Moving down the Missouri River, they stop to repair a leak in the white pirogue and pass Régis Loisel‘s old trading fort. At the Bad River in present Pierre, South Dakota, Clark recalls how the Lakota Sioux attempted to stop them in 1804. They make about sixty miles reaching an area where they now expect to find those Indians.
Passing the Bad River
Bad River Encounter Site
Courtesy U.S. National Park Service.
passed the place the Tetons [Lakota Sioux] were encamped at the time they attempted to Stop us in Septr. 1804, and at 9 A. M. passed the enterance of Teton [Bad] River.
—William Clark
Today, the Bad River Encounter Site commemorates the Lakota Sioux and Lewis and Clark Expedition councils and confrontation. It is located in Fischers Lilly Park, Fort Pierre, South Dakota.
Repairing the White Pirogue
we passed the enteranc of Smoke Creek [La Chapelle Creek] and landed and Continued two hours to Stop a leak in the perogue and fix the Stearing oare,
—William Clark
Régis Loisel’s Fort aux Cedres
we landed a Louisells [Régis Loisel’s] fort on Ceder Island, this fort is entire and every part appears to be in the Same state it was when we passed it in Septr. 1804. I observed the appearance of 3 fires in the houses which appeared to have been made 10 or 12 days past.
—William Clark
Military Readiness
as we were now in the Country where we were informed the Sceoux were assembled we were much on our guard deturmined to put up with no insults from those bands of Seioux, all the arms &. in perfect order.
—William Clark
Lewis on the Mend
Capt. L. is Still on the mending hand he walks a little. I have discontinued the tent in the hole where the ball entered, agreeable to his request.
—William Clark
Weather Diary
State of the weather at Sun rise State of wind at Sunrise State of the weather at 4 P. M. Wind at 4 P. M. State of river fair S. E fair S. E. fall ¾ in. Heavy dew this morning. Saw a pilecan [American White Pelican]
—William Clark[1]To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is omitted, some abbreviations have been spelled out, and the three river columns have been merged.
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 | To assist the reader of this web page, the date column is omitted, some abbreviations have been spelled out, and the three river columns have been merged. |
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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.
This page was funded in part by the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, U.S. National Park Service.
This site is provided as a public service by the
Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
- Montana Committee for the Humanities
- Idaho Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee
- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
- Yellowstone Public Radio
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).