Crossing the Lakota

Moving the flotilla of boats up the Missouri in the present states of South and North Dakota, the expedition encounters several nations with limited experience with St. Louis-based traders.

Soon after going around the Big Bend of the Missouri, they meet the Lakota Sioux, and a multi-day encounter goes badly for both peoples. They proceed on to some Arikara villages where they hold a council and invite Too Né (Eagle Feather) to travel with them. He provides useful information and would eventually visit Washington City.

In late October, they reach the Knife River Villages—a complex of Hidatsa and Mandan villages. With winter quickly approaching, they must act fast to establish winter quarters.

September 1804

1. Sept 9, 1804 – Four Buffalo KilledLeni HollimanDuration: 2:38
2. Sept 10, 1804 – A 45-Foot Petrified Fish BoneLeni HollimanDuration: 3:06
3. Sept 13, 1804 – Shannon's ReturnLeni HollimanDuration: 2:49
4. Sept 14, 1804 – Pronghorns and JackrabbitsLeni HollimanDuration: 2:40
5. Sept 15, 1804 – The White RiverLeni HollimanDuration: 3:02
6. Sept 16, 1804 – Lightening Up the LoadLeni HollimanDuration: 3:06
7. Sept 20, 1804 – Le Grand DetourLeni HollimanDuration: 2:33
8. Sept 21, 1804 – Campsite Washed AwayLeni HollimanDuration: 2:21
9. Sept 22, 1804 – An Old Fort Built by LoiselleLeni HollimanDuration: 2:35
10. Sept 23, 1804 – Discovered by Teton SiouxLeni HollimanDuration: 2:29
11. Sept 24, 1804 – Preparing to Speak with the IndiansLeni HollimanDuration: 2:48
12. Sept 27, 1804 – The Troublesome TetonsLeni HollimanDuration: 2:53
13. Sept 28, 1804 – More Demands from the IndiansLeni HollimanDuration: 3:14
14. Sept 29, 1804 – The Captains Learn of a PlotLeni HollimanDuration: 2:22
15. Sept 30, 1804 – The Expedition May ProceedLeni HollimanDuration: 2:09
16. Sept 17, 1804 – Cpt. Lewis Goes HuntingLeni HollimanDuration: 3:17

October 1804

1. Oct 1, 1804 – The Trader Jean ValleLeni HollimanDuration: 2:35
2. Oct 4, 1804 – Several Indians on the BankLeni HollimanDuration: 2:33
3. Oct 5, 1804 – Frost in the MorningLeni HollimanDuration: 2:31
4. Oct 6, 1804 – Migrating BirdsLeni HollimanDuration: 2:30
5. Oct 7, 1804 – Another Cold MorningLeni HollimanDuration: 2:41
6. Oct 8, 1804 – Meeting the ArikarasLeni HollimanDuration: 2:48
7. Oct 11, 1804 – The Arikara Very FriendlyLeni HollimanDuration: 2:25
8. Oct 12, 1804 – Gifts from the IndiansLeni HollimanDuration: 2:21
9. Oct 13, 1804 – A Court MartialLeni HollimanDuration: 2:30
10. Oct 15, 1804 – York Pleases the IndiansLeni HollimanDuration: 2:13
11. Oct 14, 1804 – Execution of the SentenceLeni HollimanDuration: 2:23
12. Oct 18, 1804 – The Cannonball RiverLeni HollimanDuration: 2:20
13. Oct 19, 1804 – 52 Gangs of BuffaloLeni HollimanDuration: 2:33
14. Oct 21, 1804 – Snow at DaylightLeni HollimanDuration: 2:38
15. Oct 22, 1804 – An Attack of RheumatismLeni HollimanDuration: 2:14
16. Oct 25, 1804 – Mandan Curious about the CorpsLeni HollimanDuration: 2:40

Originally aired by Yellowstone Public Radio during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial observance in 2004–2006, these 627 radio episodes parallel the expedition dates starting 14 May 1804 and ending 25 September 1806. They aired only on weekdays with four introductory vignettes and four episodes about events after the expedition. They are narrated by Hal Hansen, scripted by Whit Hansen and Ed Jacobson, and produced by Leni Holliman.