
had Small Showers of rain this evening, and we were treated in
the best manner by this party.

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Encounter with Trader Herd Near Calumet Bluffs

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:24 +0000

day warm & Sultry, towards evening we passd the Calimet bluffs
a Short distance below we met an American trador by the name
of Herd.1 he had two Batteaux and 18 hands and are on their
way to the babruleys and yanktons near white Stone [Vermilion]
River in order to trade with those nations and the Mahars also.
Mr Herd informed us of the news of the States2 &C a verry
hard Storm of wind and hard rain this evening.

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Chouteau's Bateau Bound for Yankton Trade

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:24 +0000

proceeded on about noon Saw a large flock of pillicans Some of
the hunters killed three of them Shortly after we met a batteaux
manned with 12 frenchman [with] a canoe in compy this keel
Boat belonged to Mr Shoetoe1 of S* Louis and is under charge of
a frenchman and are going up to the yanktons at a wintering
house below white stone river they gave us a little whiskey.2 I
traded for a hat and Shirt by giveing them beaver Skins, our
officers purswaded them not to trade with the Tetons nation we
delayed about 2 hours and procd on. Some of the hunters Stayed
back to hunt and did not join us this evening. Camped.

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Armed Indians Signaling Near Niobrara River Mouth

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:46:23 +0000

Set out eairly and procd on two hunters went on with a Small
canoe to hunt about 9 A. M. we passd the m° of rapid water
[Niobrara] river a Short distance below we Saw nine Indians on
the N. Shore which run out of a thicket five of them had guns
the others bows & arrows, they Signd to us to put to shore but
we floated a short distance below a point at an open place as we
expected they were the Tetons as Soon as we halted we heard
several guns fire we expecting that the Indians were fireing at
our hunters who were behind Cap1 Clark Instantly run up with 10
men but soon returned with the Indians and found that they had
been fireing at a kegg we had thrown out above and our hunters
came up safe, we found these to be Yanktons Nation & good
Indians and friends to us our officers Smoaked with them and
gave them a bushel of corn & Some ribben and then we procd on
towards evening we killed a fat Elk on an Island, in the evening
we Camped on a sand beach N. Side opposite to this Camp we
Counceled with the yanktons or babruleys on the last of August
1804. Some Musquetoes this evening.

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Naked Yankton Sioux Met Traveling Downriver

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:52 +0000

the cannoe who are in company with us have caught Several large
Beaver every night for Several nights back, we Set off eairly
Cloudy & cool this morning, we proceeded on at 9 oClock we
met all Indians of the Souix nation yankton tribe, they were
naked & Sd they were on their way down the River Gave them
Some meat and proceeded on. at 11 oC. I went out hunting, the
after part of the day pleasant. I Saw on the hills flocks of Goats
& Buffaloes. Several Salt Runs in the vallies. I killed a Buffalow
and Returned to the Boat in the evening. Camped on the South
Side.

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White Bear Cliff and Sulfurous Mineral Deposits Noted

Mon, 04 May 2026 16:44:46 +0000

[Dorion] called from the other Shore that they had forgot their tin
kittle last evening, the pearogue crossed Brought him to the
Boat for his kittle we found it & gave it to him, & 2 fish with it,
we proceeded on under an unsteady Breeze from S. W. passed a
chalk Bluff on N. S. where we found pleanty of fine plumbs, little
above is a white clift called the den of the White Bear,2 we see
large holes in the clift which appeared to go Deep into the clift;
this clift is about 70 feet high on the top is ragged round knobs
& praries all praries on Boath Sides of the river, Some Timber
in the vallies, Cottonwood Elm oak &.C. & on the Islands which is
covered with Small cottonwood Timber &.C. G. Drewyer went
out hunting on N. S. he returned in a Short time had killed a
fine Buck Elk; it was all put on board the pearogue, we then pro-
ceeded on past Bottom praries to the lower point of a large & well
1 Calumet Bluff according to Clark’s journal (August 28); still so called.
2 Still called White Bear Cliff; it is in Yankton County, about ten miles
above the city of Yankton.
124 WISCONSIN HISTORICAL COLLECTIONS [Sept. 2
Timbered Island where we Camped on N. S.1 & jurked our Elk,
Cap* Lewis and Cap* Clark went across the river where they was
Informed that their was a Deep pond where their is a large Beaver
house & about 3 hundred Beaver or more, as they amagine in the
pond. The Captains had a curiousity to See the pond & Beaver
house; or Cabbin; they returned in the evening, but did not See the
pond nor did not Go to it for we had passed it some distance, N.B.
we passed in the course of this day a large Island between the two
Bluffs covered with timber above the White Bear clift we passed
two Islands in Sight of each other the last of which is verry large
from the Calumet Bluffs covered with young Timber also, the
high lands approach the river & in Some places touch on each
Side of the Missouri.