Bill Speiden's Weekly Articles
Lewis and Clark This Week | December 13, 2004 | Back
By Bill Speiden, Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center
Article 2 of the series
Last week we saw the Corps of Discovery (Corps) finish their fort near a Mandan Indian village on the east bank of the Missouri, in what is now North Dakota.
The Mandans were an agriculturally oriented tribe on the upper Missouri river who lived in large round earth-covered lodges for protection from the harsh winters. Like many of the American Indian tribes their numbers had been previously diminished by European diseases such as small pox, before the Corps got to them. For example, in the 1880’s small pox hit the Arikara nation and reduced their population from approximately 30,000 to around 3,000 people. The Mandans were a relatively peaceful nation, whose traditional enemies included the Teton Sioux.
The Teton Sioux were primarily a hunting nation and needed the vegetables and tobacco raised by the Mandans, whose primary produce was corn, squash, beans, and tobacco. Knife River flint was quarried by the Mandans and was highly prized for use in spear points and arrowheads by both them and other tribes, providing another trading product. Being only occasional hunters, the Mandans needed the buffalo hides and meat in the possession of the Sioux. Every winter from January to March hostilities would cease between the warring groups for the purpose of trading. There was also in existence at the time a trading system of central rendezvous sites where periodically the French Canadians would trade white man’s goods, such as metal cooking pots, firearms, metal tomahawks, beads, etc., for Indian furs. The Teton Sioux had long been in a position of being the middleman on much of this trade, and did not relish interference from "the Great White Father" in Washington.
Fighting among the tribes was rarely for territory. It was usually for the purpose of acquiring horses, sometimes slaves, and most importantly recognition of warriors’ bravery in battle where they could count "coups" and win tribal accolades for their courageous deeds.
One of the goals for the Corps was to bring peace among the tribes, which would facilitate the trade with the commercial interests of the "Great White Father" in Washington. The undaunted Captains were not very successful in this department.
From the Journals:
December 14, 1804: "…Capt. Clark Set out with 14 men to Go down the river a hunting…a nomber of the Mandans came to See us. 14 of them eat in my room at one time, the Big White [name of one of the chiefs] dined with Capt. Lewis. Towards evening Several of the hunters came in & informed us that the Buffalow had left the river…." Sergeant Ordway
December 15: "…l [Lewis] &…2 of the party went up to the [Indian] villages….Saw …chiefs and warries [warriors] at play, they had flattish rings made out of clay Stone & two men had short Sticks abt. 4 feet long with short peaces across the… end of it…they had a place [playing field] …50 yds….which was smooth…two men would run at a time with…a stick & one carried [rolled] a ring… then Slide their Sticks after the ring…" Sergeant Ordway
December 16: "… 4 men came here which belonged to the NW Compy. [North West Company] of traders, which are now at the Mandans and Groventiaus [Gros Ventre or Big Belly – another sub-tribe in the vicinity]. Came for the purpose of trading for their Robes & furs, & [talking to] C [Captain Clark]. Some of our men got Some Tobacco from them. They remained all night." Sergeant Ordway
December 17: "…We found Mr. Henry [a member of the North West Company group] a verry intelligent man from whome we otained Some Scetches of the Countrey between the Mississippi & Missouri, and… to the West of this place…8 oClock PM. The thermonmeter fell to 74° below the fresing pointe…" Captain Clark
December 18: "…a verry cold day. 8 of the party went out to hunt, but Saw nothing but some goats. The N.W. Compy. Tradors Set of[f] this morning notwithstanding the coldness of the weather." Private Whitehouse
December 19: "…the weather moderated a little. I engage myself in Connecting the Countrey from information [working on the map of the territory]. Captain Clark
Next week we will see the weather continue fairly moderate, Indian visits, trade between the cultures, and the Corps celebration of Christmas.