As the boats move towards the Lakota Sioux villages at present Pierre, South Dakota, Pvt. Colter‘s horse is stolen. The captains smoke with Buffalo Medicine, and a promise is made to return the horse and to meet with the captains tomorrow.
Preparing to Speak with the Indians
by Yellowstone Public Radio[1]Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © … Continue reading
“Fort Pierre on the Missouri”
by Karl Bodmer (1809–1893)
Rare Book and Special Collections Division, Library of Congress.[2]Voyage dans l’intérieur de l’Amérique du Nord, exécuté pendant les années 1832, 1833 et 1834, par le prince Maximilien de Wied-Neuwied (Paris: A. Bertrand, 1840-43), Plate 43.
Colter’s Horse Stolen
Colter ran up the bank & reported that the [Lakota] Sioux had taken his horse, we Soon after Saw five indians on the bank; who expressed a wish to come on board, we informed them we were friends, and wished to Continue So, we were not abraid any Indians— Some of their young Men had Stolen a horse Sent by their Great Father to their great Chief, and we Should not Speak to them any more untill the horse was returned to us again—
—William Clark
Smoking with Buffalo Medicine
Sailed up opposite to the 5 Indians, halted, ankered out 100 yds. from Shore. One of our frenchman Spoke to them in Nemaha [Omaha] language and asked them who their chief is. they could not understand but little. they informed us that the Grand chiefs name is the Black Buffalow. the Captains told them that they or Some of the young men had Stole our horse and if they would bring the horse We would Speak to them, and if they did not we would not Speak to them. they Said they knew nothing of the horse but if their young men had Stole him they must find him & return him again.
—John Ordway
Weather Diary
Thermot. at rise
Weather Wind at thermotr. at 4 P.M. Weather Wind at 4 oC. P.M 54 above fair E. 82 fair W. three tetons swam the river and came to our encampment this evening informed us that 30 longed [lodges] of their nation were near
—Meriwether Lewis[3]To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations.
Bad River Encounter Site is a High Potential Historic Site along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail managed by the U.S. National Park Service. The site is located in Fischers Lilly Park of the city of Fort Pierre.
Notes
| ↑1 | Originally aired weekdays by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Bicentennial observance of 2003-2006. Narrated by Hal Hansen. Scripts by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson. Produced by Leni Holliman. © 2003 by Yellowstone Public Radio. |
|---|---|
| ↑2 | Voyage dans l’intérieur de l’Amérique du Nord, exécuté pendant les années 1832, 1833 et 1834, par le prince Maximilien de Wied-Neuwied (Paris: A. Bertrand, 1840-43), Plate 43. |
| ↑3 | To assist the reader, the editor of this web page has omitted the “day of the month” column and spelled out some abbreviations. |
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Discover More
- The Lewis and Clark Expedition: Day by Day by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2018). The story in prose, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery (abridged) by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 2003). Selected journal excerpts, 14 May 1804–23 September 1806.
- The Lewis and Clark Journals. by Gary E. Moulton (University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001). The complete story in 13 volumes.
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).