Lewis on the Marias

Lewis can’t leave finding the source of the Marias River alone. If it comes from the far north, then that region will be considered part of the Louisiana Territory. With only three men, Lewis risks traveling through Blackfeet homelands to find the river’s source.

On 16 July, Lewis directs Sgt. Gass to portage the dugouts around the falls. Those boats are coming down the Missouri—paddled by a detachment lead by Sgt. Ordway. Lewis and his small group then leave the Great Falls of the Missouri bound for the Marias.

On a small tributary of the Marias, Lewis determines the headwaters will not extend America’s reach into present Canada. Attempts to take celestial observations are obscured by clouds, and the entire junket becomes a big disappointment.

Now in the heart of Blackfeet country, Lewis meets a group of young men, and when the latter attempt to steal rifles, a fatal encounter ensues. Both groups flee.

Riding all day and through the night, Lewis can only hope that he will find the relative safety of Gass and Ordway’s detachments and that together, they can paddle down the Missouri to reunite with William Clark at the mouth of the Yellowstone.

July 1806

1. July 17, 1806 – Clark on the YellowstoneLeni HollimanDuration: 3:10
2. July 18, 1806 – 12 Miles of BuffaloLeni HollimanDuration: 3:09
3. July 19, 1806 – Gibson Seriously WoundedLeni HollimanDuration: 3:12
4. July 20, 1806 – A Little Geology LessonLeni HollimanDuration: 3:22
5. July 21, 1806 – Camp DisappointmentLeni HollimanDuration: 3:44
6. July 24, 1806 – Clark ConfusedLeni HollimanDuration: 3:15
7. July 25, 1806 – Pompey's PillarLeni HollimanDuration: 3:39
8. July 26, 1806 – Indians WatchingLeni HollimanDuration: 3:51
9. July 27, 1806 – Violence on the MariasLeni HollimanDuration: 3:54
10. July 28, 1806 – On the RunLeni HollimanDuration: 3:52
11. July 31, 1806 – Plenty of Elk, Buffalo and DeerLeni HollimanDuration: 3:18

August 1806

1. Aug 1, 1806 – Progress in the RainLeni HollimanDuration: 3:43
2. Aug 2, 1806 – Mosquitos & Grizzlies AttackLeni HollimanDuration: 2:36
3. Aug 3, 1806 – No More Stopping to CookLeni HollimanDuration: 3:14
4. Aug 4, 1806 – A Note for LewisLeni HollimanDuration: 3:01
5. Aug 7, 1806 – High Winds and Big BearsLeni HollimanDuration: 3:25
6. Aug 8, 1806 – Sergeant Pryor ArrivesLeni HollimanDuration: 3:51
7. Aug 9, 1806 – Cpt. Clark Walks on ShoreLeni HollimanDuration: 3:12
8. Aug 10, 1806 – Pirogue Repaired and ReadyLeni HollimanDuration: 2:20
9. Aug 11, 1806 – Clark Sees Trappers, Lewis Gets Shot!Leni HollimanDuration: 3:41

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.